Gunslinging tough as nails chicks who can take down some heinous enemies sounds like a win-win when it comes to television shows. The SyFy show, Wynonna Earp follows the predestined path of Wynonna Earp. She is the great-great-granddaughter of the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp. Having a family history is cool and all, but it’s even better when your path is to destroy Revenants. Wynonna was passed down the family curse of eradicating Revenants back to hell with the family revolver. Rightfully named the ‘Peacemaker’.
The SyFy show, Van Helsing has similar traits compared to Wynonna Earp. Vanessa Van Helsing wakes up three years later to a post-apocalyptic world where vampires now roam free. What makes her special is her ability to be bitten by a vampire and not turn. Vanessa is the key to destroying vampires and have the humans’ race rule over Earth again. Wynonna and Vanessa have more similar paths than you might think and some serious differences.
Difference: Vanessa Wakes Up to An Apocalypse
Unlike in Wynonna Earp, Van Helsing takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting. While Vanessa has been sleeping beauty for three years, vampires took an opportunity to rise from the darkness and take over the human population. For a short while, vampires were able to roam around freely during the day as spontaneous volcanic eruptions covered the sky in thick ash. Effectively blocking the sun.
In Wynonna Earp, Wynonna only has to worry about controlling Revenants in the Ghost River Triangle where she and her family live. Revenants are only able to manifest from hell within the triangle. Throughout the show, revenants try to break the boundary in order to wreak havoc beyond the triangle and dimish their chances of being put back in hell.
Similarity: Both Are Passed Down A Family Legacy
A similarity both Wynonna and Vanessa possess is their family legacy. In the backstory of both characters, audiences are introduced to Wynonna’s family history of sending supernatural beings back to hell. Similarly, Vanessa comes from a long family line of Van Helssings whose mission was to destroy vampires and elders.
Both have a hefty weight on their shoulders when it comes to protecting mankind. Subsequently, both are completely unaware of their legacies until they are already into adulthood. When Wynonna turned 27, she inherited the ability to send Revenants back down to hell with the “Peacemaker”. Vanessa was already a full-grown adult when the apocalypse happened.
Difference: Revenants Vs. Vampires
One of the biggest discrepancies between the shows is the main villains. Wynonna deals with Revenants; reincarnated outlaws that her great-great-grandfather killed in his time. Revenants are more like supernatural creatures or demons. They rise from an opening in hell and Wynonna has to send them back. They have ugly pale skin, teeth that have never been brushed and beady red eyes.
In Van Helsing, you can guess that Vanessa’s main enemies are vampires. According to the show, they have always been living in the shadows alongside the humans. Vanessa comes from a long line of vampire hunters.
Similarity: Both Have Similar Physical Features and Character
If you didn’t know any better, Wynonna and Vanessa could pass as sisters. Both have strikingly similar qualities when it comes to looks. Wynonna and Vanessa both have long flowing hair that is always somehow nicely curled. Both have clear blue eyes and a milky white skin complexion.
In terms of preferred outfits, they cater to leather jackets, skinny jeans, leather boots and dark clothing. If you’re going to be hunting supernatural creatures, you gotta look the part. You also have to have the right attitude. Wynonna and Vanessa have a temper issue that can be a handful. Their no backing down personas is needed when having to save the world.
Difference: Guns Vs. Hands
If you’re familiar with Wynonna Earp, you know that her main tool to kill revenants is the passed down ‘Peacemaker’. It’s a 12-inch ancestral barrel that can only be shot by an Earp. It’s pretty cool with specials symbols lining the inside of the barrel. You have to make sure to shoot Revenants point-blank in the head. On occasion, you will see Wynonna throw some punches and use a knife or two.
In a post vampire apocalypse, a gun is your best friend. While Vanessa always carries a gun, she prefers to either use a family blade or her bare hands. If the gun doesn’t work, it’s time to get dirty.
Similarity: Vanessa and Wynonna Have Sisters
From the beginning of Wynonna Earp, audiences are aware that Wynonna has a younger sister named Waverly. Throughout the first season, Wynonna and Waverly try to gather information from revenants to find their missing older sister who was kidnapped as a child.
Slight spoiler if you haven’t gotten too far into Van Helsing. In Van Helsing, audiences are introduced in season two to a new main character. Later on, it comes to light that Scarlett is indeed a Van Helsing. Unlike her sister, Scarlett was trained from a young age to be a vampire hunter. Her weapon of choice is a samurai sword and an all-black stealth suit.
Difference: No Real Love Interest for Vanessa Van Helsing
It’s custom that all shows have a love interest or love triangle. Wynonna battles between having feelings for Agent Xavier Dolls of the Black Badge Division and Doc Holiday. It makes for an interesting storyline that gets even batter throughout the following seasons.
Unlike Wynonna, Vanessa doesn’t show much interest in any specific person. We are aware that she was once married to her ex-husband, but she never develops a romantic relationship throughout the show. For a short time, she gets cozy with a member at a safe camp but that dies out. She becomes more concerned with her mission to destroy vampires.
Similarity: Vanessas and Wynonna Have Children
From the beginning episodes of Van Helsing, fans are introduced to Vanessa’s daughter, Dylan. Like any mother, she tries to give a good life to Dylan and tries to sustain a relationship with her ex-husband for her daughter’s sake. Dylan is praised by Vanessa for being wise beyond her years. When Vanessa goes into a comatose sleep for three years and awakens, she is determined to find out what happened to her daughter.
If you have made it to the end of season two of Wynonna Earp, this may not be so surprising. Wynonna in the finale of the second season gives birth. The baby has to be kept safe from the hands of the Revenants, seeing as it is the next generation of Earps.
Difference: Vanessa Has Special Abilities
The main difference between Wynonna and Vanessa are their abilities. Wynonna is passed down the ability to wield the “Peacemaker”, but no real supernatural abilities besides enhanced strength and reflexes. When fighting off Revenants, some enhanced strength is needed. Vanessa, on the other hand, starts to develop even more abilities as the show progresses.
From the beginning, Vanessa is unable to turn into a vampire when bitten. There is a secret component in her bloodstream that reverts vampires back to humans. It makes her a repellant. She can change vampires by either giving them her blood or bitting them. Her abilities also include rapid regeneration, so getting shot isn’t an issue.
Similarity: Innate Need To Protect The Ones They Love
When on a dangerous journey to save the world, you can’t do it alone. In the show, Wynonna and Vanessa have a close-knit group of people they trust. Wynonna confides in Doc Holiday and Xavier to aid her in finding a way to keep revenants inside the Ghost River Triangle. She also confides in her sister, Waverly, while also trying to keep her safe from her own demons.
Vanessa puts on a cold exterior to protect the people she cares for, especially when it comes to her sister Scarlett and Axel. Axel is a marine who was given orders to protect Vanessa while in her comatose state. She also develops a close bond with a survivor named Mohamod.
