Let's talk about "Sleepy Hollow"! - S1 E8 - "Necromancer"

If you all want a detailed account of just the plot of tonight's episode of Sleepy Hollow, there are plenty of websites with writers in the East Coast that will have already posted about it. Let's just have a conversation, shall we?

Tonight's episode began with Abbie teaching Ichie (yes, Ichie) how to fist-bump. This proper Englishman from the past not only learned to fist-bump, but seemed so amused by it, that he initiated another with her. (This is the polite, 1700s version of Thor's mug-smashing "Another!" when he first learned how much he enjoyed coffee). While it seems highly unlikely that he will ever fully blend in to modern day society, fans (Sleepyheads) would not ever wish for that. There is such fun to be had in seeing him both struggle with and enjoy some of the modern-day practices and devices so vastly different from what he is accustomed to.

I don't know what writers had in mind when creating Captain Frank Irving. But I find it very hard to believe that they already had such sass in mind when developing the character. I would wager that Orlando Jones' personality has seeped in to the character's development, and it is just exquisite. When the suggestion was made to interrogate the Headless Horseman currently being held captive and chained up, Irving replied with, "You want to interrogate the horseman. I don't think he's going to talk." Jones' cheekiness is what is making Irving such a popular character. Too many crime shows have the "gruff boss" type that does little more than bark orders and be in charge. Even the subtle expressions (raised eyebrows, judging eyes) that Jones employs make Irving all the more fun to watch. Anybody can deliver lines from a script; what Jones does is perform. Additionally, the fact that Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg has been cast as Irving's daughter means Sleepyheads will have greater character development of Irving to look forward to.

In tonight's episode, we also learned more about Crane's back story. During the interrogation of the Headless Horseman, he prods at an old wound; his old friend, Abraham. As it turns out, Abraham was originally engaged to Katrina, through an arranged marriage. Katrina ended up calling off the marriage, due to her affections lying elsewhere (Ichie's got game), and it all escalated into a duel, and apparent self-sacrificing death. Sleepy Hollow has done tremendously well at maintaining a solid balance between the battles going on in present day Sleepy Hollow and showing viewers more of Crane's past pre-death/resurrection. But the biggest twist of all was revealed in tonight's episode. The Headless Horseman is in fact, Ichabod's former best friend, Abraham! When on the brink of death, he made a deal with the devil, so to speak, so that he may get revenge on Ichabod and ultimately win the prize of Katrina. Yet another reason to hate the Headless Horseman: he clearly sees womyn as objects.

John Cho's return to Sleepy Hollow is one I personally rejoiced in. Given his character's early demise, and disappearance after said demise, my immediate reaction was one of rants along the lines of, "Oh I see how it is. Kill off the Asian guy." But I've no one to blame but myself for jumping to the hasty conclusion that he was gone. Half the people on this show are in various forms of un-dead and/or resurrected (unless there's a Lost-like twist headed at us. Oh wait; already happened in Episode 5, "John Doe"). Officer Andy, or "Neck Skin" (as dubbed by Orlando Jones), is not only still around in his particular state of undead, but acted tonight as a communication device for the Headless Horseman. It's difficult to predict what's next in store for Officer Andy, but his being seemingly conflicted about his helping the Headless Horseman means greater possibilities for what the writers can do with the character.

Tonight's episode ended with Ichie declaring that now, more than ever, they need to get Katrina back to take down the Headless Horseman. This may throw a wrench in the hopes of those shipping him with Abbie. I'm officially making a prediction that if and when those two finally start to turn up the heat, Katrina will pop up into their lives in a more corporeal way. While normally I'd roll my eyes at the prospect of yet another love triangle, I have faith that if it arises, Sleepy Hollow will do it in a way that's interesting, fun, and oh so clever.

Sleepy Hollow airs on Fox at 9/8 c. (Right after Almost Human; seriously people, Mondays on Fox are where it's at!)

My previous piece on Sleepy Hollow: Sleepy Hollow is a must-watch!