Go inside Episode 3 with behind the scenes information and more goodies.
Every episode of Defiance is chock full of mythology "did you know's" and behind-the-scenes tidbits. Every week, we'll be highlighting some here - but for the full she-bang, use Syfy Sync while watching. Goodies like this are only the tip of the iceberg of what you get!
Nolan found a young Irisa in Denver years ago, when she was just a little girl. He raised her as his own. Did you catch his reference to her "episodes"? Is there a history behind these visions or more to the story?
Hellbugs are large alien insects that were unintentionally created on Earth during the terraforming disaster. They're formidable enemies that can be found everywhere in the game world.
Did you notice the way Datak "flicks" his charge blade to extend it? Charge blades were initially developed by the Indogenes as surgical tools, but they were appropriated by the Castithans, who appreciate the elegance of a blade.
Nolan packed the big guns for this episode. In the video game, players can use an even BIGGER gun known as thew Reaper to combat major Hellbug infestations. It fires a unique 20mm ordinance at a blinding rate from its rotating multiple barrels.
The little Hellbugs are called skitterlings. They're essentially babies.
In the old world, Rafe was an amateur photographer. He gave up landscape photography since it reminded him of the world he lost.
The Lawkeeper's office in Defiance isn't equipped to hold prisoners for long periods of time. After a few days, petty criminals are transferred to Camp Reverie - a work camp about a day's journey east of town. Violent criminals like Rynn are transported by Land Coach to Vegas Prison - a paid facility where towns and governments can house their hardened criminals and political prisoners.
The bathing rituals Datak refers to are called famairu. They are an important part of Castithan everyday life. In Castithan society, females are subservient to the males. Castithan women are never allowed to bathe alone. To be caught doing so is considered extremely shameful.
The Irathient soul (gyanagne) is divided into three distinct elements: gyabe (the seat of life, found in the heart), gyargye (the seat of passion, found in the stomach) and gyabire (the seat of intellect, found in the brain). In the ritual Irisa undertook, known as Gyatu, Sukar helped her tape into her own gyabire. Using blue or green powder to mark the portal to one's gyabire (on the forehead) is a standard part of the ritual.
Sukar and Irisa are smoking a hallucinogenic drug known as sabdi. Traditionally made from the leaves of the ditarra plant on Irath, sabdi is used for the Gyatu ritual to give the user greater insight into one's past. It's suposed to be able to sharpen one's memory, thought detractors doubt its potency and warn of its dangers.
"When I was growing up, my dad would barbecue with one of those goofy "Kiss the Cook" aprons. Kenya's apron reads, in Casti, "F**k the Cook." I hope my dad's proud" - Kevin Murphy, Executive Producer.
Stephanie Leonidas had scenes with a butterfly in this episode, and has a scene with a cobra in the upcoming fifth episode. Guess which she was more freaked out by? The butterfly!
Castithan make-up is applied glossy and not powdered down much. This means it's very delicate, needing lots of attention and touch ups. As Jaime Murray (Stahma) says, "We leave smudges of white everywhere we go. If another actor touches my face, there will be streaks and fingerprints!"
This is the worst of the Hellbugs - the Matron (a.k.a. The Queen). She lays all the eggs and controls the nest. If you think she's bad, you'll be floored when you see the "big daddy" Hellbug in the video game - a nasty piece of work called the Hellion.
Here's an example of English dialogue that had to be :"reconceived" to be translated into Irathient:
Sukar: Tha thiri
English: We are
Literal: By truth
In English, auxilliary verbs ("do," "be," etc) are used for emphasis and confirmation ("I have enough money" vs. "I do have enough money"). The same thing can't be done in Irathient, so seemingly simple translations often need to be recast. Yeah, it's that deep - David Peterson, who game up with the languages in Games of Thrones, created all of Defiance's languages.