Wynonna Earp’s finale closes out an excellent first season run

To say I was expecting a lot out of the Wynonna Earp finale is an understatement. I’ve made no secret about shouting from any rooftop I can find just how much I’ve been enjoying the supernatural Syfy series’ first season. Wynonna embodies everything I want out of a TV series: a kickass female lead with several other compelling and fully-formed females supporting her, deliciously creepy and complex villains, romance, action and shoot ‘em ups, and last but not least, snark for days. So yes, my expectations were at an all-time high heading into Season 1’s final episode, “I Walk the Line,” and I’m happy to report that Emily Andras and company not only met those expectations, but pretty much blew everything I thought I knew right out of the water.

Let’s be honest, finales are hard, and if you don’t get them right you can leave even your biggest fans bitter, angry and questioning whether or not they’ll join you the following season. Often times a series’ penultimate episode is so good that it doesn’t matter what the finale does, you’re still left feeling a bit let down. There’s also the question of whether or not to end on a cliffhanger, especially if you’re a show like Wynonna that has no guaranteed renewal. So factor all these things in and yep, finales can be a tricky beast to say the least. However, Wynonna Earp proved that while finales may be difficult, the show has an Ace up its sleeve named Emily Andras.

From the very beginning, Wynonna has been showrunner Andras’ baby, and she’s poured her heart, soul, intellect and wit into every single story and character during the show’s first season. Given that, Andras just had to write this finale, plain and simple. There’s no doubt in my mind that a lesser writer would’ve easily stumbled their way through wrapping up all the various storylines that have been introduced in the show’s first season. But this isn’t Andras’ first rodeo and she’s not just another horse in the race. She gave us some much needed resolution on some of the stories we’ve been following all season long (Willa’s betrayal and Bobo’s desire to leave the triangle), but also introduced a ton of mysterious new elements (Evil Waverly!?!?) that are sure to have fans screaming for more immediately after the screen fades to black.

My favorite kind of television program is the one I can watch and afterwards say “Damn, that was fun! Let’s do it again!” I’m looking for a TV series that no matter what kind of day I’m having, it let’s me escape, reunites me with characters I know and love, allows me to become totally immersed in the storytelling and leaves me with a huge smile on my face. If I can find a show that stirs those emotions within me then I’m hooked and jump all in with both feet. Look, we’ve all got busy lives filled with things to do, people to see and places to be. If a television program expects me spend an hour of my precious time watching it, then it better damn well be worth it. Each and every week this season Wynonna Earp was worth it.

Sadly, just as in life, all good things must eventually come to an end and consider my fingers and toes already crossed for that Season 2 renewal news for Wynonna. This finale set up so many new plot lines that I can’t wait to explore, not only with Andras and her team of supremely talented writers, but also with the show’s terrifically talented cast. Just as the phenomenal writing on a show starts and ends with the showrunner, the excellence of a show like Wynonna Earp hinges on its leading lady.

Throughout the course of the first season, Wynonna has had to deal with being thrown reluctantly into a role she didn’t choose for herself. She had to realize and overcome the doubters, including herself, to prove she’s the rightful heir to the Earp legacy. Along the way, Wynonna learned that she’s no longer “just some girl,” and Melanie Scrofano is certainly not “just some actress.” From day one she has wowed viewers with her toughness, vulnerability and comedic timing that make it impossible to root against Wynonna. Plain and simple, if we don’t care about Wynonna, then we don’t care about the show. Scrofano’s performances each week have ensured that will never happen.

Wynonna: “She’s better than me Doc. Faster. I don’t think I can beat her.”

Doc: “But you are still gonna try.”

Wynonna: “I have to.”

Doc: “Careful Earp. Doing what’s right, even in the face of ridiculous odds … you are beginning to sound like a hero.”

The other great thing the finale did was not only highlight how perfect Scrofano is as Wynonna, but showcased each of the other members of the cast and how well they all fit together to pull off various shades of gray each week. From Tim Rozon’s charismatic Doc Holliday, to Dominique Provost-Chalkley’s tiny but fiercely brave Waverly, Michael Eklund’s deliciously evil Bobo Del Rey, Shamier Anderson’s stoic Agent Dolls and Katherine Barrell’s incredibly charming Nicole Haught, this cast is an embarrassment of riches. There are so many fun and unique pairings for the writers to choose from each week and the finale was no exception.

A fine example of this stellar cast is the fact that one could argue Provost-Chalkley and Waverly damn near stole the entire episode out from under Wynonna and the rest of us. All season long Waverly has been the one person the audience cares for the most. She’s the little sister and we all want nothing more than to protect her. By putting Waverly in jeopardy with that shocking ending, Andras ensured that the audience is now more invested than ever should we get a Season 2.

Unfortunately for many fans, the time has now come to say goodbye to Wynonna and the gang. I don’t know about you all, but it’s been a long time since I’ve just flat out enjoyed a season of television this much. From what we’ve seen this first season, and the thrill ride the finale just took us on, there’s one thing for certain — Wynonna Earp knows exactly what type of show it is and where it’s going. I can only hope Syfy will hurry up with that renewal news so we can all get back in line to take this crazy ride again next year!

What did you think of the Wynonna Earp finale and the show’s first season? Sound off in the comments below!