Don’t be ashamed; I’m sure that was a common misconception. I certainly had my eyes opened. Too soon for an eye metaphor? Of course, it’s inevitable that Datak and Stahma will find out their daughter-in-law indulges in culturally insensitive cosplay, a “kink” whose hardcore participants actually buy irises harvested from corpses in the absence of reputable contact lens dealers in the 2050’s. It already would have been a difficult sell for Christie, who seems to have alienated her husband while finding her “true” self in Casti drag, but with the murder on top of everything, I can’t imagine things will go well for the young McCawley once the parallel is discovered. And that’s exactly what DJ “Treasure Doll,” a.k.a. Dierdre Lamb, wants! What a beautiful frame-up! Christie genuinely is grateful for this gold-digger friend’s advice which led to her awakening, but all the while, Dierdre just wanted to be Alak’s princess as part of her self-made-woman quest. I can appreciate such deviousness, especially since it has led to a more complex Christie McCawley, a character who desperately needed something to do in this show lest she become narratively obsolete. A few reminders and foreshadowings are skillfully sprinkled about as well in this episode. Amanda, for example, may be returning to her position as Mayor if Mercado gets his way, but I’m sure she has her own goals in mind. The Tarr family struggle continues with temporary alliances not changing the power structure within the crime organization. And Rafe helped Datak dispose of Jalina’s body in return for the promise of weapons, an arrangement that will no doubt pay off if McCawley is ever able to make a play for his mines. Oh, the anticipation! Episode after episode has just been stellar this season. I deducted a half a star for the slow spots in the first half of the episode, but really it’s just because I feel silly handing out perfect scores every week. Honestly, though, Defiance deserves top marks for keen writing and consistently phenomenal entertainment. Agree or disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments area below – is it just me?
