Fall Preview: Sleepy Hollow

The Premise

In the future in the year 2040 both Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horse awaken from a deep sleep that both of them have been in since the Revolutionary War. The Horsemen immediately begins killing again and Crane is forced to partner with new sheriff Abbie Mills. Looking through the old sheriff's old police files (he is now deceased), Mills find two occult groups that may be responsible for the Horseman's re-awakening. The Horseman must be stopped in order to prevent havoc raining on the Earth, but that will be more difficult with him choosing to use modern weaponry to his advantage. The adjustment is much more difficult for Crane who finds it odd to work with a black person, let alone a woman, both of whom had no societal standing back during the Revolutionary War. Of course, everyone considers him crazy for who he claims to be.

Tom Mision stars as Ichabod Crane and Nicole Beharie (42, The Express) stars as Abbie Mills with Richard Cetrone (The Watchmen, Underworld: Revolution) as the Headless Horseman.

Also starring Orlando Jones, Katia Winter and John Cho. The show was shot in North Carolina.

Sleepy Hollow premieres on FOX, Monday September 16th at 9PM EST.

Where I Would Go With the Plot

Judging by the trailer the story will delve into extreme occultism with an end of the world twist on it, judging by the reference to cults and the excerpt heard about the horseman from the Book of Revelation in the Bible. While I feel these plots and premises are currently being overused, there is definitely something that can be done here. First off, I would make one thing certain. The Headless Horseman cannot leave Sleepy Hollow for some reason or other, at least while Ichabod Crane is alive. And vice verse. While I know that's been done recently in a similar matter in Once Upon a Time, the series needs to be contained, at least for the first couple of seasons.

It's interesting also to note that General George Washington has a role to play in the series. He was the one who gave Crane the orders to kill the Horseman, or whomever the Horseman was known as before he became headless. I see potential with this being able to tie the founding of this country in with biblical passages pertaining to the ending of the world. While the founding fathers new it was important they were trying their best to postpone it, either out of fear or out of some knowledge they already have.

As for what I would do in the first season is simple -- focus more on Ichabod Crane and delve into his character. If we get the Headless Horseman killing someone every week it'll turn into a "buddy cop" drama where the villain is never caught. That leads to boring TV. Show Crane making a difference in his new world. Get him involved with the two occults in the area and delve into history. Also, please, please, please, give us flashbacks to the Revolutionary War.

What I Think Will Happen

This has "great for a couple of seasons" written all over it. I'm looking at this show in the same way I view Lost, Fringe and even the new Star Trek movies a little bit. The writers, directors and producers know what they're doing. They've got a great plot and some great ideas. But in the end, they're going to try and do a little too much.

So that said, I think this first season will be amazing. My guess is the the Headless Horseman will claim a new victim each week on the show and that it will lead with more clues as to what exactly is going on. Interaction between the Horseman and Crane will probably be minimal, happening only in the premiere and then again every few episodes or so. Crane will notice however that every murder connects and that the Horseman is trying to prepare for something. His time will be spent trying to put those bits together (with one of the two cults) while Sheriff Mills focuses on helplessly attempting to catch the Horseman.

I get the feeling they're trying to go and make a darker version of National Treasure in this show, just without the treasure. Secrets held from the founding fathers. A path placed for Crane to find in the future. I'm sure all in all it will be a very fun ride, at least for the first couple of seasons.