Wynonna Earp is poised to return to the small screen three years after its Season 4 finale aired on Syfy. Titled Wynonna Earp: Vengeance, this new 90-minute special whisks us back to the world of Purgatory and our favorite posse of dipsh*ts. Let’s all say, “Thank you, Tubi.”
Recently, I had the privilege of screening Vengeance. Is the series back in hilarious (and heartwarming) fighting form? Does it leave wiggle room for a potential Season 5? Read on for my spoiler-free review.
About Wynonna Earp: Vengeance
Here’s a synopsis of the special per Tubi:
“Wynonna Earp – spicy, hard-living, demon-slaying anti-heroine and great-great-granddaughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp – must return, once again, to her hometown of Purgatory to battle her greatest foe yet: a psychotic villainess hellbent on revenge against Wynonna… and everyone she loves.”
RELATED: Melanie Scrofano and Tim Rozon on What to Expect in Wynonna Earp: Vengeance
Wynonna Earp: Vengeance stars Melanie Scrofano as our titular gunslinger, Tim Rozon as Doc Holliday, Dom Provost-Chalkley as Waverly Earp and Katherine Barrell as Nicole Haught. Rounding out the cast are supporting players Greg Lawson as Randy Nedley, Varun Saranga as Jeremy Chetri and Dani Kind as Mercedes Gardner. Creator, showrunner and executive producer Emily Andras has penned a screenplay with direction from Paolo Barzman.
Home Is Where the Demons Are
Full disclosure: I had a general idea of what to expect regarding this special. You know, mile-a-minute quips, dick jokes, steamy romance, moments that tear your heart asunder, a glowing demon-killing gun, etc. That said, Vengeance has a few shocking twists up its sleeve. They’ll undoubtedly rock your world.
Thankfully, the twists don’t feel gratuitous or out of pocket for the narrative. If anything, they leave the door wide open for expanded storytelling. Earpers, I’m pleased to say that, yes, there are loose threads worth exploring in a fifth season. While we get a resolution for the special’s central conflict, the overarching plot can certainly extend beyond Vengeance. Here’s hoping that greenlight comes swiftly.
RELATED: 8 Things We Want to See in Wynonna Earp: Vengeance
Performances and Characters
Performance-wise, everyone seamlessly slips back into these characters. The dynamic between the core quartet is as strong as ever. However, Melanie Scrofano steals the sh*tshow for me. She brings so much vulnerability and humanity to Wynonna. We feel the weight of what she’s experienced the past four seasons, including her growth. Scrofano is adept at ripping your heart out with her compelling, evocative work, so keep a tissue box handy. Her comedic timing is as pitch-perfect as it is sharp, like her character’s biting wit.
Vengeance delivers much of what we love relationship-wise in spades, from WayHaught’s adorable domestic bliss to WynDoc’s crackling chemistry. It also embraces Wynonna and Waverly’s endearingly sweet sisterly bond, which, to me, is the crux of this series. That said, some of my favorite moments are between Wynonna and Nicole. The special highlights their inherent “Odd Couple” dynamic.
“This May Be a Sh*tshow, But It’s Our Sh*tshow”
Wynonna Earp: Vengeance is a love letter to Earpers that’s also easy for newbies to follow sans exposition dump. There are a ton of Easter eggs from the first four seasons. So many that it might require multiple viewings to identify them all.
RELATED: Read our Wynonna Earp recaps
This special leans into all the characteristics we’ve come to expect from Wynonna Earp: campy as all get-out, silly, messy, cheeky and very low-budget (in a good way). In fact, the low-budget effects feel like a loving nod to the show’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer influences.
My only (minor) gripe is its pacing and conflict resolution issues. But the messiness is part of this series’ brand. It’s perfectly imperfect and a natural continuation, feeling more like a regular episode than a special (not that it’s not special—get it?). There’s so much to love as an Earper, though, as Vengeance welcomes new fans with open arms.
I’m glad to have this show back on my screen. Its mordant humor and abundance of heart have been sorely missed. Here’s to more whiskey, vanilla-dipped doughnuts and tasty tacos.
Wynonna Earp: Vengeance premieres on Friday, September 13, 2024, only on Tubi. The first four seasons of Wynonna Earp are currently streaming on Netflix.
My Favorite Queer Things About WYNONNA EARP
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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