Wynonna Earp Review: Steel Bars and Stone Walls (Season 2 Episode 1)

Wynonna Earp is finally back from hiatus and to be honest “Steel Bars and Stone Walls” Season 2 Episode 1, left us with more questions than answers! This supernatural thrill ride had us on the edge of our seats and kept us laughing through the chaos.

WHAT IS DOLLS?

We catch up with Wynonna and co. just moments after Season 1’s cliffhanger, and true to form Wynonna hasn’t even thought about slowing down as she spearheads a mission to get Dolls back from Black Badge’s clutches.

Even though the Scooby Gang literally takes a trip to Black Badge’s headquarter’s in Season 2 Episode 1, we still don’t learn what exactly Dolls is. Thank to his friend and fellow agent, Eliza, we learn that whatever supernatural thing he is, Black Badge made him that way.

WHEN DID DOC BECOME SO GREAT?

I have to admit when I first watched Season 1 I didn’t much care for one Doc Holliday, and only started warming to him when I watched through a second time. But in Wynonna Earp Season 2 Episode 1, he easily wins my affections and is quite possibly the MVP of the Season 2 premier.

Doc: I will get him out. And if he is no longer the raging asshole we know and respect, I will take care of it. It’s my turn Wynonna, you’ve had enough.

He cares deeply for both Earp sisters checking on not only Wynonna’s wellbeing but also Waverly’s. He respects them both and steps in to make sure that Wynonna isn’t pushing herself too hard.

Wynonna: Your head looks naked.

Doc also provides a lot of the comic relief this week when a monstrous demon eats his hat at the beginning of the episode and the Wynonna Earp team gets multiple equally hilarious jokes out of it in the following 42 minutes.

WHAT IS WAVERLY?

One of the biggest cliffhangers at the end of Wynonna Earp Season 1 was what exactly happened to Waverly when she touched that black demon residue. It’s turned her into something even more powerful than the tiny, brilliant badass she was before. When a second monster comes after her and a lab tech at Black Badge, she saves them simply by standing in front of it and telling it no.

Nicole: Hey Waves, you taste, um different…

It’s unclear if Waverly even knows what’s happened to her, outside feeling stronger. Will her new abilities continue to work in their favor, or will the youngest Earp need some kind of exorcism in Season 2?

WILL WYNONNA BE OKAY?

Yes. Absolutely, yes.

Wynonna’s always had her fair share of demons, both figurative and literal. But having to kill another member of her own family weighs heavily on her, as we’d hope because it means Wynonna still has her heart.

At the end of “Steel Bars and Stone Walls” we finally see Wynonna take a moment to mourn her sister. The scene is quickly followed by her seeing Dolls again and him bringing back her necklace. The juxtaposition of these scenes reassures us that with the love and support of her friends this heir is going to be just fine.  

Wynonna: There are still 62 Revenants out there trying to kill me.

Waverly: Aww, you did math!

Wynonna Earp Season 2 Episode 1 gives us the mission statement for the coming Season. Wynonna and her friends have not only demons to face in Season 2, but any number of hellish monsters that have been unleashed on Purgatory and they have to work much closer with Black Badge than ever before.

If “Steel Bars and Stone Walls” is any indication, we’re in for a hell of a ride for Wynonna Earp Season 2!

OTHER THOUGHTS:

• What did Dolls want Doc to tell Wynonna and why didn’t he?
• Nicole is obviously bummed at being left off of the official Black Badge team. After being kept out of the loop for so long in Season 1 and finally feeling like a part of the gang in the last couple episodes, her frustration is understandable. Waverly obviously kept her a secret from Black Badge for her safety, but will this cause friction between the two of them?
• Jeremy, the Black Badge lab tech, is an utter delight. I hope we get to see more of him this season.
• Rachel Skarsten is wonderful in this episode as Eliza, but unfortunately her getting shot at the end of the episode kiiiind of makes it seem like she won’t be back. Unless whatever Black Badge turned her into makes her able to recover miraculously from gunshot wounds!

What did you think of this episode of Wynonna Earp ? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Wynonna Earp airs Fridays at 9/8c on Syfy.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!