Heads Will Roll...And Evil Will Rise. Review: Sleepy Hollow – “Pilot”

Season 1, Episode 01

Air Date: Monday, September 16, 2013, 9PM ET/PT

Rating: ★★★★★

“And before me stood a white horse, and its rider held a bow and his name was Death; and then a voice like thunder said, ‘come and see’.” — Ichabod Crane

Lieutenant Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie, L) and Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison, R) team up to unravel a mystery that dates back to the founding fathers.

Yes, I mention the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs catchy lyric from their hit song “Heads Will Roll” because there are a lot of heads getting lopped off in this extraordinary pilot. Admittedly, my initial reason for wanting to watch Sleepy Hollow is the huge crush I have on leading man Tom Mison, who plays Ichabod Crane. After watching the pilot, not only am I completely hooked on the series, I’m more invested in the other characters in the show. Abbie Mills, aptly played by Nicole Beharie, is one such character. I took notice of Beharie in the Indie film Shame, starring Michael Fassbender as a sex addict—she was one of his love interests. Beharie really grabs your attention as Abbie becomes conflicted with leaving Sleepy Hollow for a bigger gig at Quantico or staying behind and finishing the mysterious work her mentor Sheriff August Corbin (Clancy Brown) left behind. Corbin was more than a mentor; he was a father figure for Abbie whose past is marred with the same supernatural events that are happening in Sleepy Hollow now.

SLEEPY HOLLOW: The The headless horseman is resurrected alongside Ichabod Crane.

Throughout the Sleepy Hollow pilot, there are many dark and ominous references to the end of the world, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and demons. The supernatural and occult theme is definitely not for the faint of heart but there is also a dose of humor splashed in for good measure. What intrigues me about Sleepy Hollow is the occult references and how the church enlisted the help of witches to aide in keeping Ichabod and his trusty bible safe. There is a beautiful hawk that appears throughout the show and leads Ichabod to the truth about his beloved wife Katrina (Katia Winter). Thought to have been “burnt for witchcraft” in 1782, Ichabod learns that her imprisonment in a pseudo-world within a mirror is the work of dark demonic forces. She tells him that he is one of two witnesses that can stop the Four Horsemen from destroying the world. Well, isn’t that a fine hello after 250 years apart. No hugs, no kisses, just ‘save the world please.’

While we don’t see much bloody carnage, there are decapitations happening via the Headless Horseman’s (Richard Cetrone) broad axe. If you aren’t opposed to seeing skulls encased in a watery substance, thumbs nearly getting bitten off, and a lot of gunfire, Sleepy Hollow tells a fantastic tale of mystery, history, and newfound friendship.

Waking up 250 years after the Revolutionary War, Ichabod finds himself in strange surroundings as asphalt now replaces dirt roads, and with a “Starbucks” on nearly every corner, adjusting to the new world will take time. I adore his use of the British word “leftennant” for Lieutenant, but of course, Ichabod discovering a black woman in an authoritative role comes as quite a surprise for the red coat defector. Women, especially black women, had no high roles in society during his time. Unbeknownst to Abbie and Ichabod, they are both intertwined in a destiny to save the world but their journey will be treacherous. And those who they thought were trusted friends … aren’t.

Abbie and Ichabod go back to the cave where he woke up to find clues.

The burgeoning friendship between Ichabod and Abbie doesn’t feel forced. Abbie is apprehensive of Ichabod’s story about his being a British defector in favor of the Americans during the Revolutionary War, and treads lightly. But her desire to find answers and give purpose to Sheriff Corbin’s death pulls her into this odd union with Ichabod. While I do think the writers speed up the acceptance phase of their new friendship for the sake of the show, both Mison and Beharie make it work and make it believable.

Ichabod, with the reluctant help of Abbie, must figure out why he was spared so many years ago and what has awoken both him and the brutal Headless Horseman. Secrets that were long hidden come to the forefront and Abbie discovers some secret cases Sheriff Corbin was working on before he died. It just so happens, one of these cases includes an odd incident that happened many years ago involving Abbie. It isn’t a simple case of history repeating itself, per se. What I think is happening is all the effort of the church and the witches who help to contain evil is now becoming unsealed, and the dark forces that seek to take over the world have come to finish what they started.

One character that gives me pause is Captain Frank Irving (Orlando Jones). He’s hiding something; what, I cannot say at this point. The way he carries himself seems mischievous but I’m not sure if he’s sinister or simply a seasoned cop being wary of strange things happening with seemingly no valid reason. As an aside, I wonder if Jones’ character name is a nod to the author Washington Irving. And Deputy Andy Brooks (John Cho) has some dark secrets of his own. I hope the show will give us more insight as to why Andy does what he does and the origins of how he came to make a deal with the devil, so to speak.

There is so much more to talk about but I would be remiss if I told you everything. I hate spoilers. All I have to say is the thing that appears in the mirror at the very end is frightening.

Tune in to the series premiere of Sleepy Hollow, Monday, September 16 at 9/8c only on Fox.

For more on the show, go to http://www.fox.com/sleepy-hollow/.

Follow Sleepy Hollow on Twitter: @SleepyHollowFox #SleepyHollow

LIKE Sleepy Hollow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SleepyHollow.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.