Episode Discussion 3.03 | Blood and Fear { Airs October 15th }
 

Sleepy Hollow is making excellent use of its new surroundings. Lots of outdoor scenes and greenery. Having said that, there wasn’t much else I liked about this episode. The idea behind Jack the Ripper was interesting, but things just fell flat for me. This is another episode I will never watch again. Nothing about it spoke to me.

Things could have been saved with Ichabod risking his life and being stabbed, but I found Nicole’s acting so cold that it ruined what I believe may have been meant to be an emotional episode. Her cradling Ichabod while he appeared to be dying in her arms was just so awkward. Abbie barely seemed to care at all and her expression never changed when Pandora showed up on the scene. It was just bad. And it was either Nicole’s personal acting choice or the way the scene was written. Either way, it ruined this episode for me.

Same for when Crane was recuperating on her couch. Almost no emotion from Abbie and sorry, I blame Nicole for that. Her lack of emotion with an injured Ichabod made an otherwise dull show, absolutely horrendous. Rather than bad acting, Nicole didn’t seem to act at all.

Her sitting down earlier and having a drink with Daniel was also a bit off. It was needless and felt crammed into the episode for no reason. At the same time, I am disappointed that Abbie and Daniel never had that date. I’m still waiting for Abbie to get her groove on like Ichabod has been getting his on.

Girls showing up on the scene to make googly eyes at Crane is boring. This dull as dishwater girl helping him become a citizen is boring. But I know we’re gonna gets lots of romantic scenes with her and Ichabod before Abbie so much as gets a non platonic hug or kiss from anyone, Daniel included.

Jenny and Joe’s B-plot did nothing for me either, but Jenny’s scene with the bad girl was well played by both. Clearly the Shard is going to play a major role this season.

I don’t wanna wait another 10 episodes to find out what Pandora is doing. Her reciting nursery rhymes in a cave is getting old fast. I do however think it has been a wise move to get her out and interacting with people in the town. She’s still no Headless Horseman though.

Finally, no Betsy Ross. No needless flashback scene to give her a reason to exist. No hussy routine this week. I loved it.

So I did what I said I wasn’t going to, and watched the first three episodes of season three. Wanted to give it a shot, even though my favorite character is gone.

While I thought Whispers in the Dark was decent, bordering on solid, I found the S3 premiere and this episode to be very mediocre - and what’s worse, BORING.

If I could only attach one word to season 3 right now that’s the only word I could use. It’s sad, because this show…it’s been many things, but it’s rarely ever been boring.

It’s like in their attempt to reboot/re-imagine/separate from season two/whatever…. They’ve sucked out all the life, the original atmosphere, the uniqueness of the show. It feels more like Supernatural (the later seasons) than SH.

And Abbie’s FBI related scenes feels like an invisible hand is taking the character and depositing her into another show: a crime procedural. While I guess this is their attempt to give Abbie an individual storyline and I wanted that for her, I wanted that to fit within the atmosphere and framework of the show - the small town police department fit this show a lot more than bringing in a branch of Feds. And of course they made Daniel her ex, and now her boss, so I don’t expect they’ll revisit anything there. Really, what will the point of it all be for Abbie‘s character? It seems like it will be nothing but a waste.

I would say Abbie and Jenny’s father coming into the picture and how he could tie into the storylines and the characters is intriguing, and it really would be, if I thought the writing quality was there to support it. Prove me wrong, writers.

I have minor interest on the Jenny/Joe side of things with this stuff on Corbin, because I‘ve always felt there was story to be mined there and he was such an important character no matter how little screen time he had. Even having said that, I don’t have all that much faith the destination with it will be all that satisfying, either.

No need to go into Sexy Betsy, she speaks for herself…..I about fell out of my chair when I first saw the opening credits, and her boobs falling out of her corset. They’re not even attempting to disguise it this year.

Pandora is basically a female Henry, just not related to Ichabod (which doesn’t automatically make her a superior villain). She‘s just throwing up random monsters at them. I’m totally uninterested in her and her endgame, whatever it is.

This episode basically replaced Henry with Pandora, and the coin with the knife. The Jack the Ripper thing wasn’t all that well done to me. Just didn’t care on any level.

Reviews seem to be generally positive on this season overall so far, so I guess I’m in the minority. But I can safely say I prefer the beginning of season two, no question. This is War and The Kindred are far superior to me on just about every level, and this episode was basically just S2.03 Root of All Evil revisited. And more boring.

The writers don’t appear to know what to do with this show, maybe they’re just figuring they can write a few Ichabod and Abbie scenes, throw women at Crane, and with everything else they just wing it. And what’s bad is that some of Ichabod and Abbie's scenes together don't even work for me. Some of them feel awkward, even when it doesn’t seem like they’re supposed to be. Abbie seemed cold holding Ichabod at the end of this episode, after he’d been stabbed. There was very little emotion from her. Some of their “banter” has fallen flat, too.

I can’t help but wonder if there’s a general lack of enthusiasm behind the scenes of this show. It feels like it with what’s onscreen, to me, anyway.

The writing continues to be a major problem - their lack of a vision, their lack of creativity/work on their mythos, of long term storylines and goals for those storylines and paths for characters shows.

On a more shallow note, the location difference is jarring to me. Maybe more so because I lived in Georgia for a year. I don’t care for the difference.

And of course, I miss Headless. I’m almost afraid of what they’ll do with him/to him, though, if they bring him back in, so, yeah…… I’m sure they’ll do a BS retcon and disappear Abraham from Headless, if they haven’t already when Pandora sucked him into her box. Instead of writing. But they’ve done a lot of unnecessary things instead of just improving the writing.

This season so far has been the definition of lackluster. The "reset" didn't do anything to fix this show that quality writing wouldn't have done a thousand times better.

I’ve been re-watching this show from the beginning, too…..just makes me sad to see the difference.

I loved the episode. At first it was in the like zone but Ichabbie's final scene really tied it all together nicely for me and I was literally wowed by the way Tom and Nicole navigated that scene.

I hate Pandora, but in a good way, I really like her as a villain. Season 1 had that great season finale where John Noble is revealed as the son/horseman but in hindsight it would have been nice had he stayed the sineater. Knowing he was the son he always came of as petulant and whiny. I'm really intrigued by Pandora's Little Shop of Horror's feed me Seymour plant.

Abbie taking his petition and just signing it was cute, it's cool that he was trying to find a way to do things on his own though. I really enjoyed Ichabod's monologue railing against government. Other little things I liked was Abbie kicking in doors with what looked like size fives.

I liked the Jack the Ripper he was kind of bad a$$ and his voice was very, very scary to me lol. I was cracking up at the "aw damn" when he brushed of bullets and a third? story fall. Is it weird that Abbie told Danny about Jenny and not Ichabod? Idk. It's definitely weird that some chick knows Jenny's moves. Who did she learn those things from if not Corbin, and if she did learn from Corbin why wouldn't she speak up, she saw Joe who looks exactly like him, so clearly it's his son. Idk but it'll be interesting to see what comes of it.

Ichabod was warm with the lady who's offering him help, I'm a shipper but I am fine with seeing them with other people (as long as ichabbie gets together eventually), I just wish she was Caroline, but hey what can you do.

When Ichabod got stabbed I was like what thee hell is going on. And then they had the nerve to go to commercial break. They better stop playing with me, there were no parts of that, that were even a little bit okay. BlackHoney I'm sorry that you didn't like the eppy. You and me were both mad that the dinner didn't take place. We'll see what becomes of this rain-check. Part of me thinks that Abbie's reaction to him getting stabbed was understated, purposefully so. I'm not sure if it was the writers or Nicole fighting for her character or both. But I did feel after episode one that she might distance herself from him a bit, yes he's her bestie and fellow witness but he did ghost on her for nine months. That had to hurt and she would be foolish to allow him to become this huge integral part of her world again without really knowing if he is there to stay. I get that he needed that time and space, but anything could have been going on with her, she could have really needed him and he wouldn't have known because he didn't check in.

On the other hand I don't think Abbie's the type to panic or worry until she has absolute reason to do so. (Funny I was just working on my fic and I said something to that same effect). Because of the way her life is with the apocalypse and her work she really can't let herself go there until she has to because she would be constantly worried crazy. They always almost die, he just got touched this week. Til this day my least favorite scene was in Deliverance when Katrina stops breathing and Abbie says something like oh my God she's not breathing, it was just unbelievable because she's trained to act. I also think she was willfully not trying to pay attention to Pandora because she knows that she means her no good.

But the reason I loved this eppy is because for the first time since watching the show I got the impression that Abbie is really in love with Ichabod. I could have heard it wrong but in the very first scene I thought Pandora said something like so many of them trying to merge? to her plant and it just made me think of hearts merging. Then at the end I absolutely adored Tom and Nicole's scene, I thought it was so very well acted and raw, and I just loved it. I don't think she would have been looking at him the way she was looking at him if he could have seen her, because she made it pretty clear how she feels about him. And he did as well, I loved him sitting up to actually lay eyes on her and checking on her when she mentioned Pandora showed up. He's always pledging his allegiance to her but tonight was different because he was drugged so essentially as good as drunk and I think his truths were coming out and he tells her that he's most grateful that they're together again. It just seemed like a very raw moment to me, because he was falling asleep and I think with those last words he pushed his way back into her heart, and she is horrified of losing him. I don't know if the flower that grew was their hearts merging or just her fear of losing him, but I now believe she's in love with him, I just don't think she wants to be.

One a side note I haven't watched any fanvids in a while and I don't know how to make them but if I could I would totally make one of this season's Ichabbie's scenes to Janet Jackson's Again. From the moment his dusty butt shows up in cuffs until the couch scenes. If anyone could do that I would be super ridiculously grateful. lol :)

You are not in the minority TheCheshireKitten. Season three has been very BORING to me as well. The first 3 episodes of season two were better than the first 3 episodes of this season. Episode one and tonight's episode have been almost unbearable. It's sad what's happened to our show. I don't feel a connection to it at all.

Pandora is very much a female Henry. She's off in her own space just throwing out monsters of the week and talking in riddles. That act has already worn thin with me.

Everything is just off for me. There have been high points, usually involving Ichabod and Abbie personally. But when they are off, like tonight, the whole show suffers. Tom gave it his all, but Nicole acted as if she was just uninterested, which was a shame given how great she was last week.

GirlunLoosed, I am in complete agreement with your assessments of this episode. I too loved it and can't wait until next week. Pandora, is so evil and Shannyn, in my estimation plays her beautifully. In addition, I love the understated way Nicole plays Abbie Mills. She is a woman and an FBI agent who is very cool under pressure and it takes alot to rattle her. However, in the quiet moments when she is alone with her thoughts--you see the depth of her emotions. Nicole is a Brilliant Actress; just amazing and she and Tom together are MAGIC. So far, I am thrilled with this season. Thanks for your insight.

Blackhoney- Glad to not be alone. Truthfully, I've thought about posting thoughts on the other episodes prior to this one, but the general vibe I'm getting is that a lot of people are enjoying this season, while I'm left feeling like I've lost a favorite show.

It seems somewhat like some of the familiar characters have been taken out of Sleepy and tossed into another show with only supernatural elements - boring and uninspired ones at that. Pandora is neither intimidating or interesting to me. They need to play their hand with her and fast.

They need to prove they can still craft stories and plots - horror/supernatural based ones, because that's what the show is.

I agree with you that there have been moments -Abbie talking about her father, and Jenny and Joe talking about Corbin were good character moments to me - but it feels like they're getting by on checking off some boxes (like it feels like they're doing with the Crane rants each episode).

There's a lack of a hook, a lack of urgency or energy in the plots, and that trickles down into the characters, too.

Serialization was never the problem with this show. The Halloween-like atmosphere, the dark tone, the ongoing story arc, the urgent pacing - those were all strengths. They were what made it unique.

I can actually see the crossover with Bones working now, because they've changed Sleepy in such a way that it isn't quite so unbelievable....But Procedural Hollow is not my thing.

I wouldn't have become a fan of this Sleepy Hollow.

Writing Katrina and Henry out didn't mean they had to change the feeling of the show this much. At all.

Strange how some of us love it more than ever and some hate it? :confused:

I know right? However, for me this is what makes Sleepy Hollow so interesting and refreshing . We don't have to agree. We are all individuals however, we're all invested in our love for this show--- Sleepy Hollow and Ichabbie. When it is all said and done no matter what: We all are Sleepyheads. :) And, that in my estimation ROCKS

I'm hapy with this season as we are not drowning in all that CFD! They are getting back to basics and building up to Pandora's ultimate plan in this second tribulation.

I have mixed feelings about this episode. Some parts I liked. Others I didn't. Loved that NR's BR was nowhere to be found.

Something is missing, like the writers from Season 1.

Abbie did seem rather cold at one point, which puzzled me. I hope there's an explanation?

Hey Blackhoney, I remember when I first watched the stabbing scene I thought she was pretty chill given the circumstance bc I was like oh my god he's about to go unconscious, he could die. But then when I thought about it I just thought it was purposeful bc if Abbie panics, or her voice is worried and frazzled and he senses that he bleeds out faster.

Pandora showing up to twist the knife so to speak is was really made me have a reaction to her. Abbie and Ichabod were completely vulnerable in that scene, and I felt so bad for Abbie because she had to just sit there and listen to her talking junk because of Crane's predicament.

What I did find off putting and I forgot to say was the scene with Abbie and Daniel. I get she needed to check in with her boss, but I felt that she should have been with Crane (who at the time I presumed was in a hospital.) lol. So I'm just guessing that his wound wasn't that severe bc they let him come home. idk. I'm curious to see is he will be completely healed in the next episode.

I thought it was me because on my first watch I was so tired I was fighting to keep my eyes open but even in fighting sleep, I still noticed the chill in the air. Sad to say on the second watch, that feeling didnt change. I dont know if they are trying to have Abbie act more guarded since Crane left before and shes with the FBI now or Nicole is trying the non-acting vapid expressionless method that more and more talentless actors are using these days (a method I strongly dislike if you cant tell) but either way, it is a strong contrast from season one when Crane was going to off himself with the free masons potion. I recall tears, frantic panic, and desperation to save him at all odds. Here it was just meh. She sounded more annoyed than anything. Majorly phoning it in and we know she is capable of stellar so what gives? And then to top it off, in-between Crane being at deaths door, she goes to meet her superior for drinks? Talk about stone cold.

Dont get me wrong, I enjoyed most of the episode. I dont mind the procedural approach and I really like that the showrunners are keeping Crane and Abbie in the forefront and no Betsy-yeye, but yes something is missing between Crane and Abbie. :( I hope they can get it together soon. It would be a great tragedy if they lost their magic.