I have a hope that at some point down the road Datak will open his eyes a bit and become somewhat likable. I wouldn't mind him being someone I either love or love to hate. As of now I just hate the bastard.
I dunno... For me, Datak Tarr falls quite firmly into the "love to hate" category. I thought Tony Curran turned in an excellent performance for the character. I find it quite enjoyable - even adorable - watching to see what new, atrocious act Datak is going to do next and why it's going to blow up in his face.
Speaking of which, is it just me or does the show have a very definite "civilised = evil" theme going on? I mean, consider the following:
- The show's lead protagonists started off as outsiders and survivalists who lived off the land.
- The Earth Republic - the bastion of human civilisation - is largely always portrayed as scheming, heartless,unscrupulous and placed in a villainous light; particularly those who prosper there (Colonel Marsh, Ambassador Tennety).
- When comparing between the two main alien races shown - Castithans and Irathients - the latter group are portrayed far more positively and sympathetically.
- Datak and Rafe. Enough said.
I think for future seasons, just to balance it out, the show should introduce a (leaning more towards the side of) good Castithan and/or villainous Irathient (tribe?) as well as introduce the Votanis Collective who - at least for the time - appear to be the more benevolent alternative to the Earth Republic.
Lastly, I'm a little disappointed that the show's foray into a Myth Arc with Irisa being some kind of prophecised "chosen one" and the introduction of mystical elements like Irzu. My problem with it is that it doesn't quite fit a sci-fi setting; instead giving the show a more fantasy feel except with cat-people and albinos instead of pointy-eared people and short people. It's not even that original. It's a tired, old storyline that shows up time and again in sci-fi when the writers have started running out of ideas. And Defiance jumped right into in its
first season!!
My only hope is that this is all something of a misdirect and that Irisa didn't actually see her species' god. It's certainly a possibility. We've seen those artifacts create illusions and hallucinations when one of them manipulated Quentin out of throwing it away. As such, I suspect the artifacts are probably somehow sentient or alive. Perhaps they are related to the seventh race that we've not actually met yet (the Gulanee?). They're mysterious enough and we know that they require a protective layer as they can't survive exposure to the outside world.
Yeah. I know. It's a stretch.

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