My New Favorite Show: Sleepy Hollow

SLEEPY HOLLOW!

My new favorite show on the strength of its premise, cast/characters and willingness to out-WTF the competition. EDIT: And after only TWO episodes.

(There be spoilers!)


 

SLEEPY HOLLOW!

A show that is more than what you think it's based on; the Headless Horseman is actually one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, Death. Yeahbuwhat?

SLEEPY HOLLOW!

Starring a guy who almost has the same name as Tom Mason but looks like Pope! (This only makes sense if you watch Falling Skies.) He's English too.

Pictured: The result of Falling Skies fan fiction.

SLEEPY HOLLOW!

Captain America fought in World War 2 and because of some extraordinary circumstances was lost in battle but is reawakened in the future and must now set out to fight the forces of evil facing threats both familiar and new.

Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) fought in the American Revolution and because of some extraordinary circumstances was lost in battle but is reawakened in the future and must now set out to fight the forces of evil, facing threats both familiar and new.

So it's kinda like a comic, in spirit!

Ichabod Crane's new costume. Spoilers??

SLEEPY HOLLOW!

Lieutenant Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) is seemingly drawn into this escalating conflict at random when a tragedy forces her to confront demons both imagined and real. She has her own mysterious past tying herself to cataclysmic events that started over 200 years ago. She is both annoyed and delighted that she now has a new friend who doesn't know what a 'Starbucks' is.

SLEEPY HOLLOW!

Together, Abbie and Ichabod must form an unlikely partnership and prevent the Headless Horseman and his allies from bringing about the end of days. The fate of the entire world lies in their hands.

SLEEPY HOLLOW!

Clancy Brown! Orlando Jones! John Cho! The supporting cast is fantastic too!

Professor Harry Block in the house!

SLEEPY HOLLOW!

The ick factor on this show, for a prime-time network offering is pretty high. There are beheadings, creepy demons, more beheadings and whatever the hell happened to John Cho.

John Cho takes stretching before scenes very seriously.

SLEEPY HOLLOW!

It's a complete re-imagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and it works on so many levels. It's got an INSANE premise, a strong enough cast and show-runners with pedigree (Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Len Wiseman). Besides the Headless Horseman, his three "brothers" are supposed to show up, there are good and evil witches, whatever that horned demon is and mysteries involving George Washington himself. This is show is crazy, and it is immensely enjoyable. The endgame is the apocalypse and our heroes must find a way to stop it. It's scary and exciting and funny and knows how kooky it is and isn't afraid to laugh about it.

Heh.

I tweeted earlier that this felt like what Supernatural used to be, just with a different pair and really, it is. It captures the same sense of mythology and unpredictability of the earlier seasons of that show, and it's awesome. The stakes are high, the monsters scary and the heroes charming enough to keep you glued to your seats. I can't wait to finish off this season and see what is in store for us.