Courtesy of FOX
After three weeks off, Sleepy Hollow returns with ‘The Sin Eater’ as we address the pesky issue of Crane’s (Tom Mison) life being tied to the Horseman.
Let’s bitch it out…
This show continues to make me angry that Katrina (Katia Winter) exists. It’s not her fault, mind you, but she’s seriously ruining the adorable connection that Crane (Tom Mison) and Abbie (Nicole Beharie) have going on. Instead of focusing on whatever demon we’re dealing with each week, I catch myself trying to figure out how the writers are going to get rid of her in the long run. But I digress…
We begin with Abbie convincing Crane that it’s his duty as an American to yell at umpires during a baseball game. It’s cute and rah-rah American and reminds me why I like these two together.
Shortly thereafter Crane gets kidnapped by Freemasons (I was wondering when they’d show up). In an effort to save Ichabod, Katrina comes to Abbie in a vision (while driving!). Katrina oh-so-helpfully reminds us that Crane’s blood is tied to the Horseman. If one dies, so does the other. She tells Abbie to seek out the “Sin Eater” who can break the bond, but implores Abbie to hurry before Crane is harmed. Abbie makes a stop off at the mental hospital to get Jenny (Lyndie Greenwood), as she’s the subject matter expert on these things. The two eventually track down the Sin Eater, Henry Parrish (the amazing John Noble). Problem is that Parrish is retired from eating other people’s sins (who can blame him?) and refuses to help.
Over in Freemason HQ (a less than impressive underground lair), we meet their leader, James Rutledge. Rutledge is played by James Frain (Side Note: I’m trying not to blame him for the dud that was The White Queen and keep an open mind about his presence. No promises). During Rutledge’s interrogation of Crane, we get a flashback to the first interaction between Katrina and Crane. In the opposite of a “meet cute,” Ichabod is charged with interrogating Arthur Bernard, a freed slave, to find out who is printing treasonous materials about the oppression of American colonies by the British. Katrina the Quaker (who knew?) challenges Crane to be a better man and follow his conscience. Her sad mopey eyes eventually prompts Crane to try – too late – to save Bernard. It is his failure to do so that Ichabod considers this his greatest sin.
Turns out that the Freemasons are using the story to verify Crane’s identity so that they can demand he kill himself, which will put an end to the Horseman’s threat. Luckily, Abbie tracks them down just in time and begs Crane to try to break the bond first. He makes the obvious point: even if the bond is broken, they will still have to stop the horseman. If Crane sacrifices himself now, then the apocalypse ends. Obviously that’s not going to happen in episode 6, though. However, since this is the apocalypse we’re talking about, I’m glad they are at least acknowledging the big picture.
Thankfully the show glosses over that idea fairly quickly. Just as Crane drinks the poison, Walter Bishop…errr…Parrish arrives to the rescue! Bonus: when he removes the sin, he also removes the poison so Crane lives to fight another day (sources say: convenient).
Courtesy of FOX
Other Observations
- Abbie and Crane in the almost death scene = perfection
- So is Crane’s greatest sin the death of Arthur Bernard or is the sin the embodiment of the horseman? There were a lot of moving pieces going on here regarding what actually kept the two bonded.
- Eating blooding covered bread is nasty
Best Lines
- Jenny (when Abbie realizes she knows little about the Sin Eater): “Next time you see that witch in a dream, tell her to be more specific” So true. Why are helpful spirits always so cryptic?!
- Captain Irving (Orlando Jones): “I think there are two things in life people should hold onto as long as possible: virginity and skepticism”
What did you think of the episode? Are you glad to have John Noble back on your TV screen? Are you excited to see more of the Headless Horseman next week? Hit the comments below with your thoughts
Sleepy Hollow airs Mondays at 9pm EST on FOX