Sleepy Hollow "This is War"

This is pure entertainment.

When Sleepy Hollow, a show based around the old Washington Irving legend, was first announced last year, everyone had the perfect right to be dubious, even me. The premise didn't seem like it would last more than an episode and many people were already burned by the the slightly enjoyable yet uber-bad Tim Burton version of the tale. But 13 episodes later, I admit that this is one of the most entertaining shows ever produced on network television. 

Last season ended on a dire cliffhanger in which the villains seemed to win frankly. Ichabod was trapped in a coffin by the Headless Horseman and his all grown up and evil son John Noble whilst his wife was whisked away from him after being reunited. Meanwhile, Abbie Mills was stuck in Purgatory and Jennifer's car was flipped over on the side of the road. The episode premieres with a very long fake out where we are meant to think a year has passed and things are mostly in order with the dynamic duo, save a few sacrifices. But it turns out in was all a ruse in order for Henry to determine the whereabouts of a MacGuffin called the Gehenna Key, a mystical object passed down from Benjamin Franklin. This will allow Henry and big bad Moloch to unveil the 2nd part of their plan to bring about the end of days. Ichabod eventually breaks free of his wooden prison using some MacGuyver-esque ingenuity and reunites with Jennifer Mills. Both of them manage to get the Gehenna Key and free Abbie from the depths of Purgatory. However, Katrina still remains captured and a new Horseman, War,  is unleashed upon the world.

If that sounds like a whole lot, than you probably don't watch Sleepy Hollow much. Most episode contain a lot happening and unravel themselves like a solid graphic novel with plenty of twists, turns, and winks. The episode never loses momentum from the finale of last season and a does a really good job of wrapping everything up all the while introducing new threats for the upcoming season. The episode is also packed with many humorous cultural jibes from Crane, including his disgust for modern technology and his intimate relationship with every colonial America figure ever. I think this season will absolutely outdo the last one and I'm looking forward to turning in every week.

Afterthoughts

- No Orlando Jones in this episode but I'm sure he'll show up soon

- Bram Bones the Horseman was especially creepy in this episode what with him keeping and caring for Katrina as his captured waifu

- Abbie and Ichabod are absolutely the best duo on television. They complement each other so well and their chemistry is top-notch

-Nice to see they're keeping John Cho around in some shape or form

- The design of War is super awesome. He's a medieval suit of armor with no body and a flaming sword. Very D & D