Critical reception of Defiance has been "mixed or average" according to Metacritic, with a 57% rating according to 17 reviews.[46] Maureen Ryan of The Huffington Post called it "a smart, well-crafted TV show with a good cast and an adventurous flavor" and added "it's also indisputably science fiction, which is a relief," saying that she felt too many science fiction shows were "watered-down ... genre-lite dramas". She also praised the casting, performances and the production design.[47] Ellen Gray of the Philadelphia Daily News noted that "the TV show may not break new ground ... but it does stand on its own as a watchable sci-fi series, with a Wild West vibe mixed with a bit of "Farscape-meets-West Side Story."[48] Conversely, David Hinckley of the New York Daily News gave it one star out of five and found it to be "incomprehensible", but said "if you’re a sci-fi fan for whom this stuff can never be too complex, have at it."[49] Other reviewers gave Defiance average reviews and noted its similarity to previous television series,[50] while at the same time praising its "breathtaking" landscapes and "impressively rendered" monsters;[51] its "intriguing" cast and setting;[52] its digital effects and performances;[53] and its mythology and "interesting" story.[54]