There have been a lot of great Western thrillers on TV in recent years. Everything from Dark Winds and Yellowstone to Justified and Longmire have become favorites among fans, but there’s really only one that has the distinction of becoming a modern cult classic. It has a small but loyal following, was largely overlooked during its four-season run, and was a different approach to the genre that wasn’t afraid to take chances. Premiering on SYFY in the United States in 2016, viewers immediately knew they were getting something different when they tuned in to watch this series that was based on a little-known comic book. It wasn’t just your ordinary Western, but one that combined elements of the supernatural with a flawed hero to deliver a genre-bending show with a deep mythological element that people could get lost in. Five years after it concluded, it remains a must-watch for any Western fan, and you really have no excuse to skip it, because Wynonna Earp is streaming for free on Tubi.
‘Wynonna Earp’ Never Takes Itself Too Seriously

Boasting a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Wynonna Earp was developed by Emily Andras, and takes its cues from the comic book series created by Beau Smith. It stars Melanie Scrofano as the titular character, who is the great-great-granddaughter of the legendary Wyatt Earp. It follows her journey back home to Purgatory, which is located in a cursed region near the Canadian Rockies dubbed the Ghost River Triangle. If you think that sounds ominous, then you’d be correct, because Wynonna soon finds herself battling the resurrected souls of the criminals her great-great-grandfather killed back in the 1800s. Seeking to reclaim their territory and beyond, it’s up to Wynonna and her found family — which includes the (literally) immortal Doc Holliday — to send them back to the grave once and for all. It sounds a bit campy, and it is, but that’s what makes Wynonna Earp such a fun series to watch. It never takes itself too seriously, has tons of outlandish villains, and for a show about a demon-hunting badass, it has a surprising amount of heart. It explores themes of generational trauma, sexuality, identity, and self-acceptance, which is part of the reason it became such a beloved favorite among its devoted fans.
Fans Helped Bring ‘Wynonna Earp’ Back for a Final Season

Reminiscent of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural, Wynonna Earp almost didn’t make it to a fourth season. After Season 3, the series was in danger of being cancelled, not because of poor ratings, but because of funding issues that put its future in jeopardy.

When fans heard about this, they rallied on social media to help save the show. The hashtag #FightForWynonna trended worldwide, billboards were purchased, events were organized, and eventually, they applied enough pressure that the network had no choice but to bring it back for a final season. As such, Andras was able to give the series the emotional sendoff it deserved, but that wouldn’t be the last we’d ever hear of Wynonna Earp. In 2024, a 90-minute reunion special premiered on Tubi titled Wynonna Earp: Vengeance, which served as a love letter to the fans who had supported the series over the years. It featured Wynonna once again returning to Purgatory to battle a psychotic villainess hellbent on revenge. Rated 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, it officially closed the book on the beloved series, as there are currently no plans in the works to bring it back.

Release Date

2016 – 2021-00-00

Network

SyFy, Space, CTV Sci-Fi Channel

Showrunner

emily andras

Directors

Ron Murphy, April Mullen, Brett Sullivan, Grant Harvey, Peter Stebbings, Jem Garrard

Writers

Caitlin D. Fryers

Melanie Scrofano

Wynonna Earp

Tim Rozon

John Henry ‘Doc’ Holliday