Wynonna Earp has an incredibly devoted fanbase, and one character's death shook the Earpers to their core. Deputy Marshal Xavier Dolls went down in a blaze of glory early in Season 3, sacrificing himself to save members of the Earp clan from the demon Bulshar. Dolls' death was meaningful, and actor Shamier Anderson, who played the character, had an equally purposeful exit from Syfy's supernatural Western.

It's not very often that a TV character's death is a mutual decision, and is tied up so neatly for both the show and the actor, but Wynonna Earp creator Emily Andras gave both Dolls and Anderson a proper sendoff.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was updated Dec. 26, 2021, to include actor Shamier Anderson's most prominent roles after leaving Wynonna Earp.

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Who Was Deputy Marshal Xavier Dolls on Wynonna Earp?

As a deputy marshal for Black Badge, which is basically a supernatural FBI unit, Dolls was sent to Purgatory, Wyoming, to investigate the demons and strange occurrences surrounding the town. Dolls was a supernatural being himself, although it was never explicitly said what type of hybrid he was. Dolls could breathe fire and had yellow glowing eyes, indicating he possessed dragon-like DNA in him. He ultimately helped Wynonna Earp corral the revenant population, and fell in love with her.

Dolls didn't get the chance to fully explore his feelings for Wynonna, although she knew he truly cared for her beneath his cool and logical façade. He struggled immensely in Season 2 to control keep his dragon side from taking over and hurting the ones he loved. Despite his practical demeanor, he was a beloved member of the demon-fighting Earp clan.

How Dolls Died in Wynonna Earp Season 3

In the second episode of Wynonna Earp Season 3, Wynonna and her friends get caught in a sticky situation on a cliff that was only compounded by the arrival of demon Bulshar. While Wynonna hung onto Nicole, dangling off a cliff, and Doc Holiday was knocked unconscious, Dolls placed himself in the way of Bulshar to save Wynonna. He was last seen engulfing himself and Bulshar in a fiery explosion using his dragon powers. That killed Dolls, but only wounded Bulshar enough to end the fight.

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Wynonna and the fanbase were crushed by Dolls' heartbreaking demise. However, he died a hero saving the ones he loved, and that fits his character arc perfectly. Wynonna found some solace in Dolls' death knowing that he was finally at peace and didn't have to fight the dragon demons in him anymore.

Why Dolls Actor Shamier Anderson Left Wynonna Earp

Anderson's departure from Wynonna Earp was thoroughly discussed with the creators, making it a mutual decision that could be properly addressed on screen. Anderson told TV Guide that, "Wynonna Earp's been a really great journey for me and my career. It’s opened up a lot of doors and shed light on a lot of things for me... The show takes turns and twists and whatnot and people grow. We’re actors at the end of the day, first and foremost. So people’s careers blossom differently, and it was one of those things where it was just time for [me], Shamier Anderson, to kind of go to the next phase in my career."

It was known around the set that Anderson was receiving many opportunities in Hollywood, and he stayed on the show longer than expected to be able to tell more of Dolls' story. However, at the end of the day, he is an actor, and as much as the show and Dolls meant to him, the timing was right for Anderson to move onto other career endeavors. There were no hard feelings from the creative team, who were supportive of the actor's decision.

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Wynonna Earp creator Emily Andras told TV Junkies,"It was extremely important to Shamier personally that he have Dolls go out as he lived, which is a hero." The love and respect among the creators and cast is evident. Making the decision to write Dolls' death was a collaborative one. The show needed a shocking moment to demonstrate how serious a threat Bulshar was to humanity, and Dolls' character needed an exit that was befitting of his selflessness.

Both Dolls and Anderson were sorely missed after their emotional goodbye, but Earpers continue to embrace the character's legacy and the actor as a part of the family. Anderson is forever grateful to be a part of such a groundbreaking show, and Wynonna will never forget what Dolls meant to her.

Since Wynonna Earp, Anderson has gone on to prominent roles in Amazon Studios' Goliath, Apple TV+'s Invasion and Netflix's Bruised. He's also set to appear in The Marvels and and John Wick: Chapter 4.

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