Wynonna Earp’s Dominique Provost Chalkley Reflects On Waverly’s Season 2 Journey

It’s safe to say Waverly Earp (Dominique Provost Chalkley) has been through a lot on this season of Wynonna Earp. From being possessed by the evil goo that turned her into Gooverly, to questioning whether or not she’s truly an Earp, or human for that matter, all while building her relationship with Nicole (Katherine Barrell), Waverly has had a very busy season indeed. Whether or not she’ll get answers to questions, such as whether she’s half revenant or if Bobo (Michael Eklund) is her father, that have plagued her all season long still remains to be seen. The Season 2 finale episode will air this Friday at 10 p.m. ET on Syfy and Space, and will see Wynonna (Melanie Scrofano) desperate to defeat the Widows.

Not only has Waverly been fighting her own demons, but she’s been right by sister Wynonna’s side as she has done the same, pregnant and all. For Provost-Chalkley, the experience of playing alongside Scrofano, who was pregnant in real life, was more powerful than she ever could have imagined. She recently spoke exclusively with The TV Junkies ahead of the finale about acting with Scrofano, Waverly’s journey this season and why the ups and downs this season may have been the best thing in the end for WayHaught’s relationship.

The TV Junkies: It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end of Season 2, and Waverly has had quite the season. Now that all is said and done, what was it like going on that journey with her?

Dominique Provost Chalkley: It is crazy, and crazy to look back once you’ve been through the process. It was a huge season for Waverly, and more unexpectedly this year than last. When we first started I genuinely thought that Waverly had the most incredible arc in Season 1. Then Season 2 was just even more, but in a different way. Season 1 she was understanding who she was, and now Season 2 you think she has it all together, but actually there’s so much more that comes once you’ve started to understand who you are as a woman. That’s way more interesting almost because it’s like ‘how am I going to fit in as this person,’ when it’s all the dynamics you’ve been around you’re whole life. Really, Waverly has made some big mistakes this year, and she’s gone through a hell of a lot.

Looking back, I just feel really proud of everyone to be honest. Everyone had a huge season this year. It wasn’t just one character or another, we all individually had a huge journey, and they all just mesh so nicely. Mel has had the biggest journey this season, and I almost see it as her season. The story we told was so beautiful and I’m just glad I could be by her side.

TTVJ: A lot of attention, rightfully so, has been paid to all the special skills you got to show off this year. Of everything you had to do — cheerleading, Gooverly, singing, the sticks — which one did you enjoy doing the most?

DPC: I think probably the sticks actually, which may be unexpected for some people because I love singing and dancing so much. With the sticks it was so new for me and a whole new skill. I felt like it was a real treat to learn something specifically for a TV show. I do love working hard! So every night at home with the sticks, in front of my mirror, I had a little date night. It was super fun and I think that’s the best gift ever. I also felt so badass because I was fighting with sticks.

TTVJ: The Earp sisters are the relationship we’re all rooting for on the show, and you and Mel had some very powerful moments this season. What was it like for you working with her this season? It felt like, as a viewer, your true feelings for Mel almost came across at times as Waverly.

DPC: Working with Mel this season was the most magical experience I’ve ever had as an actress — so much so that it surprised me every time I was in a scene with her. When they told us the bombshell that Mel was pregnant, after the rush of excitement, the tears and all that as a friend, then a really big instinct kicked in. It was like ‘Oh, this means I need to do everything in my power to support her both onscreen and off screen. We are going to do something super special that is thrilling and exciting, not only for us as a group, but women and everyone out there to be able to see this in a show like Wynonna Earp.’

So when I went home, I sat down and was like ‘how are we going to do this?’ I understood what a huge journey Mel was embarking on, so it’s really sweet and I’m flattered you say that because it surprised me in the scenes. I’d read the scenes and expect it to go one way, and then Mel would arrive with her depth of emotion, and how full she is as an actress. Any time she attacks anything it’s so full and rich. She came, every single scene we did together, with all that, and then something changed for me as a human and as Waverly, where I felt like I had to be the big sister in this.

It was like I couldn’t break down because I had to be there for Mel, and that is why this season has been so great. Waverly’s season this year was different because of Wynonna’s season. She had to step into shoes that she was being forced to step into and therefore, you see a woman who is forced to be there for someone, and something comes out of her and surprises her at how capable she is of doing that. I think that’s really beautiful when you see the Earp sisters, whereas you traditionally would see Wynonna being there for Waverly, and now being able to do that for Wynonna is a really lovely shift and dynamic.

I think, especially this year, it was as if it was meant to be. It was like Mel just turned up, and gave us all a gift, and we just ran with it. How lucky we are that we had that opportunity!

TTVJ: The scenes between Waverly and Bobo (Michael Eklund) are always so captivating. You and Michael are so great in those scenes together. What are they like to film?

DPC: Working with Michael Eklund is the most fun thing ever. It is so fun! I look at the call sheet and think ‘Oh yay! I get to work with Michael today!’ He’s the most playful actor I’ve ever worked with. We have a rehearsal before we film and sometimes it’s very quick, but with Michael it’s like a good twenty minutes of just exploring before we start. That’s thrilling for an actor to be able to play and work it out, see the beats and highlights, where we’re going to find a connection and also break away from each other. It truly doesn’t feel like work.

I actually filmed those scenes in the mental hospital on a Saturday because we had to work around his schedule. I was the most giddy, happy human. Everyone on crew was like ‘ugh, it’s Saturday,’ and I was like ‘Yeah! Let’s do this!’ We truly had a blast and I think you can tell on screen.

There’s such an intensity between our two characters, and that’s been the interesting thing right from the get go. Waverly and Bobo are such extremes, and yet, they have something in common that we can’t really pinpoint. That’s thrilling to watch because when Waverly is around Bobo she is faced with a part of herself that comes out. He forces it out of her. It’s hard for her to accept that of herself in the moment. That’s why I tend to play it quite static. She’s just frozen because there’s emotion inside of her that she doesn’t know how to face — as well as being petrified of this crazy man rolling around on his knees in front of her.

TTVJ: While WayHaught has had some ups and downs this season, it was so lovely to see that no matter what timeline or universe they are in, those two are soulmates. Does that mean things are looking pretty good on the WayHaught front moving forward?

DPC: It’s hard to know, but I think what this season showed is that they have a true connection. It’s real love that they are experiencing, and that’s what we’ve been trying to show from the beginning. I think just because WayHaught has grown apart for a moment, had to find themselves and then come back together, that it’s all just part of the process of most relationships. I don’t know anyone out there that can honestly say they haven’t had ups and downs in relationships, especially when you’re young.

Waverly is like 21 or 22, so she’s working out who she is as a woman. Nicole is the first woman she’s ever been with, and not only that, she’s having a struggle with identity. These are huge, huge things that have put a strain on the relationship. I think it was inevitable they’d have a few hurdles to get over. What’s so lovely though is that they always come back together because they love each other.

I try to explain to people that they should focus on the things that really matter. I understand completely that people were hurt by the course of events that happened. It’s hard and heartbreaking that it’s happening, but the facts are that they love each other in a way more profound way than any of that. They needed to go through that to work those things out, so if anything, it brings them closer in the long run.

TTVJ: Do you ever think “let’s just have them go on a normal date?” [laughs]

DPC: Totally! [laughs] I thought we were going to have it when we were playing pool. I thought ‘oh they are just going on a date and going to play pool!’ But then Rosita was like ‘let’s have a baby shower and bash some babies!’ To be honest though, it’s way more interesting this way. Of course it’d be lovely to just go on a date, but we do that in our normal lives. Kat and I go for brunch, we’ve got that down fine. When we’re on set we want to be killing demons and all that good stuff.

TTVJ: What did you think when you heard that Nicole was married? We haven’t seen any resolution on that as of yet, but it seems like it was pretty clear to Shay where Nicole’s heart lie.

DPC: I was really surprised. If I’m being really honest, I was a little relieved. [laughs] I thought everyone was going to hate me up until that point, and how would I ever be forgiven. So I thought ‘at least it’s not just me!’ I was surprised, but also expecting it to go a bit further, manifest itself into a bit of a bigger problem. I think maybe we already had enough problems by that point that it was time to come back together.

She was also the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. I was like ‘of all of the people, Emily. Of all of the people you bring in the most beautiful actor I’ve ever seen in my life.’ I was like ‘oh great!’ [laughs]

What do you think of Waverly’s journey this season? Add your predictions for the finale below as well!

Wynonna Earp airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Syfy and Space.