Courtesy of FOX
Is there anything creepier than a monster that lures children to their death so he can make instruments out of their bones? Answer: no.
Let’s bitch it out…
While still within the “apocalypse” framework, this episode focused on a stand-alone creature o’ the week format which I always enjoy (maybe from my lack of ability to follow complicated storylines. Consider it post-Lost trauma).
The world’s most perfect driving lesson is interrupted when Abbie (Nicole Beharie) and Crane (Tom Mison) learn that Sarah, a local girl from the area, has gone missing. The girl’s mother Beth (Francie Swift) is a social worker that has helped Abbie in the past so Abbie is pretty determined to help find her.
When canvassing the woods behind their house, Crane discovers a flute made of bone that puts Abbie into a trance – turns out that Sarah has been stolen by the Pied Piper! She is part of the Lancaster family curse, which resulted after an ancestor hired the Pied Piper (do you find him on Angie’s list?) to murder Red Coats who were disrespecting his daughter during the Revolutionary War. But instead of paying his fair wage, Lancaster murdered the Pied Piper – hence the curse on the family, which involves killing a 10-year old girl each generation. Cause, you know, at 10, their bones are the right size (insert spine shivers here).
Who should our team run into when they hunt the Piper? Well Nick Hawley (Matt Barr) of course. He’s back after last week’s introduction and just as self-interested as ever (what is it about the bad boys?!?). Our Trio teams up after Abbie makes a deal to give Nick the flute if he helps them. Thanks in part to an iPod and some headphones, they find and saves Sarah, but unfortunately do not slay the Piper. That’s Nick’s cue to leave, taking his broken flute with him (and unknowingly, selling it to John Noble’s Henry! What’s he going to do with it?).
But wait, why isn’t Beth super happy her daughter has been saved from becoming orchestral instruments? Thanks to the family curse, if the Pied Piper is denied its generational sacrifice, a plague seizes all of the other children in the family. Turns out this poor mom has made the decision to sacrifice her one child to save the three others. Not surprisingly, Crane and Abbie show up just in time to stop her, kill the Piper, and save all of the kids from the curse. Go, team, go!
Courtesy of FOX
Other Observations:
- Irving (Orlando Jones) realizes that he signed away his soul to the devil. It took him far too long to make that connection.
- Adorable Crane/Abbie interaction of the day: when Abbie tries to teach Crane to drive so he is self-sufficient should he ever be alone (i.e. Abbie dies). He calls her out on it, using her full name (“Grace Abigail Mills”), insisting that they are in this together: they live together or die together.
- There are so many great characters in this show, the writers do a good job of dedicating time to each, and knowing when not to. I did not miss HH, Katrina, or Jenny this episode, but it will be nice to have them back.
- Hawley’s nickname for Crane is “Pride and Prejudice.” YES!
Best Lines:
- Crane (when Abbie catches him driving her car): “The odometer…curse you Franklin for developing such a treacherous device.” Keep his hatred for Franklin coming…
What did you think? Did you miss seeing the rest of the gang? Are you excited to see what happens with Irving and his soul? Sound off below!
Sleepy Hollow airs Mondays at 9pm EST on FOX