The fourth episode of Sleepy Hollow begins with Ichabod doing his best Tokyo Drift impersonation. Driving Abbie's car, he goes from 0 to 60 in a scant few seconds. It's a perfect metaphor for the show: you'll start at a rest, and then before you realize what's happening, you're going a thousand miles a minute, take you on a bunch of twists and turns, and then just stop. A rollercoaster, with little time to breathe and less time for a denouement.
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'Go Where I Send Thee...', named after the Gospel song, is average level Sleepy Hollow. The week's episode, about a cursed family losing their daughter, is rife with, as Crane would call a 'Hobbesian' choice. There is a part of you that wants to see the show tip into darkness. However, the episode chooses the safe road: the monster of the week, the Pied Piper is dispatched in such a rote, dull manner that you're expecting the inevitable 'rise from the grave' twist at the end.
Such a scene never materializes, and what could have been a great villain is reduced to a simple thug. Killing villains in such a simple manner is a disservice to the characters on both sides of the line; it's one of my pet peeves with Cumberbatch's Sherlock: the decision to kill bad guys in such ways is lazy. In a show filled with magical artifacts and ridiculous plot contrivances, a stab through the chest is all that can be managed?
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This episode lays bare the the pitfalls that come with the relentless energy I have (rightly) applauded this show for having: there is little to no breath taking this week. You can't quite grasp why this one, about the Pied Piper, seems to slip past your grasp, but it does. The sudden inclusion of Hawley, new fan favorite and Nathan Drake impersonator, feels forced. Wasn't he off chasing down some coins? He's still fun and punchy, and brings grenades, which is always appreciated but he quite literally just appears because we need someone else for Abbie and Ichabod to play off of for a few minutes. I like Hawley; could damn near love him, but he needs to be utilized in small doses, when the plot requires it.
The larger over-arching plot is barely touched upon, the Pied Piper just happened to have sold his soul to some larger demonic force (which is most likely Moloch, of course) but is little more than a random supernatural presence that is also from Icahbod's time. God forbid they encounter some beastie from the 19th century; I scant imagine what our displaced Revolutionary would do. Irving discovers that he has sold his soul to the devil, a turn I am glad was not dragged out for weeks. But he, too, has a Hobbesian choice: he can renege on the deal, and his family would be left with nothing and Irving would be stuck in the asylum forever. It's a plot we want to see more of, because it involves one of our leads making the tough decision and not the talented, and extremely underutilized Beth Lancaster, who is little more than convenient window dressing.
Irving also gets a moment of badassery; a vision of the future where he is an unstoppable warrior. But sadly, he is fighting on the wrong side. The Irving scenes also allow the always untouchable John Noble to chew some more scenery.
There are still little touches that keep the episode moving. Ichabod learning to drive defies one's expectations; and the quiet moment between he and Abbie afterwards is surprisingly touching (the always excellent soundtrack helps, too); his indignation at the Italians for espresso before learning how amazing they are and a pretty keen sword fight towards the end. Sadly, no Jenny or Sheriff Reyes this week.
It all deflates, though. We're left with a peculiar scene of Henry grinding up the Pied Piper's flute for some unknown, but undoubtedly nefarious, reason and it seems like we could have gotten to that point much sooner without all the running about. Our two heroes are unimproved, having never had to face the choice confronted by either Beth or Irving.
Season 2 of Sleepy Hollow has gotten a full 18 episode order, up from 13 last year. This does mean more, but I fear it could turn into a string of episodes like 'Go Where I Send Thee...' diluted, hurried and like the show's title itself: hollow.
Background Noise is GameNGuide's television column.
