The Horseman Rides Again

The past several years, prime-time television has been overrun with the curse of unintelligible and mindless entertainment, better known as “Reality TV.”  At long last this genre appears to be losing its momentum as talented writers and somewhat reasonable plots again take hold.  The world of entertainment appears to be stepping back to the vintage with the likes of “Dracula,” “Once Upon A Time” and now, “Sleepy Hollow.”

“Sleepy Hollow,” is a new TV series this fall with modern day twists on Washington Irving’s classic short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”   From the writers of “Star Trek” (the new one), the storyline does not exactly follow the classic tale.  It is a tale of witchcraft, demonic possession and flashbacks intermingled with the Bible’s Book of Revelation, specifically referring to those passages that speak of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.”  Irving’s Headless Horseman is portrayed as one of the four, the rider of the pale horse and the bringer of death.

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The series stars Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane, a Revolutionary War operative for General George Washington, who in Rip Van Winkle fashion (another Washington Irving classic), awakens after 250 years.  He is paired with Nicole Beharie starring as Lt. Abbie Mills, a modern day Sleepy Hollow, New York law enforcement office who with Crane, investigate mysteries and combat the forces of evil.

 

Other co-starring actors include Orlando Jones as Abbie Mills’ cantankerous police captain and Katia Winters as Crane’s spectral wife Katrina, who makes spot appearances to warn, lead and direct Crane.

Since childhood, I’ve been a sucker for a good and spooky story whether spoken, read or viewed. This series is vaguely reminiscent of dramatic stories from “The Twilight Zone” or “Tales from the Crypt,” complete with those end of the episode hooks to keep viewers hanging on.  The series shows definite possibilities.  In the premiere episode Crane eludes that he and Mills will be linked for a period of seven years.  I personally can’t see these writers, as talented as they may be, coming up with that much material.

The only real concern I would have as an investor in this series is its time slot which is opposite Monday Night Football.  For those unfamiliar with “On Demand” programming this could prove problematic.  But for the rest of us and the time being, let the ghost, goblins, specters and ghouls enchant us all.

Checkout Sleepy Hollow for yourself.