S03.E10: Incident At Stone Manor

[GHScorpiosRule]

I LOVED this episode! So many of y'all have stated the wonderfulness that was Ichabod and Abbie, so I won't be superfluous.

 

As far as The Hidden One? All I heard was 'Waa...waaa, waaaaaah, waaaaaah! My powers aren't what they were, I Neeeeeeed my Eyyyyyyyyyye back from that witnesssssss' Whining that it translated into the adults on a Charlie Brown cartoon. You know, the 'WAAWAAWAAWAAWAAAWAAAWAAA.'

 

And I was totally side-eyeing Sophie, Sophie knowing better than Jenny, what to do to defeat Gargoyle. And I, too, expected it to come flying out of the cement, if only to let Jenny smirk (righteously and rightfully so!) at Sophie, and use the Holy Water against it.

 

And ayah...Ichabod would have totally revealed his feelings if not for the peanut gallery watching hopefully. But the hand holding...the hand holding!!!

 

And I really thought we'd see an ugly, scraggly Pandora...all skeletal with gray hair, when she finally looked up. Hubby totally manipulated her into making that offer, and yes, he doesn't any figgedity fucks about her. And it was with contempt he looked at her after he sucked out her powers.

 

But the hand holding!

[phoenics]

No, not parallels.  Mirror images of the other.  The show has it right.

 

 

Um - I meant what I said.  The show was using both couples as parallels but leaving out the romance with Ichabbie.  I'm complaining about them NOT going there romantically with Ichabbie.  The parallels (or mirrors, the words don't really matter and were NOT the focus of my comments) are obvious - pretty sure everyone got that.  I'm upset that they'll parallel/mirror everything else, but not the romantic aspect.

 

I'm using the word parallel to mean analogy or alternate... as in parallel universe?  But seriously - not what I was focusing on at all.  I kinda feel like you misunderstood me and then argued the exact point I was making.

 

 

That's what I think. Compare the disregard THO has for his wife. He basically blames her for everything, then sucks out her power, and totally disregards her after that. Compare that to Crane, who would do anything for Abbie, and lost his mind in his mania to get her back. THO uses his wife for his own personal gain, while Crane sacrifices himself for his future wife (yeah, I said it).

 

The interesting thing is the similarities between Pandora and Abbie. Pandora sacrificed her powers for her husband for what they think is the greater good. Abbie sacrificed herself - and Crane by destroying the stone - for the greater good too. Pandora is always targeting Abbie, taunting her with how "lonely" she will be without Crane, yet Pandora herself - though THO is physically there - is truly the lonely one.

 

 

Now you both are taking what I said WRONGLY and arguing the exact point I was making.  The show is paralleling two couples and showing how one is massively dysfunctional and the other isn't.  But the first gets to be romantic, but the writers still won't make Ichabbie happen.

 

I thought it was obvious that they are paralleling them.  Of course they are paralleling both couples and showing how one is dysfunctional and the other isn't (and is actually loving).  My only gripe (and point) was that I'm mad they'll do that parallel, but are still keeping Ichabbie platonic.

 

I feel like my words were twisted and used for a straw man that I never created.

Edited February 13, 2016 by phoenics

[cassandle]

Is anyone else a Hamilton fan? I was all "America's Favorite Fighting Frenchman!" when Lafayette was on, and noted that General Howe (mentioned in the song Right Hand Man) was the bad guy unleashing the demons. I am now looking for any little mention of Hamilton characters in this show.

 

I've been obsessed with Hamilton since I was a kid (the dude, not the musical--not that I have anything against the musical--I wish I lived anywhere near NY so I could see it, but I digress…).  I've been waiting for him to show up since season 1.  I'm really surprised he hasn't been mentioned yet and that it's taken this long to get to Lafayette.  Both served with Washington and presumably with Crane too so there's no good reason not to have them.  I would be much more interested in seeing them than Betsy Freaking Ross every damn episode.

[netlyon2]

Okay, I think I'm coherent again, so here are some of my thoughts on the episode.

 

Team Witness

• Abbie:  Yeah, so Survivalist Abbie is the GOAT!  I can't even contemplate staying sane in a place that doesn't have any discernable passage of time, not even signals from one's body.  I'm so thrilled that we were allowed to see Abbie's struggle and ingenuity, but also her vulnerability.  Like others, I absolutely love that Pandora has no time for the other Witness; that temptation scene was great and well-done on both parts.  I'm really hoping that we (a) learn the backstory between Pandora and the Witnesses and (b) get a similar scene where Abbie gets to seduce Pandora over to the good side.  Speaking of seduction, I should point out that Abbie started the hand business; Ichabod just finished it (in spectacular form).  Also, I haven't been to the hairdresser in a month and . . . let's just say my crowing glory looks nothing like Abbie's. *calls to make an appointment*
• Ichabod:  After the unclear/ambiguous end to last episode, I was glad to see that finding Abbie is still his primary focus.  I loved the emphasis on the Witness bond and how well they know one another.  Although Abbie obviously had the worse ordeal, it is worth noting that Ichabod just had a pretty horrible experience (being untethered from his body) and IMO, Mison did well playing his relief at being back.  Then, of course, the hand moves were uh-mazing.  However, I'm still looking for Ichabod to take all of his worry/concern during the month that Abbie was gone, multiply it by nine, and truly apologize for his between-season disappearing act.  Nope, even hand-porn won't make me forget about that.
• Team Note:  Watching the X-Files miniseries is really driving home how much Sleepy Hollow is that show's spiritual successor. Take note, showrunners!

 

Team Disciple (aka, The Lesser Team of Witnessing)

• Jenny:  So, I have to be honest.  I did not like early-Season 1 Jenny.  She was so prickly and self-centered and resentful.  As Season 1 progressed, however, she mellowed out some and I found her less off-putting.  Of course, we hardly saw her during Season 2 and absence definitely made my heart grow fonder.  Now that she is back in action in Season 3, I'm coming back to my original reaction.  I just don't have patience for people who are *always* looking to have a chip on their shoulder about something, you know?  It started last week with the survivor's guilt-induced snapping at Crane and continued this week with the sniping at Foster and Joe.  Like, seriously, chill in a corner somewhere.  I agree with the idea that she's worried that Foster is an upgrade.  I really wish the show would stop with these "man has to manage two arguing women" scenes.  First we had Ichabod and the sisters Mills; then, Ichabod, Abbie, and [redacted]; now Joe with Jenny and Sophie.  Really, it's getting old.
• Joe:  At some point, I need for someone to remember that Joe is the one who handed the Shard/Eye over to Nevins and started the series of events that led to Abbie being stuck in the Catacombs for almost a year.  Sorry, show, I'm not going to forget that either.  I don't hold his acts as a wendigo against him (that's all on Henry), but the whole resentment of Abbie and disregard for her instructions to leave Nevins alone is definitely his bag.  You have an in at the FBI; she could have traced those account numbers for you.  Hell, call Alec Hardison and he'll have it done in a jiffy.  It's like the show has taken Ichabod's selfish short-sightedness from Season 2 and transferred it to Joenny.  No bueno, show!
• Foster:  Yup, I still like her, especially now that Abbie's back.  I look forward to seeing how she'll react to Abbie's return, since it's going to be the first time that she'll truly have to choose between Team Witness and Reynolds/the FBI.  It's going to take some doing to come up with a cover story for Abbie's disappearance.  I wonder if Reynolds ever got around to filing that resignation paperwork.

 

The show is paralleling two couples and showing how one is massively dysfunctional and the other isn't.  But the first gets to be romantic, but the writers still won't make Ichabbie happen.

I am so torn on the way they had Ichabod copout with a joke.  On the one hand, it was funny and in-character given that Jenny and Joe couldn't take a hint and leave.  On the other, it felt rather trolllololoz, like they were going "neener, neener" to Ichabbie shippers.  In the moment, I just reminded myself that Ichabod knew that they were about to go home--together.  If the next episode opens with them waking up together, I will have no complaints!

 

Ah, that reminds me of Team Baddie!  Okay, the Hidden One was pretty much every abusive guy in a Lifetime Original, right?  He's feeling emasculated because of his situation, so he tries to make some grand gesture to impress his girl, like taking her to a fancy dinner (or moving their big-ass fortress).  When he realizes that he's overextended himself and can't pay ("I'm so weakened"), she has to step in and cover for him.  Then, he resents her for bailing his ass out and manipulates her into weakening herself so he can feel more powerful again.  Of course it ends with him leaving her crying on the floor.  Hate.This.Guy.

[Julia]

I don't know if I put a negative interpretation on Ichabod copping out on revealing himself in front of Jenny and Joe. The man is obsessed with propriety. Even if he wanted to pitch woo right there right then, Jenny is Abbie's sister, and Ichabod wouldn't be able to justify cutting short their you're-not-dead reunion.

[MissAlmond]

 

But seriously - not what I was focusing on at all.  I kinda feel like you misunderstood me and then argued the exact point I was making.

 

Actually, I openly admit I did misunderstand you.  I thought you were paralleling Crane/Abbie to the Pandora/Hidden One scene you also mentioned where THO took Pandora's powers.  I didn't see any mention of romance in that description, maybe there was and I missed it.  I'm reading fast and furious because Java Script is making  PTV hell today. 

[cynic]

Abbie was great in this episode. I really appreciated how strong and resourceful she was. I would have preferred for Abbie's escape to be completely based on her own initiative instead of it being based on clues from when Betsy figured it out first, but it was still good.

 

It was nice to see Crane and Mills show so much devotion to each other. It's something the show has been sorely missing for a long time now. I enjoyed it a lot, but I wish I could love it as much as many of you do. I think this show missed its window with me. I still like it, but I don't I will ever squee over it again. I also think the chemistry between them is not nearly as good as it used to be. Sometimes I feel like Beharie just isn't into it anymore.

 

Jenny and Joe bore me and annoy me in turns. Sophie is okay, but just feels like Abbie-lite. I don't think this B-plot needed to take up so much time either. I did like the bit with them not knowing the rest of the story because Crane wasn't there and then laughing about the history he tells.

 

Nikki Reed has the easiest regular gig ever. 

 

 

As soon as I saw the shot of Abbie with curly hair, I was like, "So...she's been there for 2 years?"  10 months?!  The show trying to tell me that she not only completely grew out of a relaxer, but grew curly hair longer than the previously aforementioned straight hair in only 10 months was the most unrealistic thing this show has ever tried to sell me.

I thought she must flat iron her hair and the humidity was getting to it.

 

My curl pattern is roughly similar to Abbie's (a bit looser in parts, not nearly so lovely and uniform) and humidity doesn't take my hair from flat-ironed to curly. It just goes from straight to giant cotton ball. I would need to wash and condition it for it to go back to curly. But whatever, in tv land curly hair takes no effort to maintain and people just wake up like that. The bigger headscratcher was that growth. Allowing for shrinkage, that is not ten months. Also, why would her hair grow at all in a world where all her other biological processes were suspended? I'll overlook it though. It's nice that both Mison and Beharie get to use their own hair now.

[Dizzychickstar]

Tho I was pissy that Joenny didn't leave the two alone, I probably would have done the same-staring at those two waiting for Crane's "tell her" moment. I would have been standing there staring with my mouth open until some wiser friend pushed me out of the room...or coughed loudly.

[catrox14]

Tho I was pissy that Joenny didn't leave the two alone, I probably would have done the same-staring at those two waiting for Crane's "tell her" moment. I would have been standing there staring with my mouth open until some wiser friend pushed me out of the room...or coughed loudly.

 

You're better than me. I would have been all

 

"Godsdammit, you idiots.  NOW KISS" and I would have smushed their faces together. 

[phoenics]

Actually, I openly admit I did misunderstand you.  I thought you were paralleling Crane/Abbie to the Pandora/Hidden One scene you also mentioned where THO took Pandora's powers.  I didn't see any mention of romance in that description, maybe there was and I missed it.  I'm reading fast and furious because Java Script is making  PTV hell today. 

 

 

Hmmm.  Now I think I see where the confusion is.  I meant to say that I saw the show trying to contrast (maybe parallel was a bad word to use given how you're using it here) Ichabbie and THO/Pandora.  Ichabbie is healthy, connected and soul-mate-ish vs THO/Pandora being a dysfunctional mess and not connected and rooted in abuse.  Mostly I was just mad at the writers for being so stark with that contrast, and giving Ichabbie all of the tropes of a romantically linked couple, but they (the writers) refuse to make them an actual romantic couple.

 

I think we agree?  

[phoenics]

Abbie was great in this episode. I really appreciated how strong and resourceful she was. I would have preferred for Abbie's escape to be completely based on her own initiative instead of it being based on clues from when Betsy figured it out first, but it was still good.

 

It was nice to see Crane and Mills show so much devotion to each other. It's something the show has been sorely missing for a long time now. I enjoyed it a lot, but I wish I could love it as much as many of you do. I think this show missed its window with me. I still like it, but I don't I will ever squee over it again. I also think the chemistry between them is not nearly as good as it used to be. Sometimes I feel like Beharie just isn't into it anymore.

 

Jenny and Joe bore me and annoy me in turns. Sophie is okay, but just feels like Abbie-lite. I don't think this B-plot needed to take up so much time either. I did like the bit with them not knowing the rest of the story because Crane wasn't there and then laughing about the history he tells.

 

Nikki Reed has the easiest regular gig ever. 

 

 

My curl pattern is roughly similar to Abbie's (a bit looser in parts, not nearly so lovely and uniform) and humidity doesn't take my hair from flat-ironed to curly. It just goes from straight to giant cotton ball. I would need to wash and condition it for it to go back to curly. But whatever, in tv land curly hair takes no effort to maintain and people just wake up like that. The bigger headscratcher was that growth. Allowing for shrinkage, that is not ten months. Also, why would her hair grow at all in a world where all her other biological processes were suspended? I'll overlook it though. It's nice that both Mison and Beharie get to use their own hair now.

 

Not completely sure that's all of Beharie's hair honestly.  Hope it is, but I think a lot was weave.

 

I have a similar curl pattern - I figured Abbie had washed her hair in the water we saw?  But even then it wouldn't look that good with just water.  But you are so right - the bigger leap was the length... no way that would be there in 10 months - straightened that would be butt length hair!

 

My biggest frustration with the show right now is that it feels like the writers are trying to punk us.  Crane looking like he's about to confess his love for Abbie only to fake us out with the "gambit" reads like Metzler faking us out with a similar "gambit".  Remember episode 10 of S2 when it felt like the writers had Crane give Katrina CPR (mirroring the scene in Weeping Lady when he couldn't do it for Abbie) felt like a slap in the face and a "take that Ichabbie shippers" from the writers - and Katia Winter (remember her taunting tweet? so glad that bish is gone)?  This kinda felt similar.  Maybe it was good natured and a "not yet" but given SH's track record I'm not so sure.

 

I definitely think Tom Mison is playing Ichabod as if he's completely in love with Abbie... and when Pandora cut Ichabod's tether, I felt the first inkling toward love from Abbie to Ichabod - but it's not enough.  It's been 3 years.  Either fish or cut bait show.  Don't tease us - it's not nice.

You're better than me. I would have been all

 

"Godsdammit, you idiots.  NOW KISS" and I would have smushed their faces together. 

 

Ha!  I actually yelled this and did the motion with my hands during the episode when this scene aired, lol.

[Frozendiva]

I watched the ep late and don't have much to add to everyone's comments.

 

Pandora really should have not gone back to the past and just let the sleeping dog/god lie. I look back to the old 'Who Mourns for Adonais' ep of the original Trek series and vengeful Apollo  and when defeated, he wept to the Pantheon of there being no room for gods any more. My ego-obsessed and ungrateful husband would have been kicked back to his pyramid.

 

I liked Abbie's natural hair.

 

I wasn't keen on Sophia's reminding everyone that her parents were archaeologists.

 

Shows will tease as long as they can.

[netlyon2]

Abbie was great in this episode. I really appreciated how strong and resourceful she was. I would have preferred for Abbie's escape to be completely based on her own initiative instead of it being based on clues from when Betsy figured it out first, but it was still good.

 

Oh, goodness, I had happily forgotten about Betsy in this episode.  While I did appreciate her more appropriate attire,* I was not pleased to see her pop up in yet another random flashback.  To be fair, this one was far more reasonable than some others; it's just that my Betsy-fatigue levels are so high that I can't even take justified scenes with her at this point.  And when Crane recognized that rusty old cutlass (seemed a bit small for one, but I'm no expert) as belonging to her, I near about lost it!

 

*Really, if that had been her outfit all season, I--and perhaps some other fans--wouldn't have been quite so annoyed by her before the show began.  I mean, we still would have had the ill-judged PR announcements, poor acting, forced romance, and spurious flashbacks to deal with, but she might have been a shade more tolerable.

 

 

[1] My biggest frustration with the show right now is that it feels like the writers are trying to punk us.  Crane looking like he's about to confess his love for Abbie only to fake us out with the "gambit" reads like Metzler faking us out with a similar "gambit".  Remember episode 10 of S2 when it felt like the writers had Crane give Katrina CPR (mirroring the scene in Weeping Lady when he couldn't do it for Abbie) felt like a slap in the face and a "take that Ichabbie shippers" from the writers - and Katia Winter (remember her taunting tweet? so glad that bish is gone)?  This kinda felt similar.  Maybe it was good natured and a "not yet" but given SH's track record I'm not so sure.

 

[2] I definitely think Tom Mison is playing Ichabod as if he's completely in love with Abbie... and when Pandora cut Ichabod's tether, I felt the first inkling toward love from Abbie to Ichabod - but it's not enough.  It's been 3 years.  Either fish or cut bait show.  Don't tease us - it's not nice.

[1] I share your frustration; there are so many things that might be cute or good-natured if we hadn't had the history of Season 2.  I don't quite understand your example, though, since my mind refuses to acknowledge any of "Deliverance" past the opening scene of Team Witness going to the polls.  Seriously, I hate the episode.  Rather than just getting the season pass, I purchased individual Season 2 episodes on I-Tunes so I could buy around that ish!

 

[2] I've been giving this some thought (perhaps more than is healthy) and I've concluded that there is groundwork for Abbie to already have romantic feelings for Crane.  We've had multiple moments of rather intense feelings from her, including their conversation in "Sin Eater" (which always makes me teary) and her fear of his betrayal in "Bad Blood"/"Indispensable Man."  Upon returning from Purgatory, she straight up told him that her faith in him was her biggest weakness.  However, there have always been two obstacles that I think would keep her from acknowledging any romantic feelings, let alone nurturing them.  The first, of course, would be Ichabod's marriage and constant focus on his wife.  I hesitate to use the term, but Abbie was fairly friendzoned from the start, including being there for him through all of the messy CFD.  Then, there's the fact that she was in the role of caretaker for much of their time together; it wasn't until her time-traveling adventures that she got to see Captain Crane in his element.  The Season 2 finale did away with both of those obstacles, so conditions are prime for her to admit those feelings to herself and to him.

 

Wow, if I'd known I was going to write a treatise on Abbie's feelings, I would have saved it for the Relationships thread!  Tl;dr - I think Abbie is more romantically-inclined at this point than one might think.

[Enero]

Not completely sure that's all of Beharie's hair honestly.  Hope it is, but I think a lot was weave.

 

  

Yep. It was a wig or weave. Though NB's hair is naturally curly in real life, if you look closely at her hair in some of the scenes her edges don't always have the curly pattern and appear straight with the curl pattern looking to start an inch or two back from the edges. It almost look like she might've been wearing a lace front. Anyway I can't blame NB not using her real hair or much of it. I know from experience that Hollywood can be brutal on your hair. They really don't have much interest in keeping it healthy. They just want to achieve the look required for the scene by any means necessary, which I believe is why so many, specifically Hollywood women, wear wigs and weaves.

[1] I share your frustration; there are so many things that might be cute or good-natured if we hadn't had the history of Season 2.  I don't quite understand your example, though, since my mind refuses to acknowledge any of "Deliverance" past the opening scene of Team Witness going to the polls.  Seriously, I hate the episode.  Rather than just getting the season pass, I purchased individual Season 2 episodes on I-Tunes so I could buy around that ish!

 

[2] I've been giving this some thought (perhaps more than is healthy) and I've concluded that there is groundwork for Abbie to already have romantic feelings for Crane.  We've had multiple moments of rather intense feelings from her, including their conversation in "Sin Eater" (which always makes me teary) and her fear of his betrayal in "Bad Blood"/"Indispensable Man."  Upon returning from Purgatory, she straight up told him that her faith in him was her biggest weakness.  However, there have always been two obstacles that I think would keep her from acknowledging any romantic feelings, let alone nurturing them.  The first, of course, would be Ichabod's marriage and constant focus on his wife.  I hesitate to use the term, but Abbie was fairly friendzoned from the start, including being there for him through all of the messy CFD.  Then, there's the fact that she was in the role of caretaker for much of their time together; it wasn't until her time-traveling adventures that she got to see Captain Crane in his element.  The Season 2 finale did away with both of those obstacles, so conditions are prime for her to admit those feelings to herself and to him.

 

Wow, if I'd known I was going to write a treatise on Abbie's feelings, I would have saved it for the Relationships thread!  Tl;dr - I think Abbie is more romantically-inclined at this point than one might think.

Agreed. The groundwork is most certainly there. The fact that she spent 10 months in a barren netherworld thinking about, talking to and playing chess with Crane and Crane alone speaks volumes. I'm sure at times, she thought of her sister and others but it was Crane who was upmost in her mind and soul. Abbie's already there. I think the switch just needs to be flipped for the light to go on and her to see, realize that her love for Crane is deeper than friendship.

[HalcyonDays]

Shows will tease as long as they can.

 

Yup. The reality that so many cannot embrace nor understand. Fact is, it all boils down to ratings aka profit. Show is profitable = $$. Show is not profitable = cancellation.

 

Complain all you want about diversity and sidelining of said character or whatever. It all boils down to money. Wherever the money goes, the decisions are made. Regardless of what you think/feel emotionally.

[cassandle]

*Really, if that had been her outfit all season, I--and perhaps some other fans--wouldn't have been quite so annoyed by her before the show began.  I mean, we still would have had the ill-judged PR announcements, poor acting, forced romance, and spurious flashbacks to deal with, but she might have been a shade more tolerable.

 

I definitely would have been less annoyed.  I've been rewatching season 3 (and the good bits of seasons 1 and 2) for the past couple days and I honestly couldn't tell you one single thing about her flashbacks because I'm either yelling at the TV about her costumes or fast-forwarding so I don't have to look at them.  The only shouting at the character this week was thanking her for finally wearing something reasonable.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

When the camera initially zoomed out to show the gigantic pyramid thing that Abbie emerged from, I thought oh, no, she's in the vampire thing in From Dusk Til Dawn?

 

I love that Abbie didn't panic at all. Instead she just dusted herself off, started walking, found a weapon, drew a map, and told herself that she found a way out of purgatory and her trip to the past so she could do this too. I wish I were capable of being so unflappable. I also loved her playing chess with imaginary Crane as part of her coping mechanism to stay sane.

 

Since Crane didn't declare his love for her at the end, I wish he would have said, "When we were in the catacombs, I didn't have a chance to tell you - your hair is simply stunning! Why have I not seen it this way before?"

 

Yes, the gargoyle case was pretty lame. There was barely any there there, but at least it gave us a chance to see Jenny and Joe explain to Sophie the Abbie/Crane research method. It reminded me of Cody and Wes explaining the Buffy/Angel story to Fred:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzr7JSUIIQE

[Mrs OldManBalls]

I would have spent all my time crying and being scared. I am no Abbie. 

[phoenics]

I wasn't keen on Sophia's reminding everyone that her parents were archaeologists.

 

 

I'm glad you brought this up.  I kinda hate it myself.  It's like they're giving Sophie credentials that make her worthy of being on Team Witness.  Why?  I'm with Jenny - she's not really needed and her presence, imo, just infringes on Jenny's territory.  Every time Jenny snapped at her, I smiled.

 

I know I'm supposed to like Sophie - but I just don't - I would prefer Daniels was more involved than Sophie.  I don't get why Sophie is here anyway.  Is she going to fade away now that Abbie is back?  It's like they gave her bits and pieces of all of the characters - she's not really a character unto herself to me.  

 

And the backstory with her parents and archaeology is SO FORCED and obviously a retcon to shoehorn her into the show that it just makes me resent her.  She has very little personality of her own - she's just there to react (and not even very well).  

 

Whew.  Glad I got that out.

[phoenics]

The reality that so many cannot embrace nor understand. Fact is, it all boils down to ratings aka profit. Show is profitable = $$. Show is not profitable = cancellation.

 

Complain all you want about diversity and sidelining of said character or whatever. It all boils down to money. Wherever the money goes, the decisions are made. Regardless of what you think/feel emotionally.

 

Oh I understand teasing very well - I just don't necessarily trust that these writers will ever give us what we want.  Meaning, they will tease forever and have no intention of ever making good on the tease - as though this show has seasons to get there.  It doesn't.  Also - let me make something clear because I think this is something some of you don't understand.  I get teasing.  I've been watching soaps and romantic shows and buddy shows since childhood.  I get the tropes I know how it works.

 

The problem is that when a black woman lead is involved - all of the rules change.  You cannot rely on your knowledge of how teasing works and all of the rules fly out the window.  In fact, sometimes they cast the black woman BECAUSE they don't plan to ever go to a romantic place.  This has been what I've seen my whole life.  Look at TWD.  I don't think they will EVER go there.  Look at TVD - they cast Bonnie as black and then reduced her importance in the narrative even though in the books she and Damon were canon.  This is what Hollywood does.  Even on The Flash, there is fear that now that Iris is black, the show won't do right by the Flash story and erase Iris' importance.

 

It's not about not understanding teasing.  It's about the fear that we cannot even take what we see at face value - that the ship tropes and teasing will never lead to a satisfying conclusion, and that the writers can't see it because for some reason they don't see Abbie as a flesh and blood woman.  So they are shocked - SHOCKED! - that the rest of us see sparks and chemistry and will they won't they.  

 

And I may be misunderstanding your point about money/marginalization/diversity, but this has been the excuse that Hollywood has made about the lack of diversity or sidelining for years and the reality is (proven by Empire and SH's first season and even The Flash's first half of S1), it's NOT TRUE.  This is what they tell black actors/actresses constantly.  Ask Chris Rock and Taraji P Henson, who was shocked when Empire was screened in Paris and the crowd LOVED HER.  She actually cried.  And look at the monster success here.

 

The old models that we can't have diversity and nice things are no longer holding - it's Hollywood though that keeps clinging to them and claiming "money" when that's just not the case.

 

And with SH, it was clearly the fact that the show was sidelining Abbie and shoving her aside and trying to replace her that caused the ratings to plummet... so that's when money (FOX) finally trumped Goffman's racism. 

[Enero]

And I may be misunderstanding your point about money/marginalization/diversity, but this has been the excuse that Hollywood has made about the lack of diversity or sidelining for years and the reality is (proven by Empire and SH's first season and even The Flash's first half of S1), it's NOT TRUE. This is what they tell black actors/actresses constantly. Ask Chris Rock and Taraji P Henson, who was shocked when Empire was screened in Paris and the crowd LOVED HER. She actually cried. And look at the monster success here.

This reminds me of something I read a couple of years ago about NB. She had a SH event in the UK between S1 and S2 and was nervous about the event because she didn't know how they would respond to her or even if she was a draw for the audience. Imagine her shock and joy when the audience was ESTATIC to see her! They absolutely LOVED her. She was completely floor and overwhelmed. It was a great moment.

BOT - I wish they hadn't rushed Joe/Jenny. I actually liked their banter through a lot of the episode especially at the beginning when they were talking about her not telling him they were going to her father's house, but when things started to turn to their relationship they lost me again.

Also, I agree with who ever it was upthread who said that it was disappointing to see Papa Mills apparently living a very comfortable life with no thought about his daughters who he left behind with their unstable mother. If we revisit him again I'm going to need a dam good explanation as to why he wasn't there for his daughters before I will warm up to him.

Edited February 14, 2016 by Enero

[phoenics]

Yeah - not really liking Papa Mills at the moment.

 

Also some things I forgot to say... 

 

I loved how the show gave us an Ichabod in the previous episode who was SO DESPERATE to get Abbie back - to save her.  I mean, they showed us a man who really really wanted to save Abbie - even when he brought Not!Abbie back through the mirror, the way he carried her like a bride illustrated how he felt about Abbie.  It was really nice to see Abbie being that cherished by Ichabod - she's strong and all - so even though Ichabod didn't actually save her, he still revered her as being someone he desperately wanted to save.

 

BUT - Abbie then saves herself AND Ichabod!  I loved it!  This to me is what I want to see.  I want Abbie to be revered as a woman, but also kick ass enough to save herself!  And Ichabod!  Best of both worlds... clearly she's loved/cherished by an Ichabod desperate to save her... but strong enough and smart and cunning enough to save herself... and him.

 

Just had to get that out.

[vanarnd1]

Nicole Beharie's acting in this episode was amazing. She  did a great job showing a range of emotions both verbally and non verbally and really made it believable to the audience what Abbie was experiencing. It can be hard having to pull that off mostly talking to yourself but she knocked it out of the park. And they really hammered home how Ichabod and Abbie are in tune and compliment each other with how they solve problems.

 

I agree with others I had mixed feelings about the reunion scene. It kind of reminds me of what happened in shows like Bones and Castle, where they would have the main pairing get so close and go through a life or death experience, but then find a distraction or a reason to pull back at the last second. I wish they would just go for Ichabbie right now because there could only be 8 episodes left and I think if anything people would be more interested to see them in a romantic relationship rather than teasing for the next several weeks.

 

I thought it was somewhat clumsy how they introduced the Jenny/Sophie conflict. As others have said she seemed to suddenly be the expert and acting as if she has been on the team the whole time. I can forgive it for one week because they needed to fill time with Abbie/Ichabod separate from the group but I hope that gets balanced out in the next episode. And the Zod/Pandora continued to go in the wrong direction IMO. Maybe it will turnaround and Pandora will turn on Zod, but right now it kind of cheapens the whole build up of Pandora in the first half of the season.

 

I think this episode showed how the acting of Beharie and Mison can elevate the show, I just hope the writers can do them justice the last half of the season

[theatremouse]

The lack of strict realism with Abbie's hair's transformation didn't bother me for two reasons:

1) NB looked gorgeous.

2) They were clearly using the hair switcheroo as shorthand to establish before she said it outloud to Crane that she had been there a whole lot longer than it seemed to him on the other side.

I guess it's sort of three: magical alternate reality wherein time passes differently AND she doesn't need to eat or sleep means there are no rules on hair-grow-timing vs humidity vs otherwise. Plus, I mean, she popped out of that lake and her hair wasn't even wet. So, pretty much, the second they went the "magical realm" route they're sort of off the hook.

When she pulled the sabre (was it a sabre? I can't remember now.) out of whatever it was my first thought was "she's the one true king!" And then when it turned into some Betsy Ross whatevering, I thought, please do not tell me we've sat through these idiotic Betsy Ross flashbacks all season just to lead up to that connection.

TM and NB really sell the relationship brilliantly, but damn if this whole thing hasn't been immensely anticlimactic, and would've been even more so were they not so damn good.

Edited February 14, 2016 by theatremouse

[cynic]

 

Shows will tease as long as they can.

The reality that so many cannot embrace nor understand. Fact is, it all boils down to ratings aka profit. Show is profitable = $$. Show is not profitable = cancellation.

 

Complain all you want about diversity and sidelining of said character or whatever. It all boils down to money. Wherever the money goes, the decisions are made. Regardless of what you think/feel emotionally.

And if that's the metric we're going to use, Sleepy Hollow is an object lesson in what not to do. All the crap that the show pulled over the last two years has taken the ratings from a 3.5 in demo and ten million viewers to a 0.7 this week with 3 million viewers. That's not just the normal erosion that occurs in the life cycle of a show. That's a failure in understanding how to maintain an audience and what makes your show work for viewers. 

 

We can play ratings excuse bingo all we want: Fox isn't promoting the show enough. People didn't realize it was back. People didn't realize it moved to Fridays. It's the audience's fault for not recognizing the quality. The audience isn't being patient enough.The audience is too focused on one character or shipping or whatever etc. But the reality is, if the decisions are being made based on money/ratings, then the show is awash in poor decision making. None of the "fixes" the show has tried has worked. If the show was resonating with audiences, the ratings would be there. Fans would care enough to know when the show is on. Frankly, fans wouldn't need to figure out it moved to Fridays, because it wouldn't be on Fridays in the first place. The show is not doing its job.

 

Yes, shows like to prolong teasing as much as possible. That is because general wisdom is that teasing brings in the ratings. Teasing probably would have been a great route for this show as well, if it had started in season 1 and been consistent throughout the run, like almost every other buddy cop show out there. However, the BS history of this show means that normal strategies don't necessarily apply. If the show really wants to improve its ratings, then it needs to figure out what entices the audience to watch, what the audience cares about and enjoys. Ignoring audience complaints and blaming fans for not getting it is not the way to do that. 

 

This episode got a 0.7. That's not good. It dropped 0.2 from last week, so we can't even attribute that to people not knowing it's on Fridays. This show would be toast if it wasn't produced by Fox. As it is, it might eek out a fourth season, but I wouldn't count on it. If the powers that be have any desire to do right by the shows diehard fans, they probably should be looking at how to wrap up this show in a satisfying way.

Edited February 14, 2016 by cynic

[HalcyonDays]

Oh I understand teasing very well - I just don't necessarily trust that these writers will ever give us what we want.  Meaning, they will tease forever and have no intention of ever making good on the tease - as though this show has seasons to get there.

 

The nice thing about season 3 - for me at least - is that both Abbie and Crane are on a path to realization - and the realization is that they are destined to be together, are in love with each other. Crane, we've seen many times this season, is lost without Abbie. But we haven't really seen - from my view - Abbie having feelings for Crane. The only time I thought there was something, some realization about her feelings was when he was on the couch recovering from being stabbed. But Pandora even questioned Abbie, what would she do if she lost her witness partner and was alone.

 

So this season is a nice journey to show the audience that BOTH of them are slowly realizing their love for each other.

 

We can play ratings excuse bingo all we want: Fox isn't promoting the show enough.

 

Why waste money promoting a show that gets low ratings already? Why not take that cash, and apply it to another show - like Empire or The X-Files, that have excellent ratings and high ad revenue? It's a sound business decision. Why do you think that FOX stopped reporting live ratings - because they do poorly and it looks bad on them, so they are basically twisting things to make themselves not look too bad.

 

Thing is, many of us suffered through bad seasons of shows like The Walking Dead, but it's still a success. I remember getting really angry at the show in the early seasons, but still watched and loved it. Lost was another.

 

I cannot find any link anywhere, but apparently the Live +3 ratings for One Life went up to a 1.4, which is pretty good actually.

 

This episode got a 0.7. That's not good. It dropped 0.2 from last week, so we can't even attribute that to people not knowing it's on Fridays.

You know what's stupid. More people actually watched the show live. One Life was 3.13 million, Stone Manor was 3.17 million. It's just the demo dropped.

[TV Juriste]

As soon as I saw the shot of Abbie with curly hair, I was like, "So...she's been there for 2 years?"  10 months?!  The show trying to tell me that she not only completely grew out of a relaxer, but grew curly hair longer than the previously aforementioned straight hair in only 10 months was the most unrealistic thing this show has ever tried to sell me.

I think they were trying to sell you on the notion that she flat irons her hair usually.  Without the flat iron, her hair returned to its natural state.  It looked gorgeous!!  No complaints from me about showing Abbie with her beautiful kinky-curly hair instead of straight hair!

[kia112]

I think they were trying to sell you on the notion that she flat irons her hair usually. Without the flat iron, her hair returned to its natural state. It looked gorgeous!! No complaints from me about showing Abbie with her beautiful kinky-curly hair instead of straight hair!

Flat iron, humidity, relaxer, whatever. It's still not going to have that length after 10 months. Didn't say it looked bad, just that it was more like a 2 year job.

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV post on the episode!

 

Sleepy Hollow Is Sending Its Love Down The Well
Abbie and Crane try to rescue one another from limbo -- aw! -- as the ultimate evil levitates a glowing...chunk! And lectures us! Zzz!

[cynic]

...

Why waste money promoting a show that gets low ratings already? Why not take that cash, and apply it to another show - like Empire or The X-Files, that have excellent ratings and high ad revenue? It's a sound business decision. 

....

I didn't say that it should. I included it in my list of ratings excuses.

 

 

....Thing is, many of us suffered through bad seasons of shows like The Walking Dead, but it's still a success. I remember getting really angry at the show in the early seasons, but still watched and loved it. ....

Regardless of mine, yours, or anyone else's personal feelings about the quality of WD, using the logic that the right decisions are the ones that bring in money/ratings that you introduced earlier, that show is doing something right. It's obviously satisfying enough to a great deal of viewers even in the bad seasons or so incredibly satisfying to a great deal viewers that they are willing to give it leeway. SH is apparently not that satisfying now and has never earned that level of trust. 

 

...I cannot find any link anywhere, but apparently the Live +3 ratings for One Life went up to a 1.4, which is pretty good actually.

You know what's stupid. More people actually watched the show live. One Life was 3.13 million, Stone Manor was 3.17 million. It's just the demo dropped.

Unfortunately, it's the demo that matters. Anyway, while the total viewers basically stayed the same, that number is not great either. A million more viewers watched Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon and which actually increased its viewers this week. 

 

I can't find the reference that it got a 1.4 either. It didn't break into the top 25 shows with the highest demo gains though. That makes me wonder, since Arrow squeaked in going from a 0.9 to 1.4. I'm not sure I would categorize that as pretty good anyway.For comparison, Grimm, also on Fridays, went from 0.9 to 1.6.

Edited February 14, 2016 by cynic

[HalcyonDays]

Regardless of mine, yours, or anyone else's personal feelings about the quality of WD, using the logic that the right decisions are the ones that bring in money/ratings that you introduced earlier, that show is doing something right.

 

What I meant was that I stuck with watching the show, and it improved a lot and still is must watch TV for me, even thought there were some rough seasons. Unfortunately, SH viewers tend to bail instead.

 

Unfortunately, it's the demo that matters.

 

I know - and it's the dumbest thing - like people over 49 apparently don't have money to spend.

 

Anyway, the episode is getting a lot of positive reviews and comments, which is wonderful.

[catrox14]

 

I can't find the reference that it got a 1.4 either. It didn't break into the top 25 shows with the highest demo gains though. That makes me wonder, since Arrow squeaked in going from a 0.9 to 1.4. I'm not sure I would categorize that as pretty good anyway.For comparison, Grimm, also on Fridays, went from 0.9 to 1.6.

 

AFAIK, CW shows are competing against each other to stay on the air with little to no expectation they will compete in ratings with the Big 4 networks.  So what might be an acceptable rating for the CW might eventually be unacceptable for Fox. I think the CW generally accepts much lower live ratings than the other "big 4" networks, and includes Twitter ratings and the DVR plus ratings for keeping it's shows on the air. 

[cynic]

What I meant was that I stuck with watching the show, and it improved a lot and still is must watch TV for me, even thought there were some rough seasons. Unfortunately, SH viewers tend to bail instead.....

And this is the crux of it for me. It's the blaming of viewers for the show's demise. It's the chiding of fans for not liking certain things or not being patient enough or loyal enough. It's the expectation that people should just watch it anyway even if they don't enjoy it in eternal hope that it will pay off.....someday. This is not a show that never found an audience, that people never gave a chance. People gave it plenty of chances and the show squandered them all. That's really unfortunate, but them's the breaks. Look, I'm glad that the show still works for some people. That's great. Can we please stop being mad at the people that it's not working for though? Can we please stop blaming people for not sticking with a show that not only had quality issues, but is arguably now a completely different show than what it started as (and not in a natural evolution kinda way either)? Can we please try to understand that we all watch different shows for different reasons and when a show stops providing enough of those reasons to enough people, the ratings are going to fall and that is not the audience's fault?

 

Anyway, yes, this episode was pretty good. On the sliding scale of most of season 3 being perfectly serviceable and most of season 2 being kinda bad, this episode was a ray of sunshine. It's probably not enough to make a difference though. 

Edited February 14, 2016 by cynic

[HalcyonDays]

And this is the crux of it for me. It's the blaming of viewers for the show's demise. It's the chiding of fans for not liking certain things or not being patient enough or loyal enough.

 

I know we are not going to agree, but the problem is that people aren't patient at all. The show this season is SO MUCH better than last season, and intricate developing storyline is weaving it's way throughout this season. Every episode builds on a past episode. Motivations and actions become clear as we go on. Think Pandora, and why she did what she did - we had to wait and see her motivations, but I remember people complaining about her purpose right away. This episode, was Abbie finally realizing how important and special Crane is to her. We know Crane feels that way, but not Abbie. That's why she talked to him, played chess with him, etc etc. You KNOW he was going to say something epic to Abbie, but it wasn't the right time or place. It's coming though. Next week will continue to deal with the PTSD from her isolaton.

 

It's a long journey that's unfolding in season 3. It's like reading a book. Some will read the final chapter of a novel first, while others will start from the beginning and enjoy the journey to the end. That's how I see this season, a nice slowly unfolding journey that will lead to epic revelations for Ichabbie.

 

Anyway, yes, this episode was pretty good. On the sliding scale of most of season 3 being perfectly serviceable and most of season 2 being kinda bad, this episode was a ray of sunshine. It's probably not enough to make a difference though.

 

Yeah, it was better than some season 1 episodes, to be honest. Check the ratings thread. SH may not be quite done yet.

[Julia]

I can't see that at all. Some, few, viewers stuck around after they were pretty much explicitly pushed toward the exit for an entire season. I think it's a stretch to ask them to take a hit for impatience if they didn't hang on until things started going their way more than halfway through season 3.

[Helena Dax]

The nice thing about season 3 - for me at least - is that both Abbie and Crane are on a path to realization - and the realization is that they are destined to be together, are in love with each other. Crane, we've seen many times this season, is lost without Abbie. But we haven't really seen - from my view - Abbie having feelings for Crane. The only time I thought there was something, some realization about her feelings was when he was on the couch recovering from being stabbed. But Pandora even questioned Abbie, what would she do if she lost her witness partner and was alone.

 

So this season is a nice journey to show the audience that BOTH of them are slowly realizing their love for each other.

 

 

 

That's what I think too. And tbh, I've always thought they were going to end up together, maybe because their relationship was very intense since the beginning, and not in a platonic way. So yes, I'm enjoying this slow burn. I think that Ich was going to say something meaningful and only changed his mind because they weren't alone. It's almost a trope in this kind of relationships. I'm sure the showrunners will give us Ichabbie soon. 

 

Also, I don't understand why people's saying it was anticlimatic, because to me it was anything but. They just couldn't stop touching each other. And the way they were looking at each other...That was hot!

[phoenics]

What I meant was that I stuck with watching the show, and it improved a lot and still is must watch TV for me, even thought there were some rough seasons. Unfortunately, SH viewers tend to bail instead.

 

 

Okay - this comment kinda makes it sound like you're the "good and loyal viewer" and the fans who didn't stick around are "bad".  No, the show just isn't doing it for them, it lost their trust and they gave up on it.  That is fair.  If this is really about money, then the show FAILED because it killed off the majority of its audience.  Much of that happened from the back half of S1 onwards, which means the fans were HERE for S1B and loved that, but then started dropping like flies after that.

 

That's the fault of the show - not the fans.  

[jhlipton]

So many great LOLs and YEPs in this thread -- I love you folks!
 

That said, I thought Jenny was going to punch Joe when he sided with Sophie. LOL

 
The gargoyle plot was worth it for this:

 

 

 

I was going to comment, but my spirit needs to go astral-project itself over to the writers' room and give them a hearty slap on the back for a job well done.

 
I would give them more than a slap!!!
 

I liked this episode a lot!! I loved the Abbie/Crane interacts. They were so playful, fun, loving in their own way. They both are not there to declare their love for each other, but it's there. Hell, when Crane was like, rubbing her hands, and being all serious "I didn't tell you this in the caves", and you see Jenny and Joe's eyes widen, thinking, "OMG finally! Tell her you love her, fool!!", and then that awesome joke, loved it. I love seeing Ichabbie having fun, being teasing with each other and just being comfortable and loving. Truly. Romanticism is wonderful, but I did love the fun teasing aspect of this - I really did. Not everything has to be some dramatic fainting sort of mess. This was true to the characters and allows us to lead to some beautiful growth and realization. And c'mon, those two teasing, messing with each other so deviously - the BEST! Well done Metzner.

 
I'll go further and say that I loved this episode. If for nothing else than that awesome map (and now Abbie can add cartogropher to her packed resume). Butt yes, I thought it was romantic, in the fullest sense.
 

As soon as I saw the shot of Abbie with curly hair, I was like, "So...she's been there for 2 years?"  10 months?!  The show trying to tell me that she not only completely grew out of a relaxer, but grew curly hair longer than the previously aforementioned straight hair in only 10 months was the most unrealistic thing this show has ever tried to sell me.

OK, then! LOL
 
 

Shows will tease as long as they can.

 
Brooklyn 99 has broken so many "rules" -- the "man-child" cares for and respects his girlfriend (does stuff she loves because it makes him happy) and the couple got together by season 3.
 

When she pulled the sabre (was it a sabre? I can't remember now.) .

No [Le] Sabre is a Buick. This was a Chevy Cutlass. But both are GM so I can see the confusion.

LOL

[phoenics]

I know we are not going to agree, but the problem is that people aren't patient at all. The show this season is SO MUCH better than last season, and intricate developing storyline is weaving it's way throughout this season.

You do realize that fans were patient throughout most of S2 - the issue is fans did not come back. This isn't about patience. It's about SH allowing Goffman to run it into the ground and him trying to edge out Nicole Beharie with Katia Winter and the fans dropping off during S1B and S2.

So - what - fans were supposed to be patient for basically 2 whole seasons? How long were they supposed to hang on before finally coming to terms with the fact that the show they loved in S1A wasn't coming back?

I find it astonishing that you're blaming the fans for deciding to let SH go instead of the people who ran it into the ground in the first place.

S3 has had some gems - but there were still too many mistakes made. The Sexy Betsy Ross promotion with ZERO Abbie/Ichabod promotion until less than a week before the premiere? The feeling that they hadn't learned from S2? Zoe? And then having Daniels but NOTHING happening with Abbie and Daniels while Crane has Zoe? I stuck it out - but I totally understand why some fans thought they were about to get sucker punched with more S2 shenanigans and left.

Add to that the fact that SH never promoted itself and voila. Ratings collapse continues.

This isn't on the audience.

[HalcyonDays]

Okay - this comment kinda makes it sound like you're the "good and loyal viewer" and the fans who didn't stick around are "bad"

 

Honestly, there is a HUGE amount of background information and history, all of the way back to season 1, that I would have to lay out in advance, in order to demonstrate why I have the opinions I have. Like, essay-lengths. But I'm not going to. It actually makes it a bit hard for me to post something clearly, because I'm actually not including a major amount of necessary realizations that I've come to in the last few months. But all shows have growing pains. Shows also grow. No show is the same every season. It's on both the show and the fans to weather those growing pains.

 

Instead, just wanted to comment on a really interesting review I read (gotta find it again and post the link), where they commented on how scared Abbie's face looked when she thought Crane was going to say I love you, or something, and how when he cracked the joke instead, she looked incredibly relieved. I really liked that observation - that she wasn't quite ready yet to face that realization.

 

This really was a fabulous episode, as always, the Ichabbie interactions made it gold!

[Browncoat]

 

When she pulled the sabre (was it a sabre? I can't remember now.) out of whatever it was my first thought was "she's the one true king!"

 

I thought exactly the same thing!

[catrox14]

I thought exactly the same thing!

 

I literally said out loud " Queen Arthur!"

 

[cynic]

A proclamation of love would have felt wrong to me in that moment anyway. I feel like Crane would wait and broach it at a later time in a more measured way. So, I don't care that he didn't say it. I would have preferred to not have the fake out joke though. It felt cheap. I would have rather have had it ended on a hug or something, something sweet. Maybe a "I didn't get a chance to say.....that it is really good to see you again, leftenant." Or a shot of his face as Abbie hugged Jenny or whatever. Hell, maybe a deep bow. Anything, but a flip joke.

 

 

I know we are not going to agree, but the problem is that people aren't patient at all...

 

Yeah, we aren't going to agree. I think people should watch what they want to watch, for whatever reasons that they have. If a show isn't doing it for them, but they want to give it a chance great. If they feel like they have better things to do with their time, that's fine too. Life's short. That choice bums me out, but they don't owe me or the show anything. 

 

And it's not always about quality. There are great, prestige shows (shows way way better than SH) that simply don't do it for me. There has to be something I like about the show. It's silly to blame people for having different tastes. If someone watched the show mainly to enjoy the eye candy of Crane and the show had him swap bodies with Danny Devito for a season, all the quality in the world isn't necessarily going to keep that viewer watching. And hey, whatever floats their boat.

Edited February 15, 2016 by cynic

[theatremouse]

Also, I don't understand why people's saying it was anticlimatic, because to me it was anything but. They just couldn't stop touching each other. And the way they were looking at each other...That was hot!

Since I called it anticlimactic, I'll elaborate, not that I speak for everyone who found it anticlimactic...

I wasn't referring to any touching or lack thereof. They sent her to another dimension or something. It seemed all big and dramatic and worrisome and difficult.

Then we got basically one episode and Crane and the mirror and something that was not even Abbie.

Then we got this one. One. Her hair grows out. She draws a map. Then she pulls the sword out of the not-stone and jumps down a well. Huzzah she's back. Great emotional resonance from both actors throughout. I don't think it would've necessarily been interesting or better to drag out the separation, nor to see more of the Adventures of Abbie Alone in the Dark World; but the physical/geographical resolution (not the emotional) felt very easy and unearned to me. It dilutes the resonance of their big cliffhangers when it's that quickly and easily undone. I don't even need to worry about "gee, how ya gonna get out of this one". I just know they will, because that's who the star of the show is. There is no interesting "how". It just happens. That was anticlimactic for me.

Edited February 15, 2016 by theatremouse

[catrox14]

I kind of understanding what you are saying. I wouldn't say anti-climactic as much as rushed. 

[cynic]

I kinda felt the same way. It was almost like the story wasn't given enough weight. One Life felt like it was an episode that could have been pitched as a regular MoTW and then was retooled to deal with Abbie's absence, with Camacho given Beharie's lines. This one just felt a little easy. There was pathos in Abbie being on her own for ten months, but the solution was as simple as "hey, why is that sword in this rock?"' and Crane building a cabinet based on info that we didn't even see them get. Then, Crane loses his tether, but finds his way back after Abbie walks back in the room and speaks to him for five seconds. And that had to share a lot of screentime with random motw and Jenny, Joe, and Sophie bickering. 

 

I wonder if TPTB is seeing some writing on the wall and speeding up the storylines. Honestly, it didn't feel that earned for this incident to make Crane realize his love for Abbie when he voluntarily didn't even speak to her for months just nine episodes ago and he was dating Zoey even more recently than that. I understand that everything is heightened because Abbie was lost, but it still didn't feel as organic to me as it could have. Plus, Abbie has felt super closed off with Crane this season. It seems like there should have been more effort involved to reconnect and really feel their bond, since it hasn't seemed that strong for a while. 

[Texasmom1970]

I would not have minded a hug between Abbie and Ichabod. I am also fine with the hand love. That probably was pretty out there for him. Especially since he is from a time when people were more modest, had different manners and ways of thinking, especially about displays of affection. Maybe its just me but from the look in both their eyes I say them finally declaring their love for another will come eventually.

[cynic]

Crane and Abbie have shared several close hugs before -  when she almost drowned, when he was going to kill himself, when he left her in purgatory, when he found her in purgatory....  The hand stuff was nice, but all those moments felt more emotional to me. 

Edited February 15, 2016 by cynic

[Snookums]

Pandora really needs god-match.com  The Hidden One is all wrong for her.

 

 

Lord, yes. When he was all "I huuuuunger I thiiiiirrrrst" I was all, cripes dude, are you an all powerful god being or a toddler who didn't get his goldfish crackers??? Pannie, I get you want everything to be like those few moments when he's bringing your house to you and describing the human race going down in a tidal wave of blood and fire but it's not going to happen. He's going to spend all his time draining you of power and spinning your property around going "oh, blood tears? Whateves, I'm busy." This relationship has run its course.

 

The Gargoyle B plot was not trying. It was just staring at the ceiling, filling all the C bubbles on the test and bouncing its sneaker off the floor in a repeated, deeply irritating thumping pattern. Joe does not look like boyfriend material when he's spending the entire episode going c'mon guys, let's all hold hands, please quit fighting, it upsets me! I guess they couldn't just film Joe and Jenny sitting around making sure Crane didn't catch on fire but ugh, at least try, writers.

 

But! the entire Scenes From A Cross Dimensional Marriage That Is Not Yet Openly Acknowledged By Its Participants was fabulous. Abby was Abby from start to finish, and she rescued both herself and Crane (yay!) but I love how she A) had to think she'd lost him forever and B) used her love for him/deep knowledge of him to help look at her situation and find the clues that led to her escape. On her own she could maintain and hope, but she has to think all was lost and therefore had nothing to lose to really listen to what only he could tell her.

[HalcyonDays]

But! the entire Scenes From A Cross Dimensional Marriage That Is Not Yet Openly Acknowledged By Its Participants was fabulous.

 

You win the Internet for this. You win the Ichabbie award for awesomeness....