Sleepy Hollow continued its second season last monday with “Pittura Infamante”, which was another great and exciting, yet different adventure : our witness were barely together !
I was quite afraid before the episode, since Fox announced at the TCA that they felt Sleepy Hollow had become too serialized (mh are they watching the same show ?) and needed to have a more episodic season… It was about the worst thing Fox could say about Sleepy Hollow, it’s against the very nature of the show. Sleepy Hollow was absolutely terrific and perfect in season one because everything made sense and all the episodes are reaching towards one common point. It was a long story serialized. It was a mix of all genre of TV, and that made Sleepy Hollow such an unique and special show.
I get Fox is seeing their Abbie/Ichabod duo as a powerful and original duo cop, but it’s not what Sleepy Hollow has ever been about. It’s not about Abbie and Ichabod fighting off a demon each week.
Anyways, I must say I very much enjoyed “Pittura Infamante”. It perfectly balanced between the monster of the week (Oh God, I’ve never thought a man in a painting would be so scary….) and the bigger stories (Ichabod & Katrina’s marriage and Irving’s comeback). If Fox wants more episodes like that, I’m fine with it.
“Pittura Infamante” was exactly what I love from Sleepy Hollow (even tough I still miss Henry). I was so glad the writers finally took the time to focus on Ichabod and Katrina’s marriage. They still had to fight off a very old serial killer, but it was just the two of them and so they finally made things between them clearer.
I’m still a bit angry at the writers for messing around with Ichabod and Katrina. They are a couple since the show has started but they never had the chance to experience and enjoy their love in the present time. Back in season one, t was very emotional and interesting to watch them apart, trying to get reunited. I was fine back in the start of season 2 when Katrina stayed with Abraham as a spy. But even with all that, it really feels like the writers have just been avoiding to put Ichabod and Katrina back as a couple. I understand there’s more dynamic when the couple suffers, it's more interesting, there's more drama. In my opinion, it feels like the writers don’t really have an idea on how to handle Ichabod and Katrina as a happy or regular couple, so they have to put obstacles. Katrina wanting to save Henry from evil was understandable, but her trying the same with Abraham felt a bit far stretched. The writers need to decide if they want Ichabod and Katrina as a couple and deal with them or just separate them and make Katrina evil.
At least, Ichabod and Katrina have clarified their relationship in “Pittura Infamante”. It was real fun to watch them dress up and try to be modern. They both are so out of place in our century, it would have been so much funnier to watch them in a modern place.
Anyway, that situation, both feeling lost in this world should have brought Ichabod and Katrina closer, it didn’t. Katrina was surrounded by the souvenirs of her past life, with her friend Abigail Adams (the second First Lady, played by the talented Michelle Trachtenberg) Ichabod had more time to adjust to this new world, Abbie helped a lot so Katrina still felt a bit behind everything.
So, Ichabod and Katrina were quite cold at first, and just when they were starting to get closer and talk more, Ichabod’s friend was horribly murdered. Seems like a pattern for Ichabod’s friends.
The killer story was very interesting. He started killing during Katrina’s time with Abigail Adams. Abigail sought the reverend's help and captured Colby, the killer, inside a painting. Abigail Adams using witchcraft is another excellent and fresh idea. They really made Abigail's character a badass. Another strong woman, but she had her own style. I hope we will see more of her.
So, when the painting was restored nowadays, Colby was able to get out of it, collect blood killing people and finish his reversed cross on painting… I’ve never imagined how much a painting could creep me out but when we first saw Colby’s face in the painting, I got scared. Afterwards, he was all flesh and blood, lots of blood, it was more disgusting.
Ichabod and Katrina took all the risks to prevent Colby to kill again, I really enjoyed when Katrina joined Ichabod inside the painting’s realm. They can't be away now, they've been there way too many time.
Ichabod and Katrina were a great duo, they worked well together to stop the killer (even if Abbie finally kill him thanks to the enchanted bullets from Jenny & Hawley). Finally, Ichabod and Katrina realized they had put their marriage in suspension, like time had frozen. They need to adapt and adjust to their new reality. Now, they get that they have to do it together and share their feelings, otherwise their marriage is doomed.
Their future is really uncertain, but I really hope they can manage their difficulties and finally find a way to be together again in 2015. For me, it’s part of the show’s dynamic to have Ichabod and Katrina as a couple and Ichabod and Abbie as witnesses. It wouldn’t be the same without that, it's one of the reason the show is so special.
For once, Ichabod and Abbie didn’t share much time together in “Pittura Infamante”. While Ichabod was busy looking for a man in a painting with his wife, Abbie (and the whole sheriff station) received the unexpected visit from former Captain Frank Irving ! Yay he is back ! Loved Nicole Beharie’s face ! Priceless
Abbie was highly surprised by Frank’s return, she watched him died six weeks ago and now he's back on his feet. Of course, she instantly knew something was off.
The scene between Nicole Beharie and Orlando Jones in the interrogation room was so powerful, so intense, so touching. Abbie really wanted him to be her former friend and mentor but how could she be sure ? Especially after hat happened with Brooks last season, and the fact that Irving’ soul belongs to the Horseman of War.
Abbie and Irvin’s relationship always has been one my favorite. He has been a great mentor, and a moral compass to Aggie since her duty has started. I’m so glad the writers brought him back. His death was very emotional and devastating for Abbie, but his return is another great and interesting shock for Abbie. It was really touching to watch her struggled with what to do with Irving. She called up his wife, after informing her Frank had died, she had to say him he was back, but maybe it wasn’t him…. Okay, that was weird.
In the end, Abbie admitted Katrina might be the only one capable to tell them what Frank really is now…. Evil or not, I don’t know but according to Reyes and that new "evidence", it looks like he is going to be a free man soon !
What did you think of “Pittura Infamante” ? Did you enjoy as much as I did the perfect balance between Ichabod’s and Abbie’ stories ? Were you scared by the painting ? Hit the comments !
Witness notes :
- Business & casual. Tom Mison was particularly hot in that costume… And so was Katia Winter.
- How hilarious Jenny was with that disgusting body. I laughed out so loud watching it. Too bad Hawley wasn’t there with her, it would have funnier to watch her hit him.
- Michelle Trachtenberg was great as Abigail Adams, can’t wait to see her back !
- Reyes is growing on me. She’s not that cold-hearted bitch afterall. She recognized Ichabod’s help in many investigations to his wife and she seems open to see Franck as an innocent man.
- So, what do you think about Irving’s return ? Is he good ?
I enjoyed this episode a lot! It was nice to see Crane and Katrina working together. I know her character isn't a fan favorite, but I like her. I hope we will continue to see her doing magic, she's actually a pretty cool witch.
ReplyDeleteAbout Irvin... I think he's situation will be a little more complicated than "is he good or is he bad?". And God, bring Henry back, he is creepy as hell and very nice to watch.
Great review! :)
I'm so much enjoy this episode like your review but I disagree only one thing in your review that is his hairstyle. When I saw his hairstyle from sneak peeks, I though "What have you done to your hair,Ichabod?". For that modern costume, I prefer to see his 1781 hairstyle.
ReplyDeleteThanks, well I do like Ichabod's new hairstyle. It's more modern, but it's still his own style. :)
ReplyDeleteKatrina is a great character, she's not a fan favorite for the people shipping for Ichabod and Abbie. I really hope to find out more about her witchcraft and to see her use it even more. She can be very powerful.
ReplyDeleteThanks :) Fox better renew Sleepy Hollow quickly, I don't want to loose our Witnesses :/
ReplyDeleteI think Katrina could be interesting if the writers did not write her so badly , shes a badass witch who has not done anything badass since she returned from purgatory.
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for her to do something cool with her powers but nothing.
Even Abby and Jenny have potential to do magic which is probably stronger than hers.
The writers were afraid to make her powerful but now they weakened her so greatly , Katrina isnt an irreplaceable part of the team.
I like Katrina which is why this bothers me so much.
Im sure season 3 Willow from Buffy could probably take Katrina.
Secondly , Katrina decisions have been irrational how is any persons husband supposed to react to how she acts around the horseman , its really nice she doesn't want to kill him and shes looking for a way to save him but the horseman chose the dark side.
I blame the writers for this , if they showed the viewers who Kat was and explored her origins they could make her more likeable , we know nothing about her past or family outside of Crane and this means people are more likely not to understand her actions and hate on her for no reason.
I feel that even Crane doesn't know who his wife is and he is only seeing her for who she is now.
I agree, I blame the writers too for not knowing where to stand with Katrina. They definitely should dedicate one episode to her past, her powers, so we could understand her better. I get why part of the fans don't appreciate her as a character, she is very mysterious.
ReplyDeleteYet her mystery is part of her character's charm so I don't want to know everything about her but some parts would be very appreciated.
And also, we have to remember, she is very new to our world, she stayed in Purgatory for 200 years, it must have been quite terrifying to survive there, alone.
I like Katrina, I want the writers to make him love her more :)
I loved Sleepy Hollow last season. It was funny, smart and original.
ReplyDeleteBut if you keep doing the same things over and over, it gets stale. Unfortunately, you have to be careful what new things you bring in. What made Ichabod/Abbie work in s1 was his befuddlement and her sass, like a modern day Giles and Buffy. With Ichabod and Katrina both from the past and both actors low-key, I also think that the mythology for the show is getting harder to swallow as they go to more extremes. The Wendigo episode bothered me all the way through because that's not what a Wendigo is.
It would also help if katrina were a badass witch. I read a suggestion that Katrina and Jenny should form a badass witch coven. I think that would make her more interesting than these wishy-washy scenes with Ichabod. (I'm not an IchAbbie shipper, I just find that Ichabod/Katrina scenes put me to sleep.)
I liked Jenny and the corpse. I thought it was a pity that they brought Orlando Jones back and kep him chained to a chair barely interacting with anyone else, and unfortunate (stupid?) that the three minority characters were kept together in the B plot. With Henry gone, I really do think they are the three strongest actors on the show.
I thought Tom Mison's hair took all the hotness out of the character, and he was very hot last season..
I'll check on your reviews from time to time to see what's going on but I think I'm pretty much done with the show now except as background wallpaper.
I agree 100%!
ReplyDeleteI think people need to stop always assuming that the dislike of a character has to do with shipping, especially on a show where romance hasn't exactly been the focus. I find it kind of insulting. There are a lot of people (like myself) who love the Abbie Ichabod interaction not because they ship the two romantically, but because they have terrific partnership (personally, I don't have much interest in seeing them as a romantic couple). I'm actually surprised that some fans are actually happier when Abbie interacts mainly with Irving and Ichabod's mainly with Katrina...I just wonder how they survived the first season.
ReplyDeleteIt's clear in this season that there has been a push to increase Katrina time at the expense of characters like Abbie, Jennie and Iriving. I think it's been a mistake, given that a lot of the appeal of the show had very little to do with her character, IMO. The sinister ongoing subplots combined with the smart banter between Abbie, Ichabod and Jennie (plus the presence of Henry Parish) really made this show work for me. And we've lost a lot of theat this season. Also, the decrease in screentime for Jennie and Irving was disappointing. The introduction of Hawley was a great start, because he fit so well with the rest of the cast and had great chemistry with both Ichabod and Abbie, but then somehow that went nowhere either.
I have no problem with Ichabod and Katrina as a couple, but when I tune in to watch this show, the last thing I want to see is half an hour of Ichabod moping about not trusting Katrina, or the hintings of a love triangle involving the headless horseman, or boring conversations between the two trying to mend their relationship. It is not what what this show was originally about. I think the writers felt pressured by certain viewers to increase the importance of Katrina and relegate Abbie to less of a leading role and it sucks. In doing so, they've completely messed with Abbie's character and also completely screwed with the vibe of the show that made it so successful. No wonder, they have lost so many viewers.