The “Wynonna Earp” Team Discusses “Vengeance,” Including Those Deaths, Filming On Location, And More

🚨 THERE ARE MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD FOR WYNONNA EARP: VENGEANCE! 🚨

1. Emily, you mentioned it was great to give fans a happy ending with the Wynonna Earp Season 4 finale, but it was exciting to “blow everything up” with Vengeance. But was that a daunting task or scary to do?

Emily Andras: Well, I have no game, so I will tell you at first that it was terrifying. It was bone-chilling. Becuase, look, you know how rare it is, Nora, in the TV game to get a series finale and then also for most people to be happy with the finale. Like, people were pretty satisfied with the end of Season 4. So, for people to say, “Wait, but there’s more,” you know, you have to blow it up. 

First of all, it’s a special for a new network, so the stakes have to be big. You can’t just do everyone sitting on the couch holding hands. The fans think they might like that, but that’s what fanfiction is for. The sweet moments are only made so sweet by all the tragedy and strife that you put the characters through, right? You kind of earn those moments. 

Earp has never done anything traditional. We had a heroine who got pregnant in the second season. We went down for financial reasons. We weathered COVID. So once I wrapped my head around that, I was like, it is a chance to tell a story after the wedding. After the happily ever after. That is kind of unusual. That feels very Earp. What was important was staying honest to these characters. That you can love someone deep in your soul and still want more for yourself. That, it’s hard for one person to give you absolutely everything you need. You can have a healthy marriage and still be ambitious, or you can be in a relationship and understand that you’re kind of addicted to passion, and maybe you’re not the settling down kind. 

It was so important for us to be committed to the characters that people already knew and loved that it felt Earp-y. So that’s my hope. It still feels like the decisions these beloved characters would make. 

2. Dom and Kat, how was it being back as Waverly and Nicole? What was the first scene you filmed together?

Dom Provost-Chalkley: It was so wonderful coming back. I feel a little bit like a broken record, but it just felt particularly special because we had wrapped everything up so beautifully at the end of Season 4 that it felt like such a treat to be able to open the box again and dust off our outfits and see where we’re now. To see the evolutions and the bits that have stayed and the bits that have changed and just to come back together and play. It was such a blessing. 

The first scene we shot was particularly such a special day for me because it was such a beautiful setting. We were on a frozen lake. It was so stunning. The scene that we shot didn’t actually end up in the movie because Kat had a wig. Do you remember Kat?

Katherine Barrell: I do remember. That was the day my wig ruined everything. I had a wig on, and it looked really bad. So we had to reshoot. That night, Emily called me and was like, “We can’t use that wig.”

DP-C: We ended up having to shoot that same scene right at the end of the shoot in a studio and recreate it so it has a slightly different feel. But that initial scene that we did film, I remember sitting next to you and Mel [Scrofano] and being like, “I know this sounds, like, so Waverly, but I’m just so happy to be here with you guys.” I couldn’t help but just share my gratitude, really, for the fact that the first scene back was with Kat and Mel. It just felt really iconic. 

KB: I remember seeing Dani [Kind] there, too, and she’s in this insane costume. She’s like a beacon on a frozen lake. Just seeing all the crew again. It was such a beautiful sunny day. It felt heavenly, almost. 

3. Melanie and Tim, Wynonna and Doc’s first scene in Vengeance feels like classic Earp. How was it filming such a fun moment in the casino?

Melanie Scrofano: It just ended up being really funny because when Tim and I were blocking it, we were like, “And then we make out,” and then I turned around, and I’m like, “Oh, but these guys are still here.” And everyone was like, “Well, yeah, they’re knocked out.” And I was like…”Oh, just right here, we’re gonna do this with them right there.” And I just remember thinking it was so funny. 

I don’t know if it was because it was an awkward but classic Wynonna Earp moment of, like, yes, this sexy thing will happen with a bunch of unconscious bad guys right there.

Tim Rozon: Those guys were funny. They were big guys. One of them was 6’3″ or 6’4″. He was like, “This is the weirdest day I’ve ever had,” and it’s because he had to pretend to be knocked out while Wynonna and Doc do grown-up things right next to him. 

MS: I did end up forgetting he was there.

4. Emily, Mercedes’ death is a huge moment to kick this special off with. What gave you the idea to end Mercedes’ story here and how was it working with the wonderful Dani Kind again?

EA: I don’t want to toot our own horn, but we are a family. We have so much fun together on set, and the benefit of time made us all realize, you know, any chance you have to go back and do Earp is a gift. So when I called Dani, and I’m never going to trick anyone, I was like, “Look, Mercedes’ death is going to be the catalyst for this whole thing.” And she said, “I’m in. I’ll come do whatever you want.” 

It was sad, but I also think you see Mercedes’ growth as a character. Her friendship with Nedley, ice fishing. And she makes a choice, too, to kind of defend him, right? She goes out swinging. She goes out being like, “Fuck you.” So I was pretty happy about that. It felt like the right death, too, Nora, because it was a catalyst to get everybody back together. But it wasn’t so devastating that we couldn’t have a drunken brawl at the wake. They are still able to have fun. Sometimes, you just go with your gut. Like, we need it to matter, but it can’t be so devastating that this movie is a bummer. RIP Mercedes. She lived a life. 

5. Doc’s big hero sacrifice and death is probably the most shocking moment at the end of Vengeance. Why was now the correct moment for this to be Doc’s end, and was it something that had been planned for a while?

TR: Listen, what if I told you that…I might have asked for it.

MS: I was hoping you were going to bring this up.

TR: I think it’s a great arc for the character. People always ask, “What was your favorite scene, or what was your favorite season?” But in all honesty, when it comes to Wynonna Earp it was the entire arc that I was given. Just because I’ve gone through so many different levels and emotions, and to end it the way we did, I just loved it. I personally loved it. I thought it was really great. And I think Emily did it justice. I was never nervous. I was in great hands. I died in, literally, the best hands possible. And I had Emily Andras writing that scene. I felt safe. It was a good way to go. I’ll say this…it’s a sci-fi show. Anything is possible, right?

EA: Tim would tell you the truth about it being his idea. You should feel very proud of that, Nora.

There is something natural about Doc, having been on this 175-year-old journey. He’s been a gunslinger, he’s been a vampire, he’s been a good guy, he’s been a bad guy, he’s been a dad. What is the ultimate last adventure? It’s death, right? It did kind of feel like the right choice for him. 

But this is the truth about Tim Rozon that we all know. Nobody is more Earp than Tim Rozon. The Earpiest Earper who ever lived. So he had a meeting with Tubi, and he basically said, “Look, we have this passionate fandom. We have more stories to tell. I’m sure Andras can do it, hopefully.” And Tubi said, “Well, what makes this a special? What makes it not another episode?” And he said, “I’ll tell you. We’re gonna kill off Doc.” So it was his pitch. 

But then, you know, people go out for dinner and pitch all sorts of things. When we actually got a green light, I said to Tim, “I can fight this. People say crazy stuff all the time.” I said Meryl Streep was going to be in it. I said, “You already sold it. So, do you want me to fight?” And he was like, “No because I trust you, and I do think it’s an interesting story, and you will give it weight.” 

That being said, as soon as Tim got on set, he was like, “Em…do you think we…I don’t think I cannot do this again if we get to go again.” I was like, “Let’s talk. We can figure it out.” That’s the next problem. 

I think it just speaks to how much the cast understands that the show has become something that was created by us, and shifted to something that’s owned by the fans. I think creators struggle with that sometimes, like that’s the ultimate gift that other people take ownership of it. And Tim was like, “Anything we can do to get more Earp to these people we love is good.”

Mel, was it a tough to film that final scene between Wynonna and Doc?

MS: Anything with my Tim is, like, easy. So even if it’s hard. It’s easy. And that’s what I’ve learned. I used to put a lot of pressure on it to be like, Oh, this has to be good, but like, it will be because we’re together. It felt good in that sense. It was a really tough one. I don’t love that he’s gone and that things happened that way. 

I also have faith that we have some friends in high places. I think, much like Wynonna, it’s all about keeping hope alive. She’s not going to give up, and neither will I. 

6. Tim, you finally got to ride a horse. How was it getting to live Doc Holliday’s best cowboy life?

TR: You know, Nora. I finally got the horse. I’m gonna be honest: I didn’t ask for the horse, but I feel like I was GIVEN the horse. That was Emily, and I think the higher-ups were like, “Okay, we got to give this kid a horse.” I had to do a driving test for some reason this time around. I guess it’s a new protocol on all sets. If you’re going to drive a vehicle, you have to not only provide your license but show you can drive a car. So I had to go drive – I’ve been driving forever — for five minutes. And then I had to do the same with the horse. They were like, “Can you ride a horse?” And I was like, “Guys, I can ride the horse.” And then I got to go ride a horse with a cowboy and after five minutes, he called them, and he was like, “Yeah, the guy can ride a horse.” 

EA: You’ve got to be careful when you put an actor on something like that, right? Every actor in the world, Nora, has on their resume: can ride a horse. So, we were like, “Tim, we need to have a stunt rider.” Tim sent like five videos of himself on a horse, doing all sorts of wacky stunts, because he is a good rider. And then, we let him pick the horse. It’s so funny. It’s like casting. You get a list of all these horses. Like, who’s the Timothée Chalamet of horses?

7. We see Nicole and Waverly in their married phase, which also leads to some tension. Ultimately, Waverly decides to go out on an adventure, and Nicole gives her permission, knowing they are a stable couple. How was it writing and playing this stage of their relationship?

EA: It’s kind of the secret of storytelling, right? People think they want just the goodness. They think they want WayHaught just sitting on the couch. But that stuff is only rich because they go through real-life problems because they’ve had to get to that point. I just think there’s maturity and true love in marriage, in having to admit that you can’t get everything you need from just one person all the time. 

I think it was so good as a female character for Waverly to be like, I have ambition, and I’ve never let myself embrace it. But, I think I do want to go on an adventure and try and use my brain. And now I actually feel so secure in this marriage and this true love that I know I’ll always have this root pulling me home. So it was a good way to give the relationship strife without some of those tropes that people hate, like cheating or what have you. 

As always, those performances just blew my mind. It felt so baked in, like the vulnerability, and they’re just so committed that I never worry about writing that stuff because they just elevate it. And Kat and Dom did like they always do. Waverly has always been so fucking smart, right? She craves knowledge. And just to give her the chance to leave Purgatory, which is something she never thought she could. And also, frankly, if Wynonna hadn’t come home, I’m not sure she would’ve had the guts to. Also, Nicole, as well, deserves credit for seeing that in her wife. People do long distance. It’s okay. It doesn’t mean the end of something. It can strengthen the bond. I’m sure that’s what will happen for those two. 

KB: We don’t get to see the after-happily ever after because most shows end. I think it was so lovely to get to explore. I mean, Nicole’s on cloud 9 because nothing crazy is happening, and she feels like she has everything under control for the first time ever. So she’s just thrilled with life. I think all she wanted was a chance to, like, renovate their house. She just wanted the crazy to be at bay so they could just go on a couple of camping trips, get some renovations done, buy groceries, and have a taco night. That’s all she wanted, and she got it in spades for two years, and now it’s over. 

I think it was really lovely to get to explore. I love these characters so much, and I just so badly want them to be happy. I’ve always had this weird thing where I feel like they exist in another universe. They’re still living somewhere else because I can’t really think of them not existing. So it was really lovely to get to play the simplicity of that until it all goes up in flames. 

DP-C: I was actually happy to see that we were going to play some of the tension and the reality of what can happen in relationships. And that it doesn’t take anything away from their love, their gratitude for one another, and their strength. I don’t know anyone who has had a relationship that doesn’t have their little issues or their little disagreements. Waverly has so much adventure inside of her and so much ambition that isn’t being fulfilled, even though she loves her wifey life-y. She’s so invested in their relationship but it doesn’t take away that she has this burning desire for adventure and to be out in the field. She was the one who was researching all of her life to try and break the Earp curse. It’s such an integral part of her. So to see how that manifests is actually a really cool and courageous thing to do. 

We see them during this special work with that, and it showcases even more of their strength. The fact that Nicole is like, “Go, we’re fine. You need to do this.” I think that was a really beautiful choice that Emily made. 

KB: It makes the relationship that much more real because, as you said, Dom, every relationship has that. You still exist as an individual inside of your relationship. So how are you together, but still yourself, and if you lose yourself, the relationship is over. 

8. Paolo Barzman, who directed so many iconic Wynonna Earp episodes, got to direct Vengeance. How was it working with him again?

EA: He’s such a good balance, Nora, of challenging us and at the same time understanding that the fun and the chaos and the mess are also kind of the ornaments on the Christmas tree that make Earp. He’s just a genius. 

We filmed this special in 16 days, which is unbelievable. I truly don’t think anyone but Paolo Barzman could have done it. Just judging when one take is enough, and judging when an emotional scene or something needs a little bit more. He trusts his crew and the cast, and his energy is just infectious. He’s amazing. 

DP-C: Paolo has such a way of being like whatever we capture at the moment; that’s good. That’s what it needs to be. He’s not someone who overshoots. It doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect. It adds to the Wynonna chaos. I think that’s what I’ve really learned from Paolo as an artist in general. Instead of seeking perfection, just embrace the chaos. That’s why he’s the director for Wynonna; it’s just so on-brand. There was something I really had to learn in that, I had all of these ideas and wanted it to be amazing. And you kind of have to go like, It’s exactly what it was supposed to be. In my head, that last scene [in the bar at Mercedes’ wake], I thought we would be at it for hours. He did it in a oner. One take. 

KB: We did it once, and I think I dropped my line, and I screwed it up, and then we did it a second time. They were like, “That’s it. We got it.”

DP-C: That’s a wrap.

9. This time around, you filmed on location rather than in the standing sets and studio spaces that were used for the series. How was it filming primarily on location this time?

MS: It was different. Everything was cold. It was really still Wynonna. It felt to me like going back to Season 1 in the scrapiness and the energy. 

TR: I loved it. It felt the same, but it felt different. It felt fresh. It felt exciting. And then, the first scene, the first day, we’re in an actual casino while the casino was running. It smelt of cigarettes. We were filming there, and it was amazing. I mean, at lunch, I put $20 on roulette on my son’s birthday and hit. So lunch was great. The first day was amazing. I was up $700.

MS: And our executive from Tubi, who we love, who was with us from the beginning. Josh [Van Houdt]. He’s going to hate that I brought him up, but he has been a champion of the show and to have him on set with us was special. He loves the show so much so to have him there was such a great morale boost. It made us all happy.

EA: It did make it feel a little more cinematic filming on location. We weren’t kind of bound to the sets, so you could think outside the box. Just stepping on the Homestead and having that grit and being back together again. You can’t beat it. Just seeing the mountains. The location is such a part of the flavor of Wynonna Earp. Even the weather. It really adds to the magic sauce, I think.

10. The Homestead had to be recreated, this time inside what was typically used for just the exterior shots in the original series. How was it seeing the art department pull off making the location feel like the old studio space?

EA: We had this incredible art director, Trevor Smith, who did come up with the idea where he was like, “I think I can actually insulate the Homestead on location,” because it would be freezing. Next sequel, let’s do Hawaii. 

KB: There was always such a distinct look to the Homestead, and seeing that maintained, they matched it so perfectly. We’ve seen what the inside of that space looks like. When we would film in the Homestead, and if we ever had an exit and we were shooting exteriors, we would come out of that building. It was just a bare, nothing building. Just to see the tones and the paint. 

The Homestead always had that yellow; there’s such a distinct palette to that space, and to see it recreated with the lacy curtains and the creaky door. There is a magic and I was wondering if it would feel the same stepping into something that had to be rebuilt. They did change the layout, and I thought they captured it so well. It still felt like the Homestead that we had been shooting in for all those years, just an enhanced version.

11. Do you have a favorite detail or Easter egg that was incorporated into the Homestead for Vengeance?

DP-C: I’m not going to lie to you, Nora. I fully wept when I walked on that set for the first time. Mel and I walked in and just sobbed. It was really emotional to see. I think the thing that really touched me was a picture of Wynonna and Doc at the wedding. Those little things. The pictures of Alice that were on the fridge.

KB: I really liked finding your cheerleading outfit. I thought that was a fun throwback. The pictures were a big one for me, too.

EA: I really like the “Homo Sweet Homestead” sign. That was pretty funny. Not subtle. Sorry. Just beautiful things, too. The craft stuff was all so gorgeous. One thing that was really cute was the tip boot from Shorty’s. So the boot that Doc Holliday first puts a tip in when he meets Waverly is on the shelf. The little wedding topper from the cake is on the shelf, too.

And a lot of the props had left the set after filming ended for Season 4, right?

EA: It was hilarious because, in typical Earp fashion, we had two auctions where we literally got rid of everything. Girl, it was like 48 hours after the last Waverly jacket went out the door that they were like, “Great news! We’re back!” And I was like, “We have sold this place down to the studs.” Although, in typical Earp fashion, I know the woman who bought Wynonna’s truck, and she was like, “I’ll drive it from North Dakota.” And we were like, “We’ll fly you in!” As soon as the fans found out, they were like, “I’m FedExing the leather jacket to Calgary.”

12. Calgary’s winter has always felt like another character on Wynonna Earp, and we get that again in Vengeance. How was it returning to the freezing cold to film?

EA: There was one day it was so cold the camera shut down. It was so cold that the gun, Peacemaker, almost froze to Mel’s hand. We were like, Oh my god, we’re going to give our leading lady frostbite. It would’ve been stuck in her hand forever. Great for conventions, but not everyday life. But all that stuff leads to the stakes. That sense of danger and the elements being against you. I think it’s baked in subconsciously when you watch the show, which is kind of interesting. 

DP-C: We were definitely a little chilly. I’m not gonna lie. The reality was that we were literally [filming the Homestead scenes] in an old barn that had cracks. It just so happened that the weeks we were in the interior, it was, like, minus 25, minus 27 sometimes. With the wind chill, it was down to minus 30 or something. But because we were inside, we had to act like it was nothing. There was a lot of tensing, trying not to shiver.

KB: I remember when you were doing that scene with Mel on the floor, having a sister camp out by the fire, and they had to stop three times and pump heat because you could see their breath. Like you could see them breathing. So they had to pause filming, heat up the room, and then Dom and Mel would continue. 

I get so lucky on this show, and I will say it every time. I always get the most comfortable costumes. I got the most layers, and I was still cold. Dom, do you remember when we were shooting our beautiful kissing scene when we were cleaning up the craft room? And remember, I said to you, “You’re wearing, like, a tank top, and I’m in seven sweaters,” in an attempt to hide my pregnancy. 

We just put more clothes on me. We just made me bigger. And everything’s gonna be dark, except for this one strip of yellow right over my belly. Our costume designer, Jen, is so amazing and she does such a great job. We were always joking that Dom was in no clothes. I was frozen, and I was wearing so many layers, and I was like, Kat, you can’t say anything about being cold.

DP-C: But you were such a sweet support of being like, “Dom, are you okay? I can’t stop thinking about how cold you must be. I’m cold. So you must be freezing.”

13. The villain this time around feels the most personal, not only for Wynonna but also for Wynonna and Doc, because Mina directly threatens Alice. How was it exploring a villain that directly allowed us to learn more about Wynonna’s backstory?

EA: I think initially, I would’ve gone back to the well on some Season 4 stuff we left unanswered. Tubi, very smartly, was like, “We really want anyone to be able to tune in. Like, we know we’re going to get the hardcore Earpers, but we want them to talk their stepdad and their niece and their aunt into watching it.” I didn’t want to get too mired in the mythology. At the same time, what makes Wynonna so interesting is she really is the sum of her mistakes. Some of it is legacy. Some of it is that cycle of trauma that’s hard to break. But I’m kind of also fascinated, Nora, with the idea of like, look, we all have that thing we said in grade seven that makes us lie awake at night, right? But even more than that, because I’m so neurotic, what haunts me is the mistakes I made that I don’t even know about. 

I really love the idea of Mina being the sum of Wynonna’s mistakes, but also not really. So, just having a Wynonna who grows up a bit and understands that she’s responsible for this, but also not all of it. Also, god, Knox. Karen Knox. She’s so Earp in her DNA. Like, just when Melanie and Karen got on set together. She just got it immediately. She had been a fan of Earp. She’s an amazing director and writer of her own. She just felt perfect. The fans are just going to adopt her, like every villain. 

MS: It was really interesting to see more of where Wynonna comes from. We talked a lot about it but to actually see her memory of what she lived and the places that probably lived in her mind all of these years. We actually get to see it now, and it was really great for me as the person who plays Wynonna. Even the attention to detail on those sets. Some of the stuff might not even be in the movie, but the art department was really meticulous about putting details. It’ll break your heart, some of the stuff written on the walls. For a young Wynonna to see that. It’s like, no wonder she’s messed up. People were really messing with her. 

14. Wynonna and Doc’s porch scenes have been iconic to Wynonna Earp. This time, they finally talk about their relationship, only for Wynonna to lose Doc in the end. How was it writing and filming this particular moment?

TR: I love the porch scenes. They’re my favorite. I love that everybody knows the porch scenes are coming up, and we still lean into it. We’re just so lucky that we get to do such a fun show where we get to do so much. From the porch to the casino to the grave, we’re just always together and have a great time doing them. 

In those scenes, I selfishly also get to watch an amazing actor do their thing. I’m in it always, but there’s a part of me that’s watching Mel. What do people say these days? She’s cooking. She just cooks. I always leave there thinking, The girl can ACT, man. I love those scenes.

MS: Well, thank you. I’ve said it before, but there’s not much acting. Tim just looks at you, and there’s so much going on for him inside that he kind of brings it out in you. It’s just easy. Again, I used to be like, Oh god, it’s a porch scene, but on this one, I actually really relaxed. Usually, I need music or something because I’m so scared I’m gonna not be able to do it. This time, I was like, You know what? It’s us. We’re going to be great because it’s us. That’s the thing: when you’re with an actor who shows up, there’s not a lot of work to do. 

EA: Those types of scenes have helped me grow as a writer and understand what really makes genre work, like you see this even on really big shows like The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones. Sure, it’s great to have dragons or a scene on a train where people are fighting, and all of that is delicious, but it is still about character. It is still about two people together trying to connect. Finally, having an honest conversation. 

I think, particularly with Wynonna and Doc, it was important that they ended on terms where they had been honest with each other and how much they mean to each other and what they really want, what kind of role they want Alice to have in their life. I think that also spoke to maturity. I think these guys have been running for so long and fighting and fucking and not talking all the time. To have that moment before the battle and demise felt like growth. Also, that’s another example of Paolo being like, “We don’t need four takes of this. Look at these two. Look at them together. They just make each other better.” 

15. Wynonna also loses Peacemaker, which feels like yet another massive sacrifice in this special. How was it exploring the real character growth of Wynonna giving up Peacemaker?

EA: When we were in the third act, we were really like, Okay, Wynonna can’t use her normal tools to take down Mina. So what is she going to do? I think there was something so interesting, again, speaking to the theme of maturing. Mina was kind of right when she said, “Wynonna, this is the thing that makes you special. Like, this is the only thing you’ve ever been good at, right?” But also, we’ve dealt with this theme before on the show; it’s weird if the only thing you’re good at is killing. Even if it’s demons, that’s a very weird job. 

So for Wynonna to make the choice to give it up, and even mentally being okay with being second in command to Nicole, because she gets to be with the people she loves. That’s the thing you can’t buy: time and affection. It really felt like a decision Wynonna could not have made in Season 1. I think Peacemaker kind of gives Wynonna permission. I felt the whole thing kind of moving. I really love that they’ve been through hell, but sometimes, you have to sacrifice things to save what’s really, really important. That felt like maturity for Wynonna.

MS: It’s always interesting because it’s happened once before in a very different way where Wynonna loses Peacemaker. And I remember at the time being like, Oh man, like, who is she without it? And what’s her purpose? I think now, it’s kind of the same feeling. 

You kind of feel naked because that’s been part of the thing for so long. I put on the gun, and I’m Wynonna. So, redefining who she is to herself and who she is to me is interesting but scary. I don’t like change.

16. Wynonna Earp: Vengeance also ends with Nicole teaming up with Wynonna, which is just one of the best things ever. How do you think that partnership will play out?

EA: Okay, wouldn’t you watch 10 episodes of that?! Like how many times a week is Sheriff Nicole gonna have to put her own deputy in the drunk tank? Aren’t they gonna burn Bunny Loblaw’s house to the ground? Like, you know that sexy werewolf is gonna get the best of them. I could watch those two together forever. And honestly, Kat and Mel their growth as performers together and as their friendship has blossomed, delightful. Delightful. The greatest buddy comedy of all time. 

KB: I think Nicole, as much as she’s like, I want boring. I want simple. I don’t want anything to happen. I want the status quo. There is a part of her that revels and enjoys the chaos of the Earp sisters. That’s what she fell in love with. I think people who are innate protectors, like Nicole, I think she finds such purpose in trying to keep Wynonna in line. There is a secret joy that she would never show that Wynonna gives her. I think, as much as she wouldn’t admit it out loud, I think she’s very excited to have a little sidekick. 

MS: For me, it was strange because at the same time, Wynonna just lost Doc. It was strange for me to figure out how hopeful or excited she could really be here. But I think for her, she refuses to believe that Doc is gone. She’s lost him before. She can fight for him again. So, I think her moving forward with Nicole is really good for her to keep herself busy. Idle Wynonna is not great. She needs to always be working on something. I think this will be what saves her and keeps her sane until she can sort out her love life. I do think nobody better to do it with than her best friend. Keep getting on Nicole’s nerves will help her stay focused.

17. Emily, do you have a favorite scene from Wynonna Earp: Vengeance, either in terms of writing, performance, etc.?

EA: I mean, it’s hard to beat the day when everybody was on the Homestead together for the first time. It’s just a little moment, but just when they’re all around the table, kind of talking shit and trying to figure it out, and they’re having different conversations. Doc is talking about which finger you should lose. Wynonna is making fingering jokes. Waverly’s so angry, and Nicole’s injured. That felt like classic Earp to me. The true reunion.

My other favorite day was probably with Greg and Dani, with Nedley and Mercedes. We filmed on this location called Ghost Lake. It could have been such a shit show with the weather, but it was beautiful. It was clear. We had this ice fishing hut. We were in the middle of this frozen lake. it just felt like, Who gets to do this for a job?! Dani is in fluorescent yellow, walking around, busting Greg’s butt about stuff. It felt magical. I really felt privileged with this special I got to be on set for all of it. I haven’t in the past because I’ve been writing and editing the next episode or whatever. So I really tried to be present this time. It’s special. 

In the seance scene with the teen girls in the barn, one of those actresses is my daughter. Listen, Paolo put her through the ring. She had to audition twice. But just having her on set, seeing how many people it takes to put something together was so grounding for her. To be like, There’s 200 people here. They all have a job. But that was really fun to bring her. A little bit of nepotism, but she’s also wonderful. 

18. And finally, this is now the second time you’ve wrapped filming on Wynonna Earp, but did you sneak away with anything new from the set this time around?

KB: I was pregnant when we were filming, and the amazing costume team actually made a quilt for my children with my yellow shirt incorporated into it. I was so touched. I cried when they gave it to me. It incorporated like, graphics of the Homestead. Now I have this amazing quilt for Ronin and Celeste that they’ll have forever. 

I’m really getting emotional talking about it again. It has a piece of my costume in it, and they made that for them. And it must’ve taken them a long time. They were so tired, and the fact that they, like, spent their weekend making this quilt for my kids was just really sweet. It’s my yellow shirt. It’s like a rabbit that was on the shirt I was wearing. So they took that, and they made it. It just shows how special and unique this journey has been with all of these people. 

TR: I actually messed up. I normally don’t ever take things, especially the Wynonna set, because I just always feel like if I take something, then it’s over. As long as I leave something there, then I know I’m going back. So that’s my superstition. I never do, But they made me a brand new custom hat. And I should have grabbed it. And it’s only because of my own superstition that I didn’t take it, but it literally was custom-fitted to my head. No one else can wear it. I should have taken it, but I didn’t. 

How awesome was that getting a custom Doc hat made, though?

TR: It was incredible. I have just the funniest pictures. If you’ve never seen a hat being made, it looks like the typewriter needles. Like a zillion of those around your head. You were, like, a hat made of typewriter needles. It was also made by the most famous cowboy in Calgary named Vern. He made me this incredible hat, and I should’ve taken it. And if Doc stays dead then I lost the hat. 

MS: I feel like Tim’s going to be mad at me because he thinks it’s bad luck. But in my defense, there were four pairs of boots. There are three pairs left. I still have them. I’ll bring them back if necessary. Oh, and pants and a belt. Okay. That’s it. I don’t like to shop so I take this from Wynonna.  

DP-C: Usually you have, like, five months, which we didn’t have this time. We were all in a hotel. It felt like a sprint. It felt like a — what do you say in English? — a whirlpool? And suddenly, you’re out. I didn’t have the same time to reflect and to be like, What do I want to take this time? 

Maybe it’s not a superstition for me, but it did feel more like a reboot. There was less of a need to take something with me this time.