Wynonna Earp Fans, Help Us Out: Why Is This Man Licking A Potato?

Wynonna Earp season three trailer
By  Allison Shoemaker

Wynonna Earp is a supernatural western series that airs on Syfy in the U.S. (on Space in Canada). The show, an adaptation of the Beau Smith comic book, centers on Wynonna, the great-great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp, who is tasked with defending her hometown (Purgatory) from supernatural forces using a mystical, demon-smiting revolver. (Of course, the situation's a lot more nuanced than that.) It's funny, and strange, and has a passionate fan base; there are zombies and demons, terrific characters and a rich in-show mythology. It's great! You should watch it.

So why are we covering it at The Takeout, a site centered on food and drinks? Because in the trailer for season three, someone licks a potato.

Who is that guy? More importantly, why does he lick the potato? And why is it so oddly transfixing?

Here's the moment again, in GIF form (H/T TV Guide):

In my quest for answers, I turned to two other fans of the show, Kyle Fowle and Kate Kulzick (both contributors to The A.V. Club). They both confirmed that the potato-licker seems to be a new character (the figure in the background seems to be Waverly, Wynonna's sister, played by Dominique Provost-Chalkley). But what is he doing with the potato? And why? Why?

Kyle's answer, is, in short, that he has no earthly idea, but the trailer looks great!:

There's certainly a lot to unpack... I love the fact that Bobo was shown in the trailer. He's been an on-again, off-again character for awhile, most recently isolated in the bottom of a well for being a very bad dude, so the fact that we get a shot of him is promising. Intriguing first look at Mama Earp (Megan Follows). There's a lot of questions about who may be the "rightful" Earp heir, and seeing Mama Earp hold the Peacemaker gets me excited. I have no clue what the potato licking thing could be. That was just weird!

Kate was similarly baffled:

No idea. I assume it's from a comedy episode. Everyone gets magic-stoned or whatever.

"Magic-stoned" seems like a decent enough explanation. It's way better than anything that The Takeout staff came up with on our morning call. Kate Bernot suggested that maybe it was a smell thing, or had something to do with nutrients. I thought perhaps it was texture-related. I am one of those oddballs that likes the occasional slice of raw potato, but that doesn't seem to be what's happening. Why a potato? Why a lick? Why the wide eyes?

Dear readers, please tell us: Can you imagine a situation in which you might feel compelled to lick a potato? Help me crack this nut. The show doesn't return until July 20, and in the meantime, showrunner Emily Andras is keeping mum on the issue of the potato:

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