The effects of the events in the Garden from the first half of the season continue to reverberate through Wynonna Earp’s final episodes, and while former Purgatory sheriff Nicole Haught is suffering most, she's finally taken the first steps toward wearing the gold star once again. What happened to Nicole when Waverly and her found family disappeared shook Nicole to her very core, causing her to believe she wasn’t worthy of being the sheriff or someone her town can depend on. It’s not until episode 9 of this season, “Crazy”, that Nicole finds what she needs to become Sheriff Haught once again, and not a moment too soon.
Nicole was ready to fearlessly storm the castle with Wynonna to find a way into the Garden to rescue Doc and Waverly, only to be sidelined with an injury, left behind to face prospective death than life without the people who meant the most to her. Like Wynonna Earp's Dolls before her, Nicole is woman of action and protector, but she was forced to the sidelines and had to rely on Rachel’s help to survive. She then lost the only other significant part of her life when the whole town rejected her by not electing her the permanent sheriff, confirming her sneaking suspicions about herself she wasn't worthy of the badge.
Before Nicole could consider being sheriff again, she had to reconcile what she did with who she is as a person and make amends. Nicole’s feelings of helplessness at not being able to rescue Waverly, her shame of not being good enough to be Purgatory's sheriff, and her loneliness drove her to do something desperate to rescue her friends, betraying Doc and giving him up to the Clantons in order to bring Waverly back, making her believe she was just as bad as one of Wynonna Earp's monsters. It wasn’t until they were in a dire moment that Nicole found the courage to confess to Doc, who not only forgave her but gave her the courage to stand in front of the town and openly own one of her lowest moments when she drunkenly melted down after the townspeople voted her out. Her humility won over the town, but, most importantly, she realized that the darkest period of her life no longer had a hold over her. Not only did Nicole forgive the town for rejecting her, but she also regained her self-confidence, recognizing she was more than worthy of being their sheriff.
Being sheriff was the very essence of who Nicole was. As Sheriff Haught, she had respect and purpose and felt she was worthy of being loved by Waverly. When she lost the love of her life, her badge, and her self-respect, Nicole once again became Wynonna Earp's outsider. The return of Waverly and the others only brought Nicole’s guilt and self-doubt to a boil, as Mrs. Clanton pressured Nicole to live up to her end of the bargain. Ultimately, Nicole had to die and come back to life to break free of the Clanton matriarch but still couldn’t bring herself to fight for her previous position despite Waverly and Wynonna’s encouragement. Waverly made it clear she would love Nicole without the Stetson and uniform, but she reminded Nicole that being Sheriff was a key part of the best version of herself that Nicole could be. Without her purpose, which is to be the protector, Nicole was incomplete. Finding she still had the means to protect those she loved, Nicole made peace with her past.
The return of Sheriff Nicole Haught opens up vast dramatic potential for Wynonna Earp. Nicole will now face her original dilemma again: having to choose between the town and the woman she loves. Nicole and Waverly’s happiness will be complicated by what’s coming next for Purgatory by Waverly’s hidden angelic powers that may require her to return to the Garden forever, and by the badge Nicole fought for the right to wear again.