Tough Times on Wynonna Earp Still Signal A Very Intriguing Season to Come
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*** This article contains major spoilers for the Wynonna Earp Season 3 episode “When You Call My Name” ***
And just like that the Wynonna Earp team is down one member. Unfortunately, it’s for good this time. In “When You Call My Name,” Deputy Marshall Xavier Dolls (Shamier Anderson) stepped in to fight off a minion of the evil Bulshar in order to save Nicole Haught’s (Kat Barrell) life. However, in the process he exerted himself too much to recover and died as a result. While it seems that Dolls may have been suffering some side effects from whatever it is that Black Badge put him through, a lot of what he was experiencing is still unknown. Regardless, he seemed to know the risks behind what stepping up and saving Nicole may do to him, and yet, he did it anyway. He was a hero to the very end. Dolls is a major loss for Wynonna (Melanie Scrofano), as she loses her boss/partner and will definitely have a hard time recovering and moving on.
Dolls’ death because of these unknown side effects will come as a shock to the team, as Jeremy (Varun Saranga) seemed to be the only one aware that he was experiencing any issues, and will be just as big of a shock to many viewers as well. While some fans had made guesses about Dolls’ fate after seeing trailers before this season began, I am not sure anyone was ready to lose one of the members of Team Earp that’s been around since Day 1, especially so early in the season. Anderson, like the rest of the Wynonna Earp cast, has always had a close relationship with fans, attending multiple conventions where he’s interacted with them and the loss of the character will hit close to home.
This was not an easy episode for the show to take on, especially coming after a premiere episode full of fun and jokes, and sets a very serious tone for what’s ahead in Season 3. It was also an episode that, admittedly, I changed my feelings on after watching and rewatching it several times. Upon first viewing of the episode, written by Caitlyn D. Fryers and directed by Paolo Barzman, I found myself very frustrated throughout by what was happening with Dolls. Clearly things weren’t headed in a good direction, and every time he came on screen I just wanted to be let in on the secret. By episode’s end, we still didn’t have an answer.
Now taking a step back, I can see the confusion and fear over Dolls’ life was intentionally done and will be hopefully explained in the coming weeks. Perhaps it was meant to leave viewers feeling much like Wynonna herself: not understanding how he could be seemingly fine one minute, torch some guy, and then be lying dead the next.
Wynonna: “He saved us. He saved me. So how is this OK?”
Death is confusing. We don’t always know why someone dies or is taken from us. Knowing the Wynonna Earp writers and showrunner Emily Andras, they don’t put things into the story and just let them lie. We will come back to all these dangling threads sooner or later and there’s no way Wynonna will take Dolls’ death lying down. She’s going to want answers and to make someone pay. As if the threat of Bulshar wasn’t already close enough to her, he’s now come and knocked down her front door. I’m already eagerly awaiting the next few episodes where we learn about what triggered Dolls’ death and when Wynonna starts to really get a handle on the huge threat that Bulshar poses.
For now, I try to take solace in the fact that at least Dolls went out a hero, saving Nicole from perishing on the side of that cliff. He stepped up when the team needed him the most. Wynonna has always been the Heir, but Dolls provided her with a true sense of leadership and was always a guiding force for her and the team. How can that be replaced? What about the rest of the group? Jeremy will have to deal with guilt over keeping Dolls’ secret, while Doc (Tim Rozon) loses someone that he’s built up a great respect and true bond with. It should be very interesting to see how the dynamics of the group change without him around.
Losing Dolls presents another major challenge to Wynonna, so soon after losing Alice, and has the potential to really harden her. How she internalizes this loss, deals with it and keeps moving forward to fight Bulshar is something I’m very intrigued by. We sure don’t know much of Bulshar or what he’s capable of, but we got another glimpse of that this week and it does not look good. While I worry about the trouble he’s going to cause, as a viewer I’m excited about the idea of him as the Season 3 Big Bad.

Right at the center of all this will be Scrofano’s Wynonna. As much as this episode will be known for and remembered by fans as the one where we lost Dolls, it was also one hell of a showcase for everything Melanie Scrofano is capable of as an actress. From emotional moments with Mama Earp (Megan Follows), to utter desperation on a cliff face, to physical comedy guessing what Waverly (Dominique Provost-Chalkley) was miming and then the pain of losing Dolls, Scrofano stepped up to each and every challenge. And she made it look easy. She’s turned in many amazing performances over the show’s first two seasons, so this should stop surprising me, but somehow she keeps finding new and exciting ways to use her talent and bring another layer to Wynonna.
This was not your typical Wynonna Earp episode. As I said, I struggled with that the first time I watched, but upon repeat viewing I really came to appreciate it. The scenes between Wynonna and Mama Earp were unlike anything we’ve seen on the show and they gave a lot of insight into Wynonna’s childhood and what she’s been through. Scrofano and Megan Follows had me absolutely captivated. Wynonna clearly had a different relationship with her mother than Waverly, and now that Waverly is aware that Wynonna knew of Mama’s whereabouts this whole time there’s surely Earp sisters heartache ahead.
So while things may look bleak and very serious at the moment, the pieces of the puzzle for Season 3 that we’ve gotten so far — Bulshar’s power, Mama Earp, Nicole’s backstory, the mysterious stranger from Doc’s past and potential Earp sister drama — all have me more intrigued than ever moving forward. Dolls’ death is a major blow and a loss that they may never truly recover from, but with the rich world of Purgatory and these well-written characters, I can’t wait to see how they move on and get through it together.
Oh, and for what it’s worth: you’re wrong, Wynonna. You can do this without Dolls. You may not want to and I don’t want it for you, but he is at peace and you’re way stronger than you know. Remember, you’re the best of us.
What did you think of this episode? Add your thoughts below!
Wynonna Earp airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on SYFY and Space.
Ugh this episode title makes me think about the Vince Gill song of the same name and it makes it so much worse! 🙁
The fact we’ve only had 24 episodes with Dolls, which is the series so far yes but not a lot of time in comparison to other shows, definitely makes it feel too soon on top of the fact we didn’t know a whole lot about him really; it’s one of the reasons I am not ok with his exit. I know it was Shamier’s choice but still it hurts so much!
Black Badge thinks they have problems now wait until Wynonna focuses on them solely in the name of Dolls!
Ok it’s no secret I love Nicole but I do question that cliff scene because she wasn’t far from the ledge Wynonna fell on and Wynonna fell from a higher height soI do feel the need to ask – couldn’t Wynonna drop Nicole down and she be ok then Nicole pitch Peacemaker up and wait on rescue? Dolls saved everyone on the cliff side not just Nicole so he definitely went out a hero! “How can that be replaced?” – it shouldn’t; she can have others who want to help but there’s only one Dolls in her life.
“As much as this episode will be known for and remembered by fans as the one where we lost Dolls, it was also one hell of a showcase for everything Melanie Scrofano is capable of as an actress.” – true.
I’m definitely still watching the series, admittedly because Nicole is there (it’s a good handled show beyond all the characters but I couldn’t watch as much without certain ones), but I have to be honest and say it took a hit in regards to enjoyment for me because of the loss of Dolls.
This is a world built for surprise returns so he could come back if Shamier wants I feel, but in the mean time it’s going to feel like a missing piece watching episodes from now on – in my opinion.
Wynonna definitely can do it by herself but here’s hoping she doesn’t have to and doesn’t lose anyone else we love in the process!
“What did you think of this episode?” – overall I’d give it a good; as you said it’s probably higher than that the more you watch but it’s the best I can do currently.
Dolls was not the only hero in this episode. He did pay the ultimate price but wynonna and Nicole were equally willing to sacrifice their lives to save each other. Nicole willingly went down that cliff to get peacemaker knowing the risks. She didn’t hesitate for a minute before asking wynonna to let her fall to her death! That is as heroic as u can get! Infact besides Dolls, Nicole has always been the most grounded and selfless character on the show. Shamier was itching to quit the show since season 2 as was very evident from his total lack of interaction with the cast and fans on social media during the last two years. He asked to be given a heroic send off and it was very generous of the Powers that Be to give him that. They could have easily made his character disappear in some way but they did what he wanted. I can’t wait to see Nicole/Kat play much bigger role this season because she really deserves it. She’s been there right from the beginning and despite not being in the opening credits, we all know she is much a lead character as anyone else. Call her a recurring character as much as u want, it doesn’t change the truth and I wouldn’t even be here commenting if she wasn’t there in the show. Kat has given herself totally to the show unlike some others and it’s high time the the people behind the show acknowledged it. Nicole really is the show for me and for many others.
So much “yes” to your post Ann!
I personally feel if Wynonna could survive the fall from higher up Nicole could top from the distance she was at, providing she hit the ledge like Wynonna did, so I debate the cliff scene but still the offer was heroic.
“In fact besides Dolls, Nicole has always been the most grounded and selfless character on the show.” – agreed. I want to bubble wrap her so much now though because I can’t lose her; I will agree with those who say Wynonna is a reason to watch and the series has great points because that will be true and I’ll wish it continued success but me personally I don’t know how much viewing umph if you will I’ll have to watch it like I am now without her…it’d be like watching “Orphan Black” season 4 without Delphine again – I might do it but I’m not as happy about it, I’d be even less so if she didn’t come back. #NoKillingNicole! They can do almost anything short of that but that’s the line – no killing.
“I can’t wait to see Nicole/Kat play much bigger role this season because she really deserves it. She’s been there right from the beginning and despite not being in the opening credits, we all know she is much a lead character as anyone else.” – agreed! Just because she’s not in the pilot doesn’t mean she’s not a main character; that’s like saying Victor Strand isn’t a main character for “Fear The Walking Dead” because he didn’t show up until like episode 5 of season one. I could understand not counting her as a main if she didn’t show up until season 2, but she’s been there since the start basically thus she’s every bit the main to me the others are. I know her contract makes her status debatable but she’s a main character as much as the rest.
In regards to the end of your statement, I think Kat gets just as much praise from the fandom as the others and from behind the scenes members but I can agree it’d be nice to more shout outs to Nicole because sometimes it does feel like her contributions to things go unnoticed. Hopefully with this season being kind of half about her more fans will get to to know her and embrace her even more than they have; I know the show is called “Wynonna Earp” but Nicole might be my favorite.
I do enjoy the sisters don’t get me wrong and I liked Dolls and we’ll see what happens with Jeremy as we learn more on him but something about Nicole just grabs me; she’s my Delphine of this series. 🙂
Hey there! Thanks for replying to and appreciating my post. I love Nicole as much as you do and I really hope Kat gets her due this season. If u watch BTS stuff that has been released for all episodes up till now, she gets the least amount of footage in terms of bloopers etc. I want to know why? Take her character out of the show and half ur fandom would leave. This is not an exaggeration but a fact. And still they give her the least amount of footage, sometimes even less than Jeremy! Also, do u feel annoyed by Waverly this season because she seems a little cold towards Nicole in certain scenes? I don’t know if it’s the acting or the script but it annoys me to no end. I love wayhaught but sometimes, I feel like Nicole deserves someone who dotes on her as much as she dotes on Waverly cuz I don’t see that warmth and affection reciprocatedto the same extent by Waverly. It hurt to see her turn to Dolls instead of Nicole when she wanted to go off after talking to Wynonna. I just feel that Kat/Nicole deserve so much better overall!
Maybe Kat just doesn’t have as many bloopers as others? General footage I agree they could show her in more clips, but if they’re doing scene goofs maybe she doesn’t have as many as others?
In regards to Waverly, I personally haven’t seen anything that gives me pause with them this season. I still feel Waverly kissed Rosita as a way to get back at Nicole in a sense and I don’t like that but beyond the Rosita kiss I’m fine with WayHaught as it currently is.
Yeah I agree about Kat not having many bloopers (the woman is goddamn perfect) but they don’t even show her filming the scenes like they do in case of Mel,Dom,Tim etc. all the time and it’s so unfair and insulting! Kat is one of the MAJOR reasons behind the show’s success and it his can’t be stressed enough! I just want her to be treated on par with the rest of the so called ‘core’ characters.