Stahma Tarr
Stahma Tarr is a female extraterrestrial television character who features in Defiance.
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Biography
Stahma Tarr was born a member of the ruling Shanje Liro to a relatively prominent family. In her youth, Stahma mentioned that she was quite good at a sort of Castithan poetic performance, even having a small loyal following. Unfortunately, her talent was good enough to eventually attract her father's attention, who immediately put a stop to it since performance was not proper for a woman of her rank.
On Casti, she attended an academy where the fudano taught them that Rayetso demanded that no misdeed go unpunished.
During her voyage to Earth on an Ark, Stahma was engaged by her parents to a man 'of honor', though Stahma herself was not particularly attracted to him. During the voyage, she met her future husband, Datak Tarr, who she described as a 'scruffy nobody who had won passage in payment for a gambling debt". Datak pursued her shamelessly, until Stahma's fiance challenged him to a blood duel. However on the way to the duel, her fiancé was mysteriously flushed out of an airlock. Stahma tells this story to Christie Tarr who expresses doubts as to the tale's veracity, suggesting his death was not actually a mystery. Later, Stahma says to Alak, 'Once again the Castithan males falter and I am left to open the airlock door myself', suggesting that she did in fact murder her fiancé.
During the Pale Wars, Stahma aided Datak in his business on Earth eventually giving birth to her only child Alak. When the war ended, the two found themselves among a group of migrants who eventually settled in Defiance. Over the years, Stahma helped Datak to build a business and reputation in Defiance, but she was still not satisfied with Datak's station in life and felt that he should have more power. Stahma perfectly played the part of the dutiful wife while secretly harboring her own ambitions. Unlike her husband, she gains a much greater understanding of human cultures and social norms, likely realizing that she would eventually need to balance his wholesale rejection of anything human with a more pragmatic view.
She was proudly seated beside her husband as Mayor Amanda Rosewater publicly thanks him and Rafe McCawley for sponsoring a statue in honor of the Defiant Few, a group of human and Votan soldiers who helped to end the Pale Wars. After the celebration, Datak is upset that his primary rival, Rafe McCawley, packed the crowd to get a greater applause than Datak. Stahma flirts with him and works to calm his temper by suggesting Datak's just upset he didn't think of it first. The discussion quickly turns to their son, Alak. While Datak is concerned that Alak is running with a bad crowd and will ruin both their reputation as a family and the life Datak has built for him, Stahma thinks it is natural for young people to push boundaries and was not worried.
Stahma soon learns that Alak is dating Rafe McCawley's daughter, Christie. Datak is outraged by the idea of his son dating his rival's daughter, but Stahma convinces him that the relationship would serve as a key strategic move. Stahma reminds Datak that mining is a dangerous job, and if anything were to happen to Rafe, his children would inherit the mines. And if Alak and Christie were married, her wealth would be Tarr wealth. The only problem, Rafe McCawley must die first. The implication is clear. Later, as Datak and Stahma watch Alak place an engagement ring on Christie's finger, Datak says, "This will kill Rafe McCawley" to which Stahma replies, "Eventually, yes. If we're clever and patient."
While Datak shows no interest in Christie, Stahma is more forgiving of Christie's human customs and attempts to forge a relationship with her son's fiancé. In order to ensure the marriage takes place, Stahma encourages Christie to defy her father. Rafe does not want Christie to marry Alak, so Stahma tells a dark story of how she chose Datak as her husband despite her own family's disapproval. Although Stahma is still motivated by a desire to claim Rafe's mines, Stahma welcomes Christie into her life with open arms by including her in family diners and not judging Christie for her minimal understanding of Castithan culture.
Later in the season, Rafe McCawley declares that he will leave the mines to the Irathients when he dies, thwarting Datak and Stahma's plans. Although Datak is initially upset, Stahma encourages the wedding to go forward, and the two are married in a ceremony that mixes human and Castithan tradition. As Christie prepares to walk down the isle, Stahma calls Christie her hanya tavo.
Afterwardsm Kenya Rosewater came to be kidnapped, forcing Amanda and Nolan to seek Datak's help in finding her. While Datak bristles at the idea of helping people who do not respect him, Stahma talks to Amanda in private. With a soft smile, she tells Amanda that she would be willing to help recover Kenya in exchange for a town council seat for her husband. Stahma says, "Your sister is a very special young woman. I'm rooting for her," before walking away, leaving Amanda speechless. Although Stahma thinks highly of Kenya, her first priority is securing power for her husband. Amanda reluctantly agrees, but this is how she and Nolan realize how powerful Stahma is. At the end of the episode, Nolan tells Stahma, "I've had my eye on the wrong snake. You're the dangerous one" to which Stahma replies, "you're very sweet." Only a few episodes after this incident, Stahma goes to the NeedWant where Kenya works as a night porter. Stahma wants to purchase time with Kenya for Alak in preparation for his wedding night. Kenya laughs, but Stahma is unaware of how strange this request sounds to a human and is therefore extremely offended by Kenya's response. Kenya apologizes and asks Stahma to have a drink with her.
While Stahma and Kenya enjoy a bottle of wine, Kenya encourages Stahma to prioritize her own desires rather than thinking solely of her husband and her son. Stahma reveals that she used to recite poetry, something Kenya would love to see her take up again. Kenya then asks Stahma to dance, and although the audience does not see the dance, Kenya and Stahma are next seen in bed together, sharing a soft kiss. Kenya playfully says, "Can you imagine if Datak could see us right now?" Stahma then turns deadly serious, warning Kenya that Datak would kill them both if he ever caught them together. Stahma once again echoes this sentiment the next time she sleeps with Kenya, but she worries that Kenya does not understand just how much danger she would be in if their secret got out. During their relationship, Kenya comes to see Stahma as a victim of abuse by a husband with double standards (Datak is allowed to sleep with night porters, but Stahma is not). Kenya hates that Datak hurts Stahma, but Stahma insists that Kenya simply does not understand Castithan marriages. She says that she loves Datak for his cruelty because it proves he’s willing to do anything to achieve his goals.
Overview
Personality and attributes
On the surface, she is beautiful, loyal, and the perfect picture of a Castithan wife. Beneath the surface, however, lies a different side that is ready to break free from the traditional subservient role assigned her by her caste.
Stahma Tarr comes from old money and is very cunning.
Joshua Nolan quickly realizes that she is far more dangerous than her husband after only a few weeks in town.
Powers and abilities
Stahma Tarr was a female member of the Castithan race and possessed all the natural traits of her species.
Notes
- Stahma Tarr was portrayed by actress Jaime Murray where she featured in the setting of the Defiance universe.
Appearances
- Defiance:
External Links
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