The series was broadcast in the United States on the cable channel Syfy and in various international markets. The story begins in the year 2046 when Earth has been considerably changed, with new topography, the extinction of plant and animal species and the emergence of new species. The series follows Joshua Nolan (Grant Bowler), his adopted alien daughter Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas), and the town's new mayor, Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz), in addition to an ensemble of actors portraying different characters in the growing town of Defiance, built on the ruins of St. Louis.