Courtesy of FOX
If you liked the pilot episode of Sleepy Hollow, this follow-up episode does not disappoint. The second offering sets up a promising story arc, offers some seriously gruesome chills (not sure what’s worse, John Cho’s neck or that creepy blue chick), and continues to find a good blend of humor and drama.
Let’s bitch it out…
We open with Ichabod’s (Tom Mison) wife, Katrina (Katia Winter), who visits him in a dream to set up the latest adventure for us. Before the remaining horseman of the apocalypse arrive, evil forces will pave the way (one assumes in convenient 44 minute shifts). Look, y’all, it’s the new Hellmouth! The first dark spirit to come, Katrina tells Ichabod (and us), is a witch that will rise with the blood moon.
Andy Dunn (John Cho), in an unexpected return after what seemed like a fairly certain death last week is back to stir up more trouble. But first he gets his HEAD SNAPPED BACK INTO PLACE by a demon – the same one that killed him last week. Was there a change of heart? Or did the demon (or one of the show’s writers) just forget this show needs a minion? Whatever the reason, John Cho and his serious neck folds are back in action and on hand to bring the evil witch back to life. See before she can get started on her general path of destruction, the witch must sprinkle the ashes of the descendants of those that murdered her 200 years ago onto her bones, which will resurrect her body and reunite it with her spirit.
So that’s our first villain of the week. In order to prevent the witch’s return, we need our new favorite odd couple on the case: Ichabod and Abbie (Nicole Beharie), who more or less call dibs on all of the weird cases around town. I find it highly amusing that they arrive at the scene of the witch’s first victim and the cops just let Ichabod walk onto the scene and touch a charred, heart-less dead body. Does no one anticipate that this has “lawsuit” written all over it? A seemingly unstable man in 18th century period costume (can someone get him to a GAP asap, please?), traipsing all over a crime scene? Since the two other officers that saw the Headless Horseman last week recanted, you’d think there’d be a little more skepticism in the Department about having Ichabod as a “consultant.”
Moving on! As our duo works together, Abbie opens up and we get a great flashback of her relationship with Sheriff Corbin (Clancy Brown). After she and her sister, Jenny (Lyndie Greenwood) saw the demon in the woods, her sister went into a mental hospital and Abbie ran with the wrong crowd. When Abbie was arrested for trying to steal prescription drugs, the Sheriff brought her to a diner and gave her 5 minutes while he ate his pie to decide if “you’re going to change your life or I’m taking you to jail.” Aww…this is the start of the most paternal relationship she’s ever had.
In the end, Abby and Ichabod use Corbin’s notes to figure out the witch’s plan, head her off at the bone yard, and take her out with a bunch of conveniently located 200 year old gun powder. Abbie also discovers that she will need to train Ichabod up on current weapons technologies – in an amusing moment he throws away a his gun after firing a single shot, failing to understand that there were more rounds in the magazine. We don’t roll musket-style anymore, Crane.
Blood Moon ends with two big teasers for future episodes: (1) Katrina is imprisoned in “a world between worlds” and therefore may be able to free; and (2) Abbie’s sister Jenny is training Terminator 2 style in the institution and is going to play a major role soon.
Courtesy of FOX
Other Observations:
- We also meet Abbie’s ex, Luke (Nicholas Gonzalez), which allows for some adorable back and forth between Abbie and Ichabod as he grills her on the reasons behind her break-up
- Great detail having post-it notes all over the hotel room to tell Ichabod how to use all the technology. Love it!
- If I ever start a punk band, I’m now going to name it “Donut Tax Outrage.” Dibs!
- I would like to at least acknowledge Orlando Jones’ existence in this show as Abbie’s skeptical boss, but he hasn’t exactly done anything to warrant discussion.
- Here’s hoping for more flashbacks/ghost encounters with Sheriff Corbin
So what did you think of the second episode? Now that we’re past the pilot, are you more or less likely to continue with the series? Do you want to see more of Andy and Sheriff Corbin? Should Abbie rekindle her romance with Luke (as Ichabod suggests)? And what will happen first: Katrina is rescued or Jenny gets out of the institution? Sound off below
Sleepy Hollow airs Mondays at 9pm EST on FOX