SACRIFICE
It’s a dark, apocalyptic and really really stormy night…And my dream from my last review of Abbie riding a motorcycle has come TRUE! Ha! Prescience?
The gang’s all here, and this is one busy episode. And that’s saying something for this show. Abbie and Ichabod discover Henry and Moloch’s Mad as Hell plan in miniature. That pentagram over the model town is pretty lopsided. It’s a mathematical as well as supernatural figure after all, but we’ll assume the model is not accurate. BTW Couldn’t Henry just use a MAP? Onward to Katrina and Abraham playing bondage by firelight, forcing Ichabod to draw his sword and fight for his wife. Ichabod wields the cool, magical Methusaleh blade well. The music pounds. The action moves. It’s Mid-Season Finale!
Magic has a price. Any witch knows that. Ichabod, Abbie Katrina and Jenny come together to capture Abraham/The Headless Horseman. And as Katrina chains up her Other Man (is that a twinkle in her eye?), Abbie deals with the Katrina/Abraham dilemma head on. “I know this isn’t easy for you…seeing her with him.” Oh, Abbie. This draws Ichabod out to admit that the marriage has been “under a lot of strain.” Uh-huh. The romantic formula brews. Hmmm. Am I the only one seeing Ichabod’s handling of that sword throughout the episode as kinda phallic?
The sword of Methusaleh, which can stop the Apocalypse, claims a human soul if used. Of course, Captain Irving doesn’t have a soul, so let’s volunteer him! Wait. Where is he again? He reveals his whereabouts via code. Naturally.
As Katrina tries to cajole and convince Abraham to help, Ichabod overhears her entreaties. Oops. Again, it must be mentioned that Katrina is STILL wearing that corset. But now I see it for what it is. She’s a quintessential Tease, because, you know, a proper lady wants to wear her period underwear on the outside all the time and every chance she gets when she’s around two men from the 18th century who would usually only see such a private item in the bedroom. Sly Fox.
No episode would be truly Sleepy Hollow-ish without a visit to the catacombs. Those sets are getting some good use. Here, we find Captain Irving, looking menacing in the dark, with a gun and in a hoodie (Really?) I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Oh, please please please don’t let this be Irving’s Sacrificial Negro swan song.
Meanwhile, we learn from big Sooty Black Moloch that each white tree burned black brings evil. Huh? Black = Evil? With all these evil white folk running around?? Cue Hawley. Damn, I thought maybe we were rid of him and his convenient presence and quips. Anyway, bloody hail falls when he steps outside. Just sayin’.
Ichabod tries to have a heart to heart with Katrina. I just never believe she has any real feelings for him, do you? I’m not sure if it’s the actress or the story plans for the character and uber subtext that the writers have given her. In a showdown, all our heroes go for a walk in the woods armed to the teeth on their mission to stop Moloch, and all Hell breaks loose. Abbie gets shot, Katrina gives glowy witchy power, Irving wields the shining sword and War comes galloping in with a flaming blade. (More males and their swords.) I don’t make this stuff up folks, I just review it with glee. Irving cuts off War’s arm. (Come on! It’s just a flesh wound!) And of course, Irving stumbles, bleeding and wounded after the fight and…well, you know the rest.
Ichabod walks in on Abbie in a little black shirt, looking sexy and beautiful while having her wound bandaged by her sister. Then he gets to hold back an emotional Abbie (against him, yes, AND in slo mo) when she learns about Irving’s fate. And I’m like, couldn’t Katrina sing HER swan song too? These two Witnesses are just made for each other! When Abbie takes hold of the sword (why not?), Ichabod stands up for Abbie staying alive. He’s likely thinking uh, I just held you against me, and I REALLY think you should live. Then she reminds him that their Purpose and Mission are more important. And each of the women step up to say they’ll gladly take the sword and risk their lives. A strong, We Are Powerful Women moment.
Meanwhile, Moloch expects Henry to die and sacrifice himself for the demon’s glory. Henry sees Moloch as a substitute father and is none too pleased. I think we see where this is going, right? Abbie, using some impressive super heroine moves, fights off a Root attack from Henry. (Hey, are those giant, natural hair roots?) Henry dares Ichabod to kill him. “What will it be, Father?” I’ll take that sword, son.
Into the Woods, and our heroes are tied to the white trees as they wait to be slaughtered. Henry realizes that Moloch thinks little of him or Abraham and their loyalty. Moloch just wants everyone dead. And so Henry feels betrayed and takes matters into his own hands, and the full meaning of The Akeda, or Binding, from the biblical Isaac and Abraham story, exerts its influence. My ears began to tire at this point from all the bombastic music and sound effects. And then, all of a sudden, darkness. It all ends, leaving us to wait. And wait. And wait.
Mid-season. Oh how we hate thee.
My Pet Peeves
The episode was a little bit on the frenetic busy side in its effort to create compelling action
Gunga din/Sacrificial Negro (unless Irving’s not dead, and is really just in Supernatural Stasis)
My Fav Moments
Ichabod on a motorcycle for the first time: “I want one of these as soon as this is over!”
“Enough deceit! We have an Apocalypse to halt!”
“It’s okay. She’s a witch.”
Abbie admonishing Hawley: “I need to trust you to watch over the Horseman until we get back. It’s not a party. You can’t have any friends over.”
More seeds of romance
All that sword play
What will you watch while you await the return of Sleepy Hollow? My appetite is whetted by all these swords, and since Walking Dead is also on break, I guess I’ll have to settle into Game of Thrones. Oh, but that’s not premiering until Spring 2015. What’s an ersatz kick-ass damsel in distress to do?
If you feel so inclined, share what you’d like to see in the second half of Season 2. I want to see a full blown Abbie/Ichabod romantic moment, maybe by accident, maybe thinking they’re going to die, and so they think why not? I’d like to see Abbie go Evil. She certainly has the attitude and chops for it. If Hawley and Katrina have to stick around, I’d like to see them more involved in episodes in meatier, less predictable ways. Hell, let Hawley go after Katrina. It would be fun to see Irving re-appear. I want stand alone episodes that dig into some cool and really scary supernatural shit. Your turn.
Until next time, in 2015, naturally…
