Season two of Fox’s hit series Sleepy Hollow is premiering on September 22, so let’s saddle up and get up to a full gallop on the hunt for the Headless Horseman!
What’s the premise? When Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) awakens from a 250-year slumber to find himself in 2013, he’s put in the custody of Lieutenant Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie), whose investigation into a series of gruesome murders leads to the revelation that the Headless Horseman is back and primed to usher in an era of supernatural warfare.
What’s it like? It’s sort of like Supernatural meets Turn, with elements of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Cold Case. It’s taken the police procedural and turned it on its head; with Abbie and Ichabod walking their beat on the supernatural side of the street. The setting flips between the present and the Revolutionary War era, as well as crossing over into Purgatory and the like, as Ichabod and Abbie give chase across time and dimension.
Where can I see it? Season one is available on DVD and Blu-Ray, and is currently streaming on FOX NOW, FOX on Demand, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, and iTunes.
How long will it take? Season one is 13 episodes long, with an average length of 45 minutes, which clocks in at less than ten hours. So you can get caught up in one weekend without losing your head.
What do the critics think? Season one is Certified Fresh at 77 percent on the Tomatometer. Most critics like the fact that the show isn’t taking itself completely seriously. “Sleepy Hollow is gluttonous and over-the-top in all the best ways,” wrote Andy Greenwald of Grantland. Noting the chemistry between the show’s two leads, David Hinckley of the New York Daily News wrote, “Ichabod and Abbie may be the best new cop team of the year. Their scenes together are the show’s greatest pleasure.” “There are four basic ingredients to its secret formula: a giddy sense of adventure, a sly sense of humor, a slick sense of style and loads of heart,” added Mark Dawidziak of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “Those are the four horsemen driving Sleepy Hollow to success.”
Why should I watch this? It’s got some good scares, along with some fun lighter moments. There are some procedural elements, as our heroes take on a different mystery or monster each week. But the weekly events all intertwine into a very intriguing overarching storyline. Tom Mison is very good in the lead, playing his Ichabod Crane with shades of Sherlock. The supporting characters are also very strong, and lend a lot to the story and atmosphere of Sleepy Hollow. Everyone is 100 percent invested in the fantastical world that has been created, and the fans are totally along for the ride: this show has a large and increasing legion of “Sleepyheads” that are ready for round two.
What’s my next step? Maybe you should take a swing at the Tim Burton film Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp. Then you can move on to Sherlock, whose titular protagonist shares some similar traits with Mison’s Ichabod Crane. If you want to solve Revolutionary mysteries (with a dash of Freemasonry to boot), check out National Treasure. And for more TV about George Washington’s men, tune in to Turn.
Are you excited for the season premiere of Sleepy Hollow? Tell us why!
Read season two reviews
