Sleepy Hollow is a must-watch!

Fox's smash-hit Sleepy Hollow was the first new show to be renewed for a second season, after just three episodes being aired. But what is it about this program that has led to its already gaining a loyal, passionate fan base and consistent views every week?

The Unintentional Time-traveller

The original Sleepy Hollow story takes place in the 18th century, and one of the show's leads, Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) is originally from that time period in Colonial America. During a battle of the Revolutionary War, Ichabod seemingly dies in battle, only to arise in the twenty-first century. The Headless Huntsman also arises, and begins wreaking havoc on Sleepy Hollow. The full reason for their long hibernation and the magical resurrection they undergo remains a mystery that will undoubtedly be explored further as the season(s) progress. Being that Ichabod has a useful insight to the Huntsman and other magical happenings, he finds himself acting as a consultant on cases connected to the supernatural world. He also finds himself being visited by the spirit of his wife, whose fate remains a mystery. The presence of magic on the show as well as Ichabod and the Huntsman's rising in modern times leaves the possibility wide open for others to do the same. Though the show is classified as a drama, there are several comedic moments stemming from Ichabod's ignorance on the ways of modern times. A more recent example of this is his attempt to open a plastic container containing what was likely some sort of electric charger, and uttering the following: "What is this impenetrable barrier around this instrument?" If British accents and old-fashioned manners aren't enough to gain your good opinion, you may yet be won over by his intelligence, of which he has an abundance.

The Skeptical Lieutenant

Police Lt. Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) is a character that defies cliches, both gender and ethnic, and complex enough to be a part of a Joss Whedon program. Abbie has her own demons (speaking figuratively now) to deal with. Before becoming a police officer, she lived a life of petty crime and mischief, before being taken under the wing of Sheriff Corbin, who becomes a casualty of the Headless Horseman in the first episode. As a child, she grew up in the foster care system with her sister Jennifer. When they were teenagers, the two of them were attacked by a mysterious creature in the woods and when Jennifer reported her claims to the police, she was placed in an asylum while Abbie kept quiet about what she saw. Racked with guilt for abandoning her sister, Abbie had to own up to her mistake and found herself stronger upon overcoming it. Like any rational being, Abbie initially had a hard time believing Ichabod's claims of being from the 18th century. But she adapted quickly, and despite not understanding how Ichabod came to be in modern-day Sleepy Hollow, she saw that he could help a great deal with the stranger crimes arising in the town. The dynamic partnership between Abbie and Ichabod is fun to watch, and they complement one another immensely well. With an ever-developing connection to the supernatural world, and being faced with apocalyptic Horsemen, Mills is a strong character that will continue to be tested and likely undergo much personal growth as the season progresses.

The cheeky captain

Thus far, Sleepy Hollow has only skimmed the surface of Captain Frank Irving (Orlando Jones). The credits bill Jones third, after Mison and Beharie, suggesting that his character will have a greater presence as the plot develops. It's possible that Irving will be brought in to Ichabod and Abbie's circle, and aid them in their battle against the Headless Horseman and other supernatural foes. More important to discuss than the so-far untapped potential of the Irving character, is the online presence of actor Orlando Jones. Not only does he live-tweet during episode airings, and do it tremendously well, he has called out to fans with requests for fanfiction, fan art, and has even created a Tumblr. While many celebrities avoid this site, likening it to the closet full of monsters that children dare not open, Jones has jumped into fandom culture head-first and taken to it like a fish to water. He has demonstrated the power to singlehandedly catalyse or stabilise fandom frenzies, and seems to take great pleasure in doing so. He even knows the meaning of "shipping" and "OTP". Given Fox's reputation of prematurely cancelling shows (Firefly), it is doubtful they would give Sleepy Hollow the same treatment, especially with Jones highly capable of sending the show's passionate fandom on the warpath.

Final thoughts

Sleepy Hollow's season consists of 13 episodes, which means that it is highly improbable that it will produce filler episodes like many shows consisting of 20+ episodes. The show incorporates elements of fantasy, supernatural, and horror, and is exciting to watch. It is clear that the show is building a larger story arc, meaning that viewers must watch each episode in sequential order to fully appreciate the art of what has been created. Now is an opportune time for viewers to get caught up on the first 5 episodes, as the next episode will not be aired until November 4.

Sleepy Hollow airs on Mondays on Fox at 9/8 c.