Sleepy Hollow – “Pittura Infamante” Recap. Step Aside Dorian Gray.

Season 2, Episode 13

Air Date: Monday, January 19, 2015 at 9/8c on Fox

Rating: ★★★★★

[warning] SPOILERS AHEAD [/warning]

“I have deciphered every code from Caesar’s shift to Morse, yet one that will always elude me is modern dress. How can one be both business and casual?” — Ichabod

Italian for ‘defaming portrait,’ the title of this week’s Sleepy Hollow, “Pittura Infamante,” puts the portrait of Dorian Gray to shame. The subject of the painting isn’t out and about, ageless and unscathed as Mr. Gray but trapped within the canvas harboring a dark and sinister secret.

Date Night

Date doesn’t go quite as planned unless they fully expected a couple of murders and a haunting…

Ichabod (Tom Mison) and Katrina (Katia Winter) go on a date but not the typical outing one would expect. No, instead of doing something modern, these two go to an exhibit at the Sleepy Hollow Historical Society where they dine on 18^th century china and goblets that belonged to former First Lady Abigail Adams (guest star Michelle Trachtenberg). And wouldn’t you know it? Abigail and Katrina were friends. But date night at the art gallery goes terribly awry when Ichabod’s new friend and art restorer Grant (Aaron Serotsky) is found dead, throat slit, hanging upside down, from a chandelier. It can’t be a mere coincidence how eerily similar this is to the tarot card “the Hanged Man” that Ichabod finds. Given what Grant told Ichabod earlier in the evening—that he had felt a strange presence “haunting” him—Ichabod knows something sinister is afoot.

Dorian Gray Magnified

Abigail Adams may not have been a witch, but she was certainly well acquainted with them.

As Ichabod and Katrina conduct their own side investigation into Grant’s death, Katrina begins having flashbacks to a time when a serial killer plagued Sleepy Hollow in the 1780s. In her memories, Katrina recalls Abigail’s discussion regarding the possible identity of the killer–someone who has skills with his hands, perhaps even a medical background. But it turns out the killer is James Colby (Daniel Thomas May), a painter. Colby was imprisoned in his final painting by Reverend Knapp (Patrick Gorman), whom we met briefly in season one. As Dorian Gray lived his life outside the painting while his image showed his true likeness, Colby uses the painting to trap his victims, killing them and using their blood to help him finish his painting so he can escape.

Of course, with Katrina being a witch, she is able to transport herself and Ichabod into the painting to rescue Colby’s latest victim before it’s too late. There is a certain predictability in this plot but I will give it to the makeup department for making Colby look absolutely terrifying drenched in blood.

Heeeeere’s Irving!

Abbie checks up on Ichabod who isn’t answering his phone and gets there just in the nick of time!

Back at the precinct, Abbie (Nicole Beharie) is casually flipping through her family’s ancient journal when officers suddenly draw their weapons in the hallway. As Abbie rounds the corner, there stands Frank Irving (Orlando Jones), a man she buried over six weeks ago. While we saw Irving briefly at the end of “Paradise Lost,” the circumstances of his astounding resurrection leave Abbie apprehensive about trusting him. Lest we forget, Henry (John Noble) claimed Irving’s soul before Irving was killed battling the Horseman of War in “The Akeda.” We still aren’t sure where Henry is since killing Moloch (Marti Matulis) but one thing is clear — strange things are happening in Sleepy Hollow. The question is, are these strange occurrences a sign of a new evil rising? Will we see the dark angel Orion (guest star Max Brown) again?

Random Observations

Jenny (Lyndie Greenwood) doing some nasty grunt work – digging magic bullets out of a corpse – how disgusting is that? Again, the makeup department gets a high five, as does Greenwood for her sound effects when vocally expressing her distaste for reaching into the gooey dead monster.

Who did Ichabod’s hair for date night? Seriously? The flowing tendrils of hair on the side of his face and the rest of his dark locks encased in a bun look ridiculous. Thankfully, Mison is a good looking man and while the tendrils annoyed me, I liked the outfit change, albeit still in tune with his preferred period of time.

No Hawley (Matt Barr)? Haven’t the writers and executive producers been listening – we want more Hawley! Luckily, next week’s episode will revolve around Hawley, and includes special guest star Jaime Murray.

Overall

“Pittura Infamante” provides a lead in for other episodes to hopefully be more enthralling. The murderous painter trying to escape his prison could have another meaning other than the obvious. Perhaps the underlying magic binding the many entities that have been imprisoned over the years is weakening. I’d love to see more of what the late Sheriff Corbin (Clancy Brown) was working on and the adventures he sent Jenny on. Also, Hawley always relates some exciting tales about every artifact he loans Abbie and Ichabod, and I would love to hear more about them.

“Pittura Infamante” isn’t a terrible episode but it lacks the excitement I so desperately crave with Sleepy Hollow. The premise of the series is about apocalyptic evil trying to bring an end to humanity. So, where is all the drama and intensity in “Pittura Infamante?”

What did you think of “Pittura Infamante?” Leave me a comment below and/or tweet me @judybopp.

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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.