There’s a relatively insignificant aspect of Sleepy Hollow that separates it from the typical supernatural procedural (if, indeed, there is such a thing as a typical supernatural procedural). Anyone interested in structure and cutting when it comes to television may notice how both “Heartless” and previous episodes of Sleepy Hollow opt to extend the opening sequence of an episode beyond its natural break. In a more formulaic series, the opening credits would come in after the succubus kills her first victim and the camera hovers above the top of the car. Instead, the episode shifts to a scene with Ichabod and Abbie, visually and textually showing us where Sleepy Hollow‘s concerns lie: with its characters.
“Heartless” is a tribute to that idea in many ways. The decision to, for a large portion of the episode, pair off Abbie with Katrina and Ichabod with Hawley is one of those obvious-but-genius moves at this point in the season. By now, people will have made up their minds about Hawley as a character (despite the fact that “Heartless” tells us we should be open to change in our opinions and relationships). Regardless, the show itself is convinced that he’s an interesting and enigmatic presence, which I completely agree with. Hawley and Ichabod haven’t quite had what people would call “beef,” but that relationship has been strained at best. The two differ in ideals, Ichabod being a very proud man–occasionally to a fault–and Hawley embracing the life of self-preservation one day at a time. They have one incredibly important thing in common, however: Abbie. Ichabod may never accept Hawley as a true friend and someone he could drink with (though I suspect we’ll see that at some point), but he recognizes the pure feelings the treasure hunter has for Abbie. It’s enough to broach the subject with her when he gets the chance, and even though “Heartless” doesn’t give a definitive sense of what’s going to happen there, that idea of willingness to change is expressed in how Ichabod subverts the expectations of his actions and reactions in the episode.
So, too, does the Abbie and Katrina pairing alleviate some tension. The issue of Katrina coming in and messing up the Ichabod-Abbie dynamic had to be addressed, because there was no way she could be integrated seamlessly without everything changing. I think the decision to move Katrina back into Abraham and Henry’s orbit at the end of “Heartless” is kind of cheap in this regard, because the conversation Katrina and Ichabod have in which they come to terms is probably the best use of Katrina to date. To have her yet again be removed (for logical, plot reasons, sure) is frustrating when it was looking like the three (or four/five/six depending on where we go with Hawley, Jenny and Frank) of them would be able to co-exist in a Sleepy Hollow that featured three distinct talents and personalities working together against the forces of evil.
Despite that frustration, “Heartless” goes all-in on the idea of change, which makes both Katrina’s decision and Ichabod’s reaction to hearing about it work so well. Neither genuinely wants to be apart from the other. They’ve spent an eternity trying to be together. But you have to admire when a character in a story recognizes the bigger picture and cuts ties with the selfish parts that usually dictate action. It’s best for the group if Katrina is closer to Abraham and Henry. Whether or not that means it’s best for the show will have to be proven over the next few weeks and without repeating the same moves of Katrina coming back and going again.
As far as the procedural stuff of “Heartless” goes, Sleepy Hollow scores another one in the monster of the week column. The effects of the succubus, both in the way she kills and her design in full succubus form, are of the high standard the series has set. There’s an added layer of creepiness in the way we get to see the narratives of other residents of Sleepy Hollow before they die. It makes the death and danger more real, adding higher stakes to the task that Ichabod and Abbie have been set as witnesses. The final fight itself isn’t remarkable, but–again–seeing Ichabod and Hawley working together makes the action and conclusion more fun.
At this point, though, I don’t think I’m alone in wondering just how and when Frank is going to be utilized. He popped up last week briefly when Ichabod set up a meeting with Henry, but for a breakout character at the end of the first season to be treated this passively at the beginning of the second season is more than mildly disappointing. The writers are clearly paying much more attention to the season arc this time around, especially with a larger episode order, so one would assume that means the Frank story is going to pay off in dividends at some point. However, there are still ways to use characters who can’t physically take part in the action in interesting ways, and it feels like Frank (and Orlando Jones, by extension) are being wasted as life in Sleepy Hollow passes them by. Ditto for Jenny, of course, but we’ll be getting quite a bit of her next week.
Thoughts from the Horseman’s Head:
– Katrina unintentionally bulldozes Ichabod’s heart when she says Abraham got her tea when she was feeling poorly. Ouch!
– “Ah. Macking. He was macking on a lady.” Tom Mison, ladies and gentlemen.
– Things That Confuse Ichabod: reality television. You’re not alone, friend.
– “A succubus, huh? That settles it. I’m definitely not buying her breakfast.” C’mon. How could anyone not like Hawley?
– “Is that clear?” “As vodka.” See? See? The guy is full of one-liners!
– When the crew is doing research, one of those candles is dangerously close to Abbie’s laptop. Rookie error, especially for someone who wasn’t born in colonial times and should know how to take care of electronics. I say this having spilled tea on my laptop twice in the past month.
– Minor gripe: this idea of Henry’s soul still being worth saving is starting to get old. I fully expect there to be an episode near the end of the season that goes head-first into this, but constantly reminding us along the way feels like hand-holding. Just let John Noble do his evil thing until the time comes to make that tough decision of allegiance!
Photo via Fox
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