Defiance returns with something of a "monster of the week" episode. Don't fear though, we also finally get some long overdue character development for Irisa.
At the beginning of the episode, Nolan and Irisa are investigating a "Hellbug" attack, monstrous creatures that build their nests out of flesh. While on the hunt, Irisa starts experiencing some crazy visions, although she initially tries to hide them from Nolan.
Meanwhile, the group of Irathient spirit raiders that aided the city in the pilot episode's big battle are now causing a bit of tension in the community. The mayor asks the leader to keep things civil, which he agrees to do, but not before warning that sooner or later that the other races will turn on them, and the Irathients will be ready.
Next, we get one of the weirdest sex scenes to ever hit TV, with Kenya... satisfying a man with a food and bondage kink. Unfortunately, he gets Alien-ed pretty hard when a Hellbug literally eats its way through his chest. While investigating, Nolan discovers the victims are being targeted with Hellbug pheromones, while Irisa's visions get more intense.
At the Tarrs house, Christie is having enough trouble trying to fit in with the Castithan household before another Hellbug attacks. Datak manages to fend the creature off, and in the aftermath, it turns out that Christie's clothing was slathered in pheromones. It turns out Rafe McCawley is connected with the two previous murders, he purchased his land from them; land that might have been illegally seized from its Irathient owners.
Irisa's visions get even worse, allowing her glimpses into what appear to be past events. The Irathient leader takes her on a vision quest of sorts, unlocking her power, and allowing her to see the true culprit: an Irathient girl named Rynne. Rynne's parents were murdered by humans, who took and sold their land.
Rynne's plan is to unleash an entire colony of these bugs on Defiance, and Nolan and crew go into the mines in pursuit. Irisa manages to convince Rynne to leave her vengeance with the ones she already killed, and Nolan kills the Hellbug colony with explosives.
At the end of the episode, the mayor returns the Irathient land to its proper owners. Rafe seems to be warming up to the idea of his daughter marrying a Castithan, a turn made all the more deadly by the Tarrs' plotting. Meanwhile, Nolan comforts Irisa as she struggles with her visions in her sleep.