History Tearjerker / Defiance

* For the game and its reboot, Trion closing them down on April 29th of 2021 for their small, but loyal community. Thanks for the memories, Paradise. WeHardlyKnewYe. Rest in peace.

* For the game and its reboot, Trion closing them down on April 29th of 2021 for their small, but loyal community. WeHardlyKnewYe.

** [[spoiler:With the ship about to blow up, Irisa decides that she can't go through with killing the Omec, and insists that Nolan find another way. As Yewll informs them that it is theoretically possible to vent the built-up energy into the engines, at the cost of being shot blind out into the galaxy. Nolan agrees. It looks like he and Irisa are about to head off on a new adventure, but as they share another father-daughter hug, Nolan tazes Irisa and throws her into an escape pod; on the off chance that the plan fails, he wants her to live. The plan works, Nolan is sent millions of light-years away, and all Irisa can do is console herself by imagining that her father is off having adventures in space.]]

** His first segment has him follow up Amanda's inspiring speech at the memorial with a stumbling, awkward eulogy that's a complete 180 from his [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome badass speech]] in the previous episode. It's clear that [[spoiler:Zero's father's]] grief has mixed with his own and completely overwhelmed him.

* The third-season finale:

* "I Almost Prayed": Freed from the Kaziri's control, overwhelmed with the knowledge of all the lives she's destroyed [[spoiler: Tommy's not least among them]], Irisa begs Nolan to [[DrivenToSuicide give her his gun]].

** Baby Luke [[spoiler: is spirited away by [[AxCrazy Pilar]] once again.]]

** More traumatically speaking, [[spoiler: Amanda realizing that [[BigBadFriend Pottinger]] was her rapist.]]

* "Where the Apple Fell": As awesome as the payoff was, seeing Datak break down during [[spoiler: Nolan and Alak's ReverseMole routine]] is gut-wrenching. As horrible a person as Datak Tarr is, ''he loves his son,'' and watching him ''beg for mercy'' is difficult to watch.

* "Ostinato in White" is composed mostly of this when it delves into Nolan's psychological state [[spoiler: after the loss of the militia.]]
** His first segment has him follow up Amanda's inspiring speech at the memorial with a stumbling, awkward eulogy that's a complete 180 from his [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome badass speech]] in the previous episode. It's clear that [[spoiler: Zero's father's]] grief has mixed with his own and completely overwhelmed him.
** He becomes obsessed with making amends with [[spoiler: Zero's father]] and shows up at his house with [[spoiler: his son's rifle]], only to be held at gunpoint by the grieving man.
-->'''[[spoiler: Zero's Father]]''': I don't want a broken rifle! [[spoiler: I want my son!]] [...] Can you give me that?
** Later, he gets blackout drunk and has a nervous breakdown in front of the memorial. The viewer is treated to flashbacks of [[spoiler: every minor character who trained under Nolan and died in that tunnel, and it's clear that even though the viewers were only acquainted with Zero, Nolan felt every loss.]]
** To top it all off, he later returns to [[spoiler: Zero's father's]] house, only to find that [[spoiler: he has been DrivenToSuicide.]]

* "Of A Demon In My View": Kindzi betrays, tortures, and ultimately murders [[spoiler: [[BigGood T'evgin]]]].

** Datak taunting Yewll and pleading for death, [[spoiler: no longer able to stand waiting for the Omec to devour him.]] Granted, [[spoiler: it was all part of his plan to escape]], but there seems to be genuine emotion behind his words.
** At the end of the episode, [[spoiler: Kindzi storms into Alak's house, brutally murders [[TokenGoodTeammate Andina]], knocks Stahma unconscious, and rips baby Luke away from Alak's arms while he tearfully attempts to resist.]]

* "Of A Demon In My View": Kindzi betrays, tortures, and ultimately murders [[spoiler: [[BigGood T'evgin]]]].

** More traumatically, [[spoiler: Amanda realizing that [[BigBadFriend Pottinger]] was her rapist.]]

* "Dead Air": There's something oddly poignant about "George" the Bio-man and his story about his three-legged dog.

* "When Twilight Dims the Sky Above": The daughter of the ambassador whose death ignited the Pale Wars [[spoiler:is herself killed due to Nolan's delusions.]]

*** The continuing on to the illusion is also emphasis because for one brief moment, you see Yewll gripping the air at the side of her waist, as if holding on to someone's hand.

* "The World We Seize"/"The Last Unicorn": Rafe and Christie [[spoiler:suffer at the hands of a megalomaniacal Castithan general; in Christie's case doubly so since he forces Stahma to do it.]]

** To top it all off, he later returns to [[spoiler: Zero's father's]] house, only to find that [[spoiler: he has been DrivenToSuicide.]]

* In "My Name Is Datak Tarr and I Have Come to Kill You", Nolan is left powerless to watch as [[spoiler:almost all of his militia, including the kid Zero, are vaporized by a grenade]].

* "Where the Apple Fell": As awesome as the payoff was, seeing Datak break down during [[spoiler: Nolan and Alak's ReverseMole routine]] is gut-wrenching. As horrible a person as Datak Tarr is, ''he loves his son,'' and watching him ''beg for mercy'' is difficult to watch.

* "History Rhymes": Nolan's back story before and during the Pale Wars and the effects on Irisa. Particularly the reveal that one pivotal night in their relationship was not the turning point Nolan thought it was.

* "History Rhymes": Nolan's back story before and during the Pale Wars and the effects on Irisa.

* "History Rhymes": Nolan's back story before and during the Pale Wars.

* "Dead Air": There's something oddly poignant about "George" the Bio-man and his story about his three-legged dog.

* "The World We Seize"/"The Last Unicorn": Rafe and Christie [[spoiler:suffer at the hands of a megalomaniacal Castithan general; in Christie's case doubly so since he forces Stahma to do it.]]

* After [[spoiler: Nolan has dropped off Tommy body]] at the Defiance entry checkpoint where [[{{WorkingWithTheEx}} Berlin]] and the perimeter Guards are stationed. Nolan staggers away as a shocked Berlin kneels over [[spoiler: Tommy body.]] checking for a pulse and finding none.
---> '''Berlin''': "How, Nolan?!"
---> '''Nolan''': "There's something inside Irisa."
---> '''Berlin''': "Did Irisa kill him ?!"
---> '''Nolan''': "She's not herself."
---> '''Berlin''': "Did Irisa [[spoiler: kill Tommy?!]]"
---> '''Nolan''': ( ''In a voice that is equal parts rage, guilt and sorrow''} ''YES!''

* "The World We Seize"/"The Last Unicorn": Rafe and Christie [[spoiler:die at the hands of a megalomaniacal Castithan general; in Christie's case doubly so since he forces Stahma to do it.]]

* "I Almost Prayed": Freed from the Kaziri's control, overwhelmed with the knowledge of all the lives she's destroyed [[spoiler: Tommy's not least among them]], Irisa begs Nolan to [[DrivenToSuicide give her his gun]].

*** The continuing on to the illusion is also emphasis because for one brief moment, you see Yewll gripping the air at her waist, as if holding on to someone's hand.

*** The climbing on to the illusion is also emphasis because for one brief moment, you see Yewll gripping the air at her waist, as if holding on to someone's hand.

* "I Almost Prayed": Freed from the Kaziri's control, overwhelmed with the knowledge of all the lives she's destroyed [[spoiler: Tommy's not least among them]], Irisa begs Nolan to give her his gun.

** As he staggers away in despair we see brave, strong and confident Berlin tenderly caress [[spoiler: Tommy's face.]] Then quietly she begins to break down weeping.

---> '''Berlin''': "How Nolan ?!."
---> '''Nolan''': "There's something inside Irisa ."
---> '''Berlin''': "Did Irisa kill him ?!."
---> '''Nolan''': "She's not herself ."
---> '''Berlin''': "Did Irisa [[spoiler: kill Tommy ?!]]."
---> '''Nolan''': ( '''In a voice that is equal parts rage, guilt and sorrow'''} ''YES!''
As he staggers away in despair we see brave, strong and confident Berlin tenderly caress [[spoiler: Tommy's face.]] Then quietly she begins to break down weeping.

** Its get worse when you realize that [[{{ShaggyDogStory}} Nolan spent nearly two days, and two nights getting Tommy to Defiance .]] Only to have Tommy [[spoiler: die just before they get there.]] In the end Nolan could have just walked to Defiance to get a roller, and come back for [[spoiler: Tommy's body.]] But despite being exhausted he continued on, dragging [[spoiler: Tommy's body]] back to Defiance. [[{{IGaveMyWord}} Because Nolan promised Tommy he would get him back home.]]

* "All Things Must Pass": [[spoiler: Tommy dies, despite Nolan's heroic efforts to save him.]] Nolan has a small understated breakdown when he realizes what's happened, weeping bitterly alone in the woods.