'Wynona Earp' Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Wynonna desperately tries to pick up the pieces of a broken curse
Spoilers for 'Wynonna Earp' Season 4, Episode 1 'On the Road Again'
Last season's finale may have ended the curse, but there's still a lot it left unresolved, and Wynonna Earp (Melanie Scrofano) is left desperately trying to pick up the pieces. Wynona finds herself in more than one unfamiliar position as she finds herself without Waverly Earp (Dominique Provost-Chalkley), Doc Holliday (Tim Rozon), and most pressingly, without the Peacemaker. We're used to the status quo changing at the start of every new season, but it's never been quite like this.
Thankfully, while the siuation may be vastly different, the show retains its trademark humor, wholesome irreverence just this side of dirty, and as always, that special brand of badassery you can only find on 'Wynonna Earp.' The laughs come a mile a minute, and the action's not far behind. The show has devemloped its cast wonderfully over the last three seasons, and all it takes is a few moments with each to feel like the series is truly back in the saddle.
The premiere episode retains a sense of urgency - Waverly and Doc Holliday are still in danger, and Wynonna is doing all she can to get to them. We get to see Wynona play off characters she doesn't usually spend a lot of time one-on-one with, and she manages a unique, and wholly separate camaraderie with former Sheriff Randy Nedley (Greg Lawson) and current Sheriff Nicole Haught (Katherine Barrell) - the latter of which is still very mad at Wynonna. There's a new vulnerability to Wynonna, who does not have the powers of the Peacemaker grounding her anymore - she no longer has a destiny giving her a central hero's role, she's on the same footing as everyone else. She hasn't fully adjusted to that yet, but with her sister in danger, there's no time to experiment.
The Search for Waverly has all the show's action and humor, and is balanced by scenes with Waverly herself, and her would-be rescuer, Doc Holliday. They are trapped in the eeriness of the Garden, a place full of mysteries and an unnerving cold that goes beyond the surrounding snow. The sets for the Garden are minimal, but still manage to go a long way into setting the tone of this strange new place that will doubtless be central to the events of the season ahead.
While Wynona might be lost, the show itself keeps its footing on solid ground. There's never an opportunity missed for quick wit, instantly quotable lines and moments for an extended cast of extremely entertaining characters - including newcomer Rachel Valdez (Martina Ortiz-Luis), who makes a strong first impression as a wilful survivalist teen. 'Wynonna Earp' is back, locked, and loaded, and it's first episode is a definite hit.
The next episode of 'Wynona Earp' airs August 2, on Syfy, at 10 PM ET.