Fox Fall 2013: Sleepy Hollow

[keg in kc]

SLEEPY HOLLOW

What if you suddenly woke up from the throes of death 250 years in the future to find the world is on the brink of destruction, caused by unimaginable events, and you are humanity’s last hope? Welcome to SLEEPY HOLLOW, the thrilling new mystery-adventure drama from co-creators/executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (“Star Trek” and “Transformers” franchises, “Fringe”). In this modern-day retelling of Washington Irving’s classic, ICHABOD CRANE (Tom Mison, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”) is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers. Revived alongside Ichabod is the infamous Headless Horseman who is on a murderous rampage in present-day Sleepy Hollow. Bound to the Headless Horseman by a blood spell cast on the battlefield of the American Revolution, Ichabod quickly realizes that stopping Headless is just the beginning, as the resurrected rider is but the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As this re-invented Ichabod finds himself in present-day Sleepy Hollow, he discovers a town and a world he no longer recognizes. All that is brutally familiar are Headless and Ichabod’s determination to annihilate this immortal being. It’s a mission he must complete quickly, as Headless already has viciously slain Sheriff AUGUST CORBIN (guest star Clancy Brown, “Cowboys & Aliens,” “Carnivale”). Grey served both as mentor and father figure to Detective ABBIE MILLS (Nicole Beharie, “Shame,” “American Violet”), a young cop whose own supernatural experiences help her form an unlikely bond with Ichabod. But Sleepy Hollow’s head of police, Captain FRANK IRVING (Orlando Jones, “The Chicago 8,” “Drumline”), isn’t buying any of this. In fact, the only person who is on Abbie’s side is Ichabod. His extensive first-hand knowledge of our secret American history, coupled with her superior profiling and modern threat assessment skills, will make them a formidable duo as they work together to triumph over evil. The complex pasts of Ichabod and Abbie, from Ichabod’s inclusion in the powerful and secretive Freemasons Society and the ghostly appearance of his late wife, KATRINA (Katia Winter, “Dexter”), to Abbie’s childhood visions, will help them solve the intricate puzzles of Sleepy Hollow in order to protect its future. As history repeats itself, the oddly-linked pair will draw on the real stories and hallowed secrets this nation was founded on in their quest to stop an increasingly vicious cycle of evil. SLEEPY HOLLOW is from K/O Paper Products in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series is co-created by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Phillip Iscove and Len Wiseman (“Hawaii Five-0,” “Underworld” and “Total Recall”). The series is executive-produced by Kurtzman, Orci, Wiseman and Heather Kadin. Iscove serves as supervising producer. Wiseman directed the pilot.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, K/O Paper Products

CO-CREATORS: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Phillip Iscove, Len Wiseman

WRITERS: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Len Wiseman, Heather Kadin

SUPERVISING PRODUCER: Phillip Iscove

DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman

CAST: Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane, Nicole Beharie as Abbie Mills, Orlando Jones as Frank Irving, Katia Winter as Katrina Crane

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Buck

Wait, who? The Mexican chick?

[Buck]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I think he's referring to Orlando Jones, who is a very good actor.

I thought I was in the Under the Dome thread.

Orlando Jones bothered me too. I've only seen him in comedic roles.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Buck

I thought I was in the Under the Dome thread.

Orlando Jones bothered me too. I've only seen him in comedic roles.

It was certainly different than we're used to but he was good, IMO.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

So...you're saying you're disappointed with their limited creativity and wish they'd done something more like something that's already been done.

I'm not stating that they should have followed the "family narrative" or a side kick and love interest angle. But here's a character in Ichabod that's a British traitor serving under George Washington in the Revolutionary War. There are endless possibilities.

For instance, they found the head way too soon, IMO. Why not make it more of a mystery where Ichabod says something along the lines of "I know who knows where the head lies. George Washington (or Ben Franklin or John Hancock, for that matter)".

Then, they could mix history with the procedural, which would have made it really fun and more "grounded".

IMO, it would sure beat the hell out of witches. Blech.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It was certainly different than we're used to but he was good, IMO.

He just didn't seem to fit the character. I like the lead actors, but he seems out of place. Perhaps he'll grow on me.

Sucks they greased Clancy Brown so quickly - he's one of my favorites. Wouldn't be surprised if they bring him in occasionally for some flashbacky/dream stuff.

This obviously has that Lost stink to it.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by frazod

He just didn't seem to fit the character. I like the lead actors, but he seems out of place. Perhaps he'll grow on me.

Sucks they greased Clancy Brown so quickly - he's one of my favorites. Wouldn't be surprised if they bring him in occasionally for some flashbacky/dream stuff.

This obviously has that Lost stink to it.

Yeah, I'm definitely with you on Clancy Brown. I was actually sucked into thinking that he'd finally gotten his own TV show until they got that call.

I'd have rather seen him in the Orlando Jones role (nothing against Jones) because I really enjoy Clancy's acting.

Clancy Brown is a guy that should have a role in Star Wars, IMO.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by frazod

He just didn't seem to fit the character. I like the lead actors, but he seems out of place. Perhaps he'll grow on me.

Sucks they greased Clancy Brown so quickly - he's one of my favorites. Wouldn't be surprised if they bring him in occasionally for some flashbacky/dream stuff.

This obviously has that Lost stink to it.

I didn't care for her. It could just be the way they have written that character. Either way, her role dix not impress me.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I'm not stating that they should have followed the "family narrative" or a side kick and love interest angle. But here's a character in Ichabod that's a British traitor serving under George Washington in the Revolutionary War. There are endless possibilities.

For instance, they found the head way too soon, IMO. Why not make it more of a mystery where Ichabod says something along the lines of "I know who knows where the head lies. George Washington (or Ben Franklin or John Hancock, for that matter)".

Then, they could mix history with the procedural, which would have made it really fun and more "grounded".

IMO, it would sure beat the hell out of witches. Blech.

I'd like to see where it goes before passing judgement about the witches. While witchcraft has never been my 'thing', I actually think that's a fresher take than a national treasure/davinci code adventure would be. But I am admittedly a fan of things with a weirder supernatural take. It sounds like a few of you can't stretch your imagination that far, and that's fine. Different strokes...

I thought it started fine but began to unravel around the half hour mark. There was too much infodump. A lot of writers seem to be losing the old "show, don't tell" addage. There were too many abrupt events, as well. Just as an example, Sulu's ties to the dark side should've been foreshadowed by something more sophisticated than a moustache-twirl of a look. They gave it away in such a hackneyed fashion that there was no tension left when he arrived at his apartment and found the horseman there. Similarly, I thought the Reverend witch just wasn't handled very well. I also thought the editing was a little too schizophrenic for my tastes. I think as a whole there wasn't much in the way of subtlety or sophistication to the pilot. It had all the hallmarks of the downside of the bad robot guys: trying so hard to be cool and edgy that they miss the mark on the common sense stuff.

That said, I enjoyed it and will keep watching. At least until Fox cancels it.

I hope Almost Human's pilot in November is stronger. That one actually is a full bad robot production, sleepy hollow isn't, just orci/kurtzman, but i'm not sure whether that's a positive or a negative at this point.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I'd like to see where it goes before passing judgement about the witches. While witchcraft has never been my 'thing', I actually think that's a fresher take than a national treasure/davinci code adventure would be. But I am admittedly a fan of things with a weirder supernatural take. It sounds like a few of you can't stretch your imagination that far, and that's fine. Different strokes...

I thought it started fine but began to unravel around the half hour mark. There was too much infodump. A lot of writers seem to be losing the old "show, don't tell" addage. There were too many abrupt events, as well. Just as an example, Sulu's ties to the dark side should've been foreshadowed by something more sophisticated than a moustache-twirl of a look. They gave it away in such a hackneyed fashion that there was no tension left when he arrived at his apartment and found the horseman there. Similarly, I thought the Reverend witch just wasn't handled very well. I also thought the editing was a little too schizophrenic for my tastes. I think as a whole there wasn't much in the way of subtlety or sophistication to the pilot. It had all the hallmarks of the downside of the bad robot guys: trying so hard to be cool and edgy that they miss the mark on the common sense stuff.

That said, I enjoyed it and will keep watching. At least until Fox cancels it.

I felt like the writers were trying to cram the first season into one episode so they can get to the meat of the plot.

It almost felt like they were trying to grab the audience's attention to avoid the Firefly treatment.

[keg in kc]

Yeah, that's the impression I had as well.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I'd like to see where it goes before passing judgement about the witches. While witchcraft has never been my 'thing', I actually think that's a fresher take than a national treasure/davinci code adventure would be. But I am admittedly a fan of things with a weirder supernatural take. It sounds like a few of you can't stretch your imagination that far, and that's fine. Different strokes...

I thought it started fine but began to unravel around the half hour mark. There was too much infodump. A lot of writers seem to be losing the old "show, don't tell" addage. There were too many abrupt events, as well. Just as an example, Sulu's ties to the dark side should've been foreshadowed by something more sophisticated than a moustache-twirl of a look. They gave it away in such a hackneyed fashion that there was no tension left when he arrived at his apartment and found the horseman there. Similarly, I thought the Reverend witch just wasn't handled very well. I also thought the editing was a little too schizophrenic for my tastes. I think as a whole there wasn't much in the way of subtlety or sophistication to the pilot. It had all the hallmarks of the downside of the bad robot guys: trying so hard to be cool and edgy that they miss the mark on the common sense stuff.

That said, I enjoyed it and will keep watching. At least until Fox cancels it.

I hope Almost Human's pilot in November is stronger. That one actually is a full bad robot production, sleepy hollow isn't, just orci/kurtzman, but i'm not sure whether that's a positive or a negative at this point.

The witch angle has been done to a certain extent with this story before in Tim Burton film. So I wouldn't really call it fresh. And honestly, the aspect of it does not bother me all that much. My biggest issue is with making neck stump into one of the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse. That is just stretching it too far from the original story for me.

[keg in kc]

I think the only Tim Burton film I've ever watched had Batman in it, so I would have no way of knowing that.

[Aries Walker]

I loved it. I thought the chemistry between the two main characters was fantastic, the concept behind what the Horseman really is was inventive, and the nice touches were nice touches. Certainly better than almost anything on network TV, so I'm in.

But, yeah, I worry that Fox is going to Surprise! cancel it, if for nothing else because it reminds me of New Amsterdam, which I also loved, which also had a lost-in-time main character left over from colonial days paired with an African-American female law officer and solving a big mystery, and it was also on Fox, and it was unceremoniously axed.

No pun intended.

[Frazod]

Fox has been killing good shows forever. I loved Brimstone. Great cast, novel idea, dark, creepy, edgy, whacked.

But Trailer Trash Mommy Swap will get picked up for another season!

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by frazod

Fox has been killing good shows forever. I loved Brimstone. Great cast, novel idea, dark, creepy, edgy, whacked.

But Trailer Trash Mommy Swap will get picked up for another season!

Brimstone was great. John Glover as the devil? Sign me up.