Tag: Moloch

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…

 

 

First of all, I have to apologize to my readers for my being so late in posting this review.  For this reviewer, TV horror needed to take a back seat to the real horror of the events that occurred this week of the killing of 12 year old Tamir Rice by Cleveland police and the grand jury decision on the Mike Brown case in Ferguson.  It’s taken me a few days, but I’m back.

Mirror Mirror

Let’s reflect. As usual, this episode is chock full of fun before opening credits: Katrina chats by mirror; Abbie and Ichabod puzzle over old books, maps, messages, mirror distortion code-breaking and prophecy; Henry eavesdrops; a sheriff is after Captain Irving; a quest begins for the sword of Methusaleh to kill Moloch; the Headless Horseman rides again. Buckle up.

It’s a dark and stormy night, and it’s nice to see the Horseman riding again.  There’s a lot of running.  Abbie fearlessly takes the initiative in a high stakes search for a supernatural weapon. And the soundtrack looms with blares of trumpet. It’s like Season One all over again which is a good thing. We’re back to the dynamic duo fighting the good fight as only they can.  The show works much much better this way. Oh, and no Hawley. He was not missed. OK?

Flashbacks? Oh yeah. With fencing dudes Icabod and Abraham giving a hint of homoeroticism. You know, the we’re playing sports, sweating, getting close, best friends kinda thing, capped by Ichabod’s declaration “He made me who I am.”  This is followed by a pub flashback and a drinking buddies moment with talk of bedding buxom women: cue Katrina, and lo and behold, we have a threesome.

Ichabod is very uber confident and pontificating in this episode, often to comic effect. But it also serves to make him seem more in control and sexier,  and less the bumbling, out-of-his-time guy. I like a balance of those two sides, and we get that this episode.

Ichabod and Abbie go into, yes, you guessed it, yet another cave leading to the town’s underground catacombs.  They discover people turned to stone. Are you thinking Medusa?  She was a Gorgon, so yes. Abbie shows fear, vulnerability and frustration in having to face this creature and her own possible death.  Then she uses her logic to deal with it. Bravo, girl.

The Horseman rides a second time, and did I miss something? Is he ALWAYS accompanied by stormy nights? We get treated to Gorgon SFX. Nice.  Abraham appears to Ichabod as his true self (with head), and the men take up swords against each other.  They argue plot points we already know, but there’s an added injection of doubt about Katrina’s true allegiance.  Before he leaves, Abraham drops, “As I ride with your wife…You have no sword. You are nothing.” Ouch.

Abbie and Ichabod go into Witnesses Overdrive as Abbie gives him that direct, smoldering look, drops her voice deep and low and asks, “What do we have that they didn’t? ” The look is returned by Ichabod,  “Each other.” And they light a flame together to reveal the treasure they seek.  So much symbolism this episode.  Mirrors and true selves and the crucible of fire that tests both courage and love.  The glowing light reflected from the sword is very Medieval and fetching on our Ichabod. Sword in the Stone, the Golden Fleece…any other myths knocking around this episode?

While Captain Irving takes off to seek his own fate, Henry takes after his dad with all that pontificating. He’s getting on my nerves.  I don’t find him scary AT ALL. As much as I love the actor, the character is tiresome.  I only hope that fast-grow Moloch will step in soon to take the reins. One more episode before the mid-season break, so I have a feeling my wish will come true.

My Pet Peeves

The repetitiveness of some motifs have started to come across as lack of imagination: Henry’s I’ve Got Something New for You at the end of each episode, cave locales for supernatural encounters, it was a dark and stormy night. Yes, I know there’s a formula. I think we need a bit more originality.

My Fav Moments

Abbie’s Clarity of Purpose and Rare Gift: “It is my legacy…It is why I’m here.”

Who needs technology? Mirror as video conference, distortion decoder AND bugging device. Ah, but clever Ichabod has started using his PDA apps!

The multiple mentions of Abbie’s mom and her legacy, which means the highs of the previous episode are part of the story arc.

“Thank you, Colonial Myth Buster.”

“Good morning, sunshine.”

“Crane, I can see his head.”

Whenever Abbie sports that pseudo biker babe look in that black cap and leather jacket, it makes me want to actually see her on a bike (writers?)

I don’t know about you, but I hate mid-season breaks. They are the bane of my existence. And it’s a shame to pause just when it feels like the show is starting to finally get its groove again.