Guided by his past with Benjamin Franklin, Ichabod and Jenny race against Henry to find a key that’s capable of releasing a soul from purgatory. Here is a recap of the Sleepy Hollow episode “This is War.”
Recap:
In his cabin, Ichabod desperately calls for Abbie, and surprise, she pops up with his birthday cupcake and instructions on how to wish upon a candle. The mood takes a somber turn when they mention that a year ago both lost someone they loved. Then, Abbie gets called to investigate a history professor’s ransacked mansion. Naturally, they find him headless, along with files on Benjamin Franklin, who Ichabod disliked being an apprentice to. Headless barges in guns blazing. Ichabod and Abbie drive Headless out with their fancy weapons and rage for killing his wife and her sister.
In the files, Ichabod finds a drawing of the key Franklin used in his electricity experiments. Flashback to Franklin telling Ichabod that he’s actually attempting to destroy the key to keep it from evil. Nothing’s worked. The key is named ghenna, the same name as the road between life and death; therefore, it can break the rule that one soul needs to replace another in purgatory.
Ichabod and Abbie pay Henry a visit as their prisoner. They trade a plant for information on the key’s whereabouts, so he asks to read Abbie’s sins to see if she subconsciously remembers something from Corbin’s files. Abbie takes Ichabod aside and mentions that Corbin sent Jenny to retrieve a sketchbook that will probably help. Ichabod now realizes that he remembers nothing about the past year. They snap back to reality, where Ichabod’s buried in a coffin, Abbie’s in purgatory, Katrina’s tied up by Headless, and Jenny’s tied up by Henry.
After Katrina has a failed escape attempt, Headless appears to her as Abraham and adorns her with the emerald necklace. She still sees him as nothing more than a monster. Ichabod discovers there’s sulfur in the dirt – perfect for causing an explosion to escape. He rigs his own little bomb and crawls out. Jenny denies knowing anything about the sketchbook, so Henry leaves her with a henchman, but she twists herself free and knives him. She gives Ichabod her location, which he barrels through in an ambulance. They speed off to recover the sketchbook, deciphering that location with Franklin’s failed alphabet. It’s with the only person Franklin ever trusted – himself.
Running through purgatory, Abbie finds Andy Brooks, who informs her that Moloch is preparing to raise a demon army. Andy leads her to Moloch’s lair where Katrina communicated with them. Abbie recites the incantation below the mirror and appears to Ichabod. She fills him in on Moloch’s plan and questions whether Moloch wants them to get the key for him. If so, she begs Ichabod to leave her there, but Ichabod doesn’t accept it.
Ichabod and Jenny retrieve the key from Franklin’s clock tower brick. Before Ichabod enters purgatory, Jenny reminds him of the rules: no eating, no drinking, no accepting gifts. He finds Abbie and offers her water. She almost accepts, but another Ichabod intervenes. A fight ensues. The Ichabod with the key takes her hand, and they take off running, but calling her “Lieutenant” gives him away. She promptly beheads him and hears the real Ichabod call her “Leftenant.” Fist bump! As demons rise, Abbie and Ichabod incant the spell and use the key to open the gate. They escape, and the passageway closes moments before Moloch can jump out. They’ve won the battle, but not the war. Moloch appears to Henry and bestows upon him an armored soldier able to be controlled by Henry’s soul.
Comments:
– This was personally one of my favorite episodes of Sleepy Hollow. The relationship between Abbie and Ichabod was handled just as beautifully as ever, and it was effective at exciting me for the upcoming season.
– Knowing that Lyndie Greenwood (Jenny) and Katia Winter (Katrina) are regulars this season immediately gave away that something was amiss with the opening segment. However, it was still enthralling to watch play out because there were a number of possible explanations – time travel, an alternate reality, flashforward, dream, etc.
– Speaking of the intro, having sixteen minutes before the first commercial break was impressive, until an hour later The Blacklist lasted seventeen minutes before breaking.
– The twists on American history have been and continue to be intriguing additions to a story that has little limitations.
– There was a bit of a National Treasure vibe when Ichabod removed the brick from the clock tower to find what they were looking for hidden behind it.
– The birthday cake was a reminder that there’s an endless amount of hilarious “Ichabod vs modern society” ideas that we’ve never even thought of.
– Nothing made me smile more than the return of the fist bump, especially when Ichabod gave Abbie a quizzical look at her bump and explode.
– Why did Abbie’s story in purgatory not begin with or at least include the dollhouse façade she was stuck in at the end of last season?
– I’ve enjoyed the pacing of the series last season, but having Abbie out of purgatory after the first episode back feels quick. That being said, Abbie and Ichabod’s reunion was heartfelt and deserved.
– I firmly believe that John Noble is a perfect addition to any cast. He knows exactly when to be intimidating and when to draw sympathy.
– Katrina seemed like less of a powerhouse in this episode than in the past. Aside from one escape attempt, she was rather docile, which is unfortunate because Jenny escaped herself and she’s not a witch.
– Am I the only one who wondered whether John Cho (Andy Brooks) would pause for a selfie?
– “I have done a lot of sinning. I hope you choke on every one of them.” – Jenny to Henry
