Article first published as SLEEPY HOLLOW Review Season 2 Episode 6 And the Abyss Gazes Back on Seat42F.
This
week’s SLEEPY HOLLOW verges on really good, but has a few elements that
don’t quite hit the mark. “And the Abyss Gazes Back” finds Joe Corbin
(Zach Appelman, Kill Your Darlings) returning to town from Afghanistan.
He’s been a solider overseas, hence why he misses his dad’s funeral, and
now he’s come home, with a chip on his shoulder, to follow his father’s
final instructions. He quickly gets drawn into the supernatural game.
The
idea of Joe is kind of hokey. This is someone we’ve heard nothing
about, yet he drops in with an already-established history with Abbie
(Nicole Beharie). Shows do this all the time, of course, but it really
seems strange that a new player important to the show’s mythology would
enter the picture this late, this suddenly. Stranger still, even after
getting the full story, Joe decides to go to Quantico, rather than stay
and join the team, ruining the role.
I
understand that shows have guest characters to move the narrative along
and Joe fits firmly in a typical guest character mold. What’s
disappointing is that SLEEPY HOLLOW should be better than this. It isn’t
the typical procedural, and when it presents installments that lean in
that direction, like “And the Abyss Gazes Back” does, it’s upsetting.
Joe could easily be written as a long-term player, but isn’t. Why not?
That
being said, “And the Abyss Gazes Back” is not the worst episode of
SLEEPY HOLLOW to date. Despite Joe’s fleeting appearance, he does
contribute something to the main characters. He brings father/son themes
to the story, as well as shedding a little light on Sheriff Corbin, who
remains a vital figure, even if a short-lived one.
Joe
is bitter about how he thinks his father valued Abbie more than him,
and that sparks something in Ichabod (Tom Mison). Thus far, we’ve not
seen Ichabod talk about his feelings for Henry (John Noble) much, but he
reveals that he does still love his son. This is a little hard to wrap
one’s head around. Sure, Katrina (Katia Winter) thinks their son can be
saved, but Ichabod seems more grounded than she does. Henry is very
clearly evil, cursing Joe and taking Irving’s (Orlando Jones) soul. How
can Ichabod hope for redemption? Yet, every parent doesn’t want to
believe the worst about their child, no matter who that child may be, so
it makes a kind of sense.
The scenes
between Abbie and Joe are really sweet, after the initial conflict.
Abbie did take Joe’s father’s attention away, but in a sense, that makes
them like siblings. We get that by the end of the hour. Children grow
up and get over petty jealousies, especially once they can see the
bigger picture, which is hard to do when one is young. These two have an
interesting relationship I’d love to see explored more.
Irving’s
plot in “And the Abyss Gazes Back” is compelling. Learning that Henry
owns his soul, Irving tries to resist Henry’s first job for him, which
could also be his last: kill the man that paralyzed Irving’s daughter.
Irving is sorely tempted to go through with it. Now only would the act
get Irving out of the soul deal (or so Henry says; one can’t really
trust him), but it would allow Irving to get vengeance for a very dark
past wrong. However, Irving is not a monster and stops himself, even
though he wants to strangle the man. No matter what happens after this,
the episode firmly establishes Irving as a hero, not a traitor or stooge
forced to the other side.
“And the
Abyss Gazes Back” has some fun moments, with Ichabod getting into video
games and trying to remember who Superman is. But it also gets a little
goofy when he talks about knowing Daniel Boone. Is there anyone Ichabod
didn’t know from colonial times? The world has far fewer people back
then and Mr. Crane obviously ran in esteemed circles, but it’s getting a
little ridiculous that he is personally acquainted every single person
of note.
Over all, I like “And the
Abyss Gazes Back,” but it is neither the best nor worst installment of
SLEEPY HOLLOW this season. There are some of the elements present that
consistently make the show great, while also taking some of the
too-often-traveled routes other shows use. My wish is that the writers
really come into their own and own their cool concept, tossing off the
shackles of what they think broadcast television needs to be.
SLEEPY HOLLOW airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.