"The Akeda" Big Move for SLEEPY HOLLOW

Article first published as SLEEPY HOLLOW Review Season 2 Episode 11 The Akeda on Seat42F.

“The Akeda,” besides being the title of the mid-season finale of FOX’s SLEEPY HOLLOW, refers to the biblical story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to God, a story discussed in the episode. This is an appropriate use of the term, considering the installment deals a lot with father / son relationships and sacrifice, including the heroic death of a main character.

As the episode opens, Abbie (Nicole Beharie) and Ichabod (Tom Mison) are hot on the trail of Moloch and his plan to end the world. Events are already in motion, but they have a sword that can slay a demon, so they may be able to stop them. The problem is, wielding said sword will burn the soul of the one who uses it. Luckily, Irving (Orlando Jones) isn’t in possession of his soul at present, and so may provide a loophole to the rule.

Irving does manage to stop the Horseman controlled by Henry (John Noble), but dies in the process. This is a huge shame. Irving is an interesting part that has been sorely wasted this season, spending much of it locked up or in hiding. His lack of soul is an intriguing layer. Rather than really explore this, though, SLEEP HOLLOW kills him off. It feels too soon and without enough consequence since, while the Horseman does die, Irving doesn’t stop Moloch (Derek Mears) nor Henry.

Other than Irving’s untimely demise, “The Akeda” is an excellent hour. The way the team, which includes Abbie, Ichabod, Irving, Jenny (Lyndie Greenwood), and Katrina (Katia Winter), pulls together is inspiring. Finally, they are united in their battle and methods. Standing together, Moloch doesn’t really stand a chance. By the end of the hour, they possibly have a new ally or two, too, which makes them stronger than ever.

One such possible recruit is Henry. Henry has long operated from a place of pain caused by being seemingly abandoned by his parents. Henry views Moloch as a replacement father, one who actually values him. But “The Akeda” finds Moloch revealing how little he actually cares for Henry, which spurs Henry to use the sword against Moloch. We don’t yet know the effect this might have on Henry’s soul, but it seems to stop Moloch, at least for now.

Something Henry takes notice of this week is how Ichabod refuses to abandon him. Henry is loathe to accept any excuses from Ichabod, who was unaware of his son’s existence, and thus unintentionally absentee. Yet, when Ichabod has the chance to kill Henry, he doesn’t. Ichabod won’t give up on his son. Might Henry’s actions be somewhat motivated by Ichabod’s love, and might Henry be tempted to embrace that?

Standing in the way of this is Katrina, whom did know about Henry and abandoned him anyway. However, Ichabod and Katrina aren’t in a good place right now. Katrina betrayed Ichabod, too, and the simmering tension building between them this season erupts spectacularly in “The Akeda.” If mom isn’t in the picture, perhaps the son can be persuaded to give dad a chance.

Katrina’s emotional state is confusing. She shows much compassion for Abraham (Neil Jackson) and saves his life. Ichabod overhears her telling Abraham she cares for him, which could be a ploy, but also seems to bear some truth in it. If Katrina’s heart is torn between the two men who once battled for her affections, which destroyed their friendship, her marriage may very well be over.

Honestly, I’d like to see Ichabod and Abraham reconcile more than Abraham and Katrina get together. She’s kind of a selfish jerk, whereas Abraham acts in the name of love. He may do stupid, downright evil things in that name, but that’s the reason he does what he does. How great would it be if he, too, shuns Katrina, unable to trust her shifting affections, and finds a way to work with Ichabod? After all, Moloch casts out Abraham as well as Henry.

The fact is, “The Akeda” turns several relationships upside down as it brings us to an exciting climax. Because of this, I greatly look forward to the handful of episodes left this season. The number remaining is so small that I’m puzzled why a mid-season finale is necessary at all. But still, they should be good.

SLEEPY HOLLOW will return to FOX after a brief hiatus.

SLEEPY HOLLOW Review - "Deliverance"

Article first published as SLEEPY HOLLOW Review Season 2 Episode 7 Deliverance at Seat42F.

“Deliverance” is the latest episode of FOX’s SLEEPY HOLLOW. Katrina (Katia Winter) escapes the clutches of her enemies, but her troubles are far from over. She has been implanted with Moloch’s (Derek Mears) seed and will soon give physical form in our realm to the evil demon himself. That is, unless Ichabod (Tom Mison) and Abbie (Nicole Beharie) can stop him in time.

If Moloch were to make it to Earth, that seems like an end-game point for the series. Unless the show is on the verge of cancellation, I don’t see the writers taking such a big step any time soon. Sure, there’s always the chance they may do so if they are uncertain about renewal and want to make sure they get to tell the story, and then they’d have to come up with a new game plan if they get picked back up. But all of SLEEPY HOLLOW thus far is building towards Ichabod and Abbie facing Moloch in an epic battle, and it’s too early for that.

Though, I will say the ending of the episode is unexpected and begs several questions about whether this week’s events actually count as a loss for the baddies.

Since it’s hard to believe Moloch will arrive in “Deliverance,” the plot is a little boring, low stakes stuff with a virtually certain outcome. Add to that an increased presence of Katrina, an underdeveloped character who usually comes across as annoying when on screen, and the ‘A’ plot this week is a little underwhelming, even with all the action. Ichabod and Abbie running around, racing against time is nothing new, and without the threat they could fail, it’s not as enticing.

At least Ichabod and Katrina are together again. For the entire show thus, far they are angst-ridden at their separation. Now, the fans will get the chance to see what they are like together, Katrina finally rescued and staying with her husband.

“Deliverance” does find time to explore some interesting things, though. We get more pieces of the overall puzzle. We see Henry (John Noble) is definitely subservient to Moloch, a fairly recent development. We see Abraham (Neil Jackson) put Katrina before his loyalty to Moloch, which is an interesting direction for the character.

More importantly, we see Leena Reyes (Sakina Jaffrey) begin to come around to our heroes. She takes on the job with an immediate dislike of Abbie and Ichabod, intent on reigning them in and puzzled about good recommendations of Abbie. This is a hindrance to Abbie using her time and police access to forward the supernatural mission. Reyes isn’t let in on the whole picture, but she does see Abbie’s value and smarts, and even the usefulness of Ichabod as a consultant. Provided they don’t screw up Reyes’ good will, Abbie and Ichabod should have an easier time of it from here on out.

SLEEPY HOLLOW explores the relationship between Henry and his parents this week, too. Both Ichabod and Katrina think their son may still be saved for the side of good. Ichabod has more doubts, but comes ‘round after Henry inadvertently shares some of his buried pain. I guess it takes a mom or a dad to see past Henry’s public persona, which is of an evil mastermind bent on world domination. But with both in the principle cast, the series forces the viewers to look at a different perspective, even if they can’t agree with it.

For those skeptical about Henry’s chances at redemption, your concerns will be voiced by Abbie, who definitely isn’t buying into the Cranes’ hopes. She has suffered at Henry’s hands and is not the forgiving type. Abbie will make sure Henry doesn’t use his parents’ emotions against them and keep the mission on track.

“Deliverance” isn’t my favorite episode this year for the reasons mentioned above. But it does have some strong elements and is fast-paced enough to be somewhat exciting.

SLEEPY HOLLOW airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

SLEEPY HOLLOW Goes to "War"

Article first published SLEEPY HOLLOW Review Season 2 Episode 1 This Is War on Seat42F.

SPOILER ALERT! The following contains some spoilers, though not too much, about the upcoming season premiere. You have been warned.

FOX’s SLEEPY HOLLOW returns for its sophomore run this week with “This Is War.” Picking up a year after the events of last winter’s shocking cliffhanger, Ichabod (Tom Mison) and Abbie (Nicole Beharie) have been reunited, but they have both lost someone they loved. It’s a bittersweet pause in their war as they enjoy one another’s company before setting off on their next mission, which involves hunting down a lost key once tied to a kite by Benjamin Franklin (Timothy Busfield, The West Wing).

On one hand, “This Is War” starts off exactly how fans want it to. The bond between Ichabod and Abbie is a central element to the series, and it’s satisfying to see they both have made it out of the prisons we last view them in, Ichabod buried under the ground and Abbie in purgatory, rather than still being separated. Even learning that a couple of important characters have died in the interim is overshadowed by the image of the pair still fighting the good fight against Ichabod’s son, Henry Parrish (John Noble), and the other Horsemen.

On the other hand, though, I felt completely off balance by the start. Many people’s lives are left hanging when last SLEEPY HOLLOW aired, and it’s disconcerting to not get resolution to those threads, or learn how the main characters managed to escape their dire circumstances. It almost seems like an episode is missing, or like you skipped a stair going up to a second floor and stumbled.

Which is why, having watched as much television as I have, I was highly suspicious. It wasn’t until ten or fifteen minutes had passed before I could really settle into the story and accept the time jump had happened. I kept expecting the whole thing to be a dream or something. What eventually did make me change my mind was that the characters are so compelling and the story is written so tightly, that I just got sucked into what was going on, forgetting about lingering concerns to a certain extent.

I love SLEEPY HOLLOW, and this season premiere lives up expectations. It is smart, quick, and plenty full of action. We do eventually get to see Abbie and Ichabod escape their confinement, as they must, and while I cannot spoil the twist that shows up a little past a third of the way through, I can say the show does a good job of throwing even those who might suspect the truth early on off track enough that when the tale suddenly changes, it’s still a surprise.

The characters remain the best reason to watch. There is a truly earned fist bump in “This Is War.” We see some of the depths of Henry’s rottenness. A character known to be dead comes back for a moving scene that may be their last appearance, given other professional commitments. Abbie gets a chance to show just how perceptive she is. We see the strength of Jenny (Lyndie Greenwood). One main player is still MIA, but he’ll probably show up next week, and there’s plenty of other things happening so he isn’t missed yet. All of these combine to make a heck of a season premiere.

For those more concerned with the larger arcs, which I agree are very important, too, “This Is War” serves that. There is no doubt that the events depicted in season one are only the beginning of Molok’s (Derek Mears) plans. He has not slowed down in his quest, and things only get more dangerous for our heroes, if that’s possible. SLEEPY HOLLOW has definite direction and it is plunging forward, full speed ahead, on that path.

There are also glimmers of humor. Ichabod’s hatred for our founding father, Mr. Franklin, is not only justified, but amusing. SLEEPY HOLLOW is mostly a dark show, so to get those bits of light snuck in between bloodthirsty armies of demons is welcome.

I will be covering SLEEPY HOLLOW weekly for Seat42F this year, so join me again next week after watching the show, which airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

SLEEPY HOLLOW Full Of "Indispensable" "Blood"

Article first published as SLEEPY HOLLOW Full Of "Indispensable" "Blood" on TheTVKing.

FOX's Sleepy Hollow has been an action-packed drama full of twists and turns throughout the course of its thirteen-episode freshman run. Abandoning the police procedural concept entirely, which is a surprise considering the set up of the pilot, instead it focuses on mythology and belief, bringing witches, Revolutionary soldiers, George Washington, the Masons, the Bible, including the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse and Revelations, and more together in a thrilling messy war.

The two-part season finale, "Indispensable Man" and "Bad Blood," tie a lot of the threads from past episodes into a neat bow. Little elements that didn't seem related suddenly are, and both of the main characters, also known as the Witnesses, are forced to confront their pasts. It's terrific character development, but also really cool storytelling that proves the writers had a plan going in for this tale.

Abbie (Nichole Beharie) realizes she's forgotten some of her past with the demon, Moloch (Derek Mears). Trapped in Purgatory, a fulfillment of a prophecy she tried to avoid, she wanders into a dollhouse, a safe haven where she finds her missing childhood experiences. It's clear why Moloch stole that part of Abbie, as it would have ruined one of Moloch's plots. But it's also a lot about Abbie, who turned her back on her sister, Jenny (Lyndie Greenwood), in the woods, and now faces her sins.

Abbie is a hero, one who is willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. "Bad Blood" is the culmination of this, at least in regards to serving as redemption for the mistakes she has struggled with throughout this freshman year. Abbie will surely survive and emerge back into the real world, but this should make her a much more confident, tough person, helping to erase the self-doubt and regret that plagues her. Which is not to say she hasn't shown strength, but she does have vulnerabilities that this should help heal.

While in Purgatory, Abbie also runs into Andy (John Cho) and Sheriff Corbin (Clancy Brown). For two characters who died in the first part, they sure have been well-used in the past few months, returning again and again. It seems fitting that Abbie confronts them again now, probably the last time we'll see them (assuming Andy is crushed completely in Washington's tomb), at least for awhile. They are likely part of the first chapter, not the whole epic journey.

Ichabod (Tom Milson) also stares down his past in Purgatory when reunited with his father (the amazing Victor Garber, Alias). This is someone that Ichabod is estranged from, but someone whose approval the soldier desperately craves. Ichabod made some tough choices in his life, and when offered the chance to change things, even if it's not real, Ichabod reaffirms his stance, proving his mettle.

It is a tad too easy how Ichabod and Abbie overcome their various obstacles. They are quickly tricked, and just as quickly break the spell. But there's a lot to get through in these two hours, and it's more important that they are shown grappling with a crucial element of their past than exploring a full story on how to escape said element. So it works for the story structure laid out, and it's a minor complaint in an otherwise stellar ending.

Abbie stays stuck in Purgatory, but this allows Ichabod to bring Katrina (Katia Winter) home. The lovers are reunited, and it seems like a happy ending for Ichabod, at least in the romantic department. After all, once Katrina's out, surely they can find some way to keep her out, even while saving Abbie.

There is a scene between Ichabod and Abbie in Purgatory that makes me think Katrina may not be long for this world, despite appearing in the show's opening credits. After all, she's always been a side part. Abbie and Ichabod have a bond that could easily be developed into something more, and even Katrina looks uncomfortable at their long goodbye hug. Might Sleepy Hollow be heading for a hook-up between the unlikely partners? I can't say I saw it coming until now, but it might be a good idea, given their excellent chemistry and total opposites attract mojo.

Ichabod and Katrina's bliss is cut short when Henry Parish (Fringe's John Noble) is revealed to be their lost son, Jeremy, and a servant of Moloch and the second Horseman. It's a deep betrayal, both from Henry, who has become a fast friend and assistant to the Witnesses, and from Jeremy, who will not hear his parents' explanations. It seems especially unfair that Jeremy buried Ichabod in the ground, since Ichabod never even knew of his existence, though it makes total sense when Jeremy hands Katrina over to the Headless Horseman (Richard Cetrone), whom loved her.

Leaving all of these players in a cliffhanger in not exactly welcome, but certainly makes for a tense, exciting ending. Ichabod is buried, Abbie is trapped, Katrina is captive, and Moloch and Jeremy / Henry are free to do their evil, a seal broken. Oh, and supporting player Jenny appears like she might be dead and Captain Irving (Orlando Jones) is arrested protecting his daughter, so there is really no one left to save the day. How will they come back from this?

There aren't really any hints in "Bad Blood" at a resolution, but that's OK. It feels like everything was poured into this finale, playing all the cards they still held at once, all while seamlessly tying it back to what came before. Now, the writers have months to figure out where to go next, and given the skill they've demonstrated thus far, they leave us with confidence that they can solve the puzzle by the time filming resumes.

Sleepy Hollow has been renewed and will return to FOX next fall.