Defiance: Doll Parts
August 24, 2014 9:53 AM - Season 2, Episode 11 - Subscribe

The second of two episodes aired this week, Doll Parts opens with the death of Treasure Doll, aka Deirdre, aka Future Ms. Alak Tar Wannabe, and sets off an investigation by a temporarily deputized Amanda to solve the murder. The Irisa and Ark Rise storyline continues with Nolan's attempt to rescue his daughter running into obstacles and we learn a little more on what the what is going on. Christy is shown in a new light, while the Tars gain a new handmaiden to replace their last. Also, Stahma partakes in charity.
posted by Atreides (7 comments total)
 
I think my favorite moment is when Stahma figures out what happened and just lets out that melodious free laugh. Also the confrontation scene in the bath...Alak really doesn't know what he's gotten himself into.

I was a bit....caught off guard by how much they built Amanda's relationship to Treasure Doll after the fact.
posted by miss-lapin at 11:20 AM on August 24, 2014


I think my favorite moment is when Stahma figures out what happened and just lets out that melodious free laugh. Also the confrontation scene in the bath...Alak really doesn't know what he's gotten himself into.


Those were both great scenes. Particularly, the confrontation scene in the bath. The way Alak's eyes kind of widen and seems as if his train of thought went, "My god, I've married my mom!" I'd like to think, since it was immediately followed by a make out session, it was just one of pure amazement.

Poor Good Tommy. The guy pukes up the alien vomit stuff and is then stabbed by Irisa and left to die. Since he didn't die at the end of the episode, I get the feeling he will survive. The reconciliation between him and Nolan, while nice, also helped add the edge of, "And now Tommy is going to die..."

I found it odd, if not slightly reassuring, that Nolan knew precisely what the stuff was that Irisa has been puking into everyone's mouth for the past season. It brought everything down to a lower level of technology and out of the clouds of mystery. If it's identifiable, it can be stopped. And for what its worth, I really enjoy Irisa more when she isn't being driven by a psycho ten year old version of herself. Incidentally, this is now the second time that Nolan has engaged in fisticuffs and allowed an opponent to get the edge on him to gain a better advantage.

The relationship between Amanda and Treasure Doll was an interesting turn to take, and a great example of how one's advice can steer the wrong type of person into the completely wrong direction. Amanda says, "Fight for your man!" and Treasure Doll hears, "Force an abortion to solve the problem!" I think we can all say that while Deidre recognized the problem, her attempted execution was along a fine path of psychotic killer.

Christy. I'm not really sure how to approach the development, but it was oddly in character and gave her a sharp edge. If anything, it continued a theme of Alak being dominated by women, and I think that's something he's completely fine with, so long as he can operate his record business (vinyl is all the rage, no?) and run his rock station from the top of the arch. No Linda Hamilton. Boo.
posted by Atreides at 12:00 PM on August 24, 2014


Here's what I DO NOT BUY, that Treasure Doll loved Alack. Wanted him, sure, Wanted all the bells and whistles of power and money (the family has fallen a bit but still) that came with him sure, loved him? LOVED HIM? Like sobbing and eating ben and jerry's (ahem I broke up with someone this week) in your pjs all weekend watching Criminal Minds because no one ever falls in love? NO. Treasure Doll does not get her make up smear-y because she was in love with someone.

As for advice gone wrong, Treasure Doll withheld a lot of information about "her man." I'm pretty sure if Amanda had any clue she would have offered different advice.
posted by miss-lapin at 12:22 PM on August 24, 2014 [3 favorites]


When Alak didn't own up to the affair, I knew Deirdre was going to cause a rift and I dreaded the usual plotline of a breakup and a screaming match. This was much, much better. I too loved Alak's shock and Stahma's realization (and hearty appreciation of the new-found depths of her DIL).

I wonder if carrying a Casti fetus is changing Christy in ways other than extra senses? Her protect the family instincts have never been this strong. I was only bothered by her line about Casti men having needs. Admittedly I'm not an expert but I'm pretty sure Casti women have needs also.

Stahma and Datak must never, ever get back together. They are too much fun apart. The flirtation at the gambling table, the look of admiration Datak gives Stahma when she talks about getting rid of Deirdre. Great fun.

I guess Amanda never heard all the evils that the mayor committed, right? Just his (sorta) confession about evil. I can't imagine her not being upset if she'd heard the details.

I wish there had been a decent explanation of why Tommy was rejected as a host. But I'm really happy with the apology from Nolan and his effort to save Tommy's life. Though I'm not sure how someone who is weak and dying from blood loss would be able to put sufficient on their own wound.

Berlin is very straightforward, it's an excellent trait. Rafe's son's issues are boring but I hope we get more Linda Hamilton.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 2:37 PM on August 24, 2014


Here's what I DO NOT BUY, that Treasure Doll loved Alack. Wanted him, sure, Wanted all the bells and whistles of power and money (the family has fallen a bit but still) that came with him sure, loved him? LOVED HIM? Like sobbing and eating ben and jerry's (ahem I broke up with someone this week) in your pjs all weekend watching Criminal Minds because no one ever falls in love? NO. Treasure Doll does not get her make up smear-y because she was in love with someone.

I think you're right, and it was telling when she got mad and started screaming at Christy after Christy caught on to the poison in the drink. "I didn't come from a rich family and marry into a rich family...." (something like that). It was very much about material reward and getting that prince charming, not to get the charming, but what he represented and possessed.

I wish there had been a decent explanation of why Tommy was rejected as a host. But I'm really happy with the apology from Nolan and his effort to save Tommy's life. Though I'm not sure how someone who is weak and dying from blood loss would be able to put sufficient on their own wound.

My guess is that Tommy was rejected purely for being human. Based on the speech that Irisa gave Nolan, that humans had or were ruining a perfectly good planet and needed to be wiped out, made me think that Tommy's species was a major determining factor.

I wonder if carrying a Casti fetus is changing Christy in ways other than extra senses? Her protect the family instincts have never been this strong. I was only bothered by her line about Casti men having needs. Admittedly I'm not an expert but I'm pretty sure Casti women have needs also.

This raises an interesting question. Are the "needs" of Casti men really biological, or is it just an accepted social belief to accept/ratify Casti men's decisions to seek sex outside of the marriage? Is the lack of recognition of Casti women's needs, conversely, a basis for helping to keep the women under control and inside the safety of the house, so to speak?
posted by Atreides at 4:51 PM on August 24, 2014 [1 favorite]


The Casti subjugation of women seems like textbook patriarchy stuff, with Alak not being raised that way and so not acting the same, it seems way more like socialization.

Also, I don't think Deirdre was in "love" but she might have thought it was, it could have been as close to what she thought love was as she'd ever had. And I'm hoping Casti fetus is changing Christy, who's never been much of a character so much as a prop and placeholder.

I loved that Datak and Stahma are suppose to be based on Sonny and Cher. If he only made her a partner.
posted by provoliminal at 1:55 AM on August 25, 2014 [4 favorites]


Man, what a delightfully messed up title/opening/closing song to choose for this particular episode.
posted by rhiannonstone at 8:07 PM on August 29, 2014


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