I focus on Joshua Nolan (Grant Bowler) and
Irisa (Stephanie Leonaidas), the two main protagonists of Syfy’s TV Defiance series, as we enter Day 3 of
my list of favourite fictional characters.
First off, let’s get the standard normal
stuff out of the way that you’ve probably seen before:
As you’ve probably noticed from above, this
is a new blog series dedicated to showcasing my favourite characters from 2014.
I will draw from a wide variety of sources but the conditions are simple – I
have to have either first encountered that character in 2014, (or a different
iteration of that character in 2014, for example, If I were to use, Steven
Moffat’s Sherlock Holmes, I would be allowed to as even though I discovered the
character before the year of me writing the Advent list, I did not discover
Moffat’s take on the character until 2014. Of course, I watched BBC’s Sherlock before
2014, but that’s just a standard example). I can also refer to groups of
characters, for example, on a variation of a list last year, I used the Clone
Club from Orphan Black, and the main cast from Stargate
Atlantis. This will be used multiple times this year when talking
about TV show characters – as they are generally better as an ensemble piece as
opposed to an individual group.
And also, as is evident from the first
character that I have used this year, Raylan Givens, I am allowed to pick
characters from previous years as long as I have discovered them in this year.
By discovered, that obviously means I have to have watched the first episode of
the TV series in 2014, or alternatively, I am also allowed to include
characters who I have become more attached to in this year that I weren’t
necessarily so keen on before, for example, If a character did something
awesome this year to raise their game and turn him or her into a new fan
favourite than these characters would be allowed to be included.
Now let’s get on with today’s post:
This selection is a good example of
characters who I have selected who I have become more attached to in 2014. When
I watched the Defiance pilot back in
2013, I wasn’t that taken with it. I did end up checking out the second episode
but it didn’t really do anything to grab me and I wasn’t really hooked, but
after consistent recommendations from friends telling me that it was actually a
fun series, decided to play catch up. And as it turns out, Defiance got better. Whilst there were some weak parts in Season 1,
the episodes that were good, were fun enough to keep me watching. And more
importantly, this was enough to get me behind the two lead characters and
enough to care about them, to the point where I’m now trying my best to catch
up before Season 3 premieres next year (currently I’m a couple of episodes into
Season 2). So what makes these characters so awesome? Let’s find out.
I’ll admit that I wasn’t the greatest fan of Nolan
in the pilot for being too much of a Han Solo clone, and whilst he was kind of
likable he wasn’t really memorable and original. That hasn’t really changed,
but the difference is here that I’ve got to spend more time with the character.
He’s fun, and a good lead character for the dark times that Defiance presents us. As suggested by
another character, Nolan is someone who actually prefers life in the post
apocalyptic nature to what it was like before, and Grant Bowler pulls off the character
well. It’s safe to say that he looks the part.
The second character is Nolan’s adopted
daughter, the alien Irisa. Played by Stephanie Leonaidas, she’s an awesome
female protagonist and one of the best parts about this show. Too many female
characters on science fiction shows fall into the trap of being annoying and
useless, and just love interests for the main character (Arrow’s Laurel Lance and Sleepy
Hollow’s Katrina, and we’re looking at you), but Irisa avoids that. Like Nolan she’s a fun
character to watch and Leonaidas plays her part well.
The father-daughter relationship between the
two characters is great to watch, and both actors have some good chemistry,
making these characters good to get behind and fun to watch. Whilst Defiance may not be the greatest show on
television it is certainly very fun and enjoyable, and you could do with a lot
worse (I’m looking at you, Helix),
and with the fact that it may be the closest thing that we’re ever going to
come to getting Firefly Season 2, it’s
always great to see that it’s got some great central characters at the heart of
the series.
Here’s the trailer.
(Note, not all of these characters here will
be chosen from TV series. Just bear in mind TV the medium that I’ve had the
most experience with in 2014, so as a result Nolan and Irisa are far from the
last TV characters that you’ll see on this list)
- Day 1: Raylan Givens (Justified)
- Day 2: The Mikaelson Family (The Originals)
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