Fandom Spotlight: Sleepy Hollow

Debuting in the Fall of 2013, Sleepy Hollow has been a hit from the start. Staring Nicole Beharie as Lt. Abbie Mills and Tom Mison as the infamous Ichabod Crane, the show follows these two witnesses as they do everything in their power to stop the apocalypse from beginning. With great plot-lines, great writing, fantastic actors, and even better chemistry, there's no wondering why fans are so crazy about this new supernatural show. But if you're still not convinced, allow this week's Spotlight and Mibba's growing Sleepy Hollow fandom to show you the light.

The Show

Nearly 230 years prior to the start of the show's timeline, Ichabod Crane, soldier and spy for George Washington, engaged into battle with the man who would become known as the Headless Horseman. During this fight, the Horseman mortally wounds Crane, and Crane, in turn, decapitates him, leaving both men dead in the field. Over two centuries later, when the Horseman is resurrected, Crane is also brought back to life.

Meanwhile in present time Sleepy Hollow, Lieutenant Abbie Mills (whose family has been plagued by perceived insanity and visions of madness) investigates the murder of her partner Sheriff August Corbin, who was brutally beheaded. Her investigation quickly leads her to several occult groups working within her home town and Crane himself. Together they team up to try to end the Horsemen's current murderous spree, but soon they find out the Headless Horseman is only the first wave in a series of oncoming attacks meant to trigger the start of the apocalypse. As they learn, they are 'witnesses' to the apocalypse and, as such, are the only two who can stop it from happening.

The Hype

Although Sleepy Hollow is just two seasons in, the show has received lots of praise, notoriety, and fans. Its success can be pinned on quite a few factors, like an exciting plot, interesting writing, and great character development. But in addition to this, the show can boast quite a few other accolades that are certainly appealing to today's viewers.

One thing that makes Sleepy Hollow a stand-out among other supernatural shows is its diverse cast. As a show on a popular broadcast network (FOX, here in the US), it boasts a high number of main and recurring POC characters. Both Lieutenant Abbie Mills and her sister Jenny Mills are played by African-American women (Nicole Beharie and Lyndie Greenwood, respectively). Other lead characters are also played by POCs, like Captain Frank Irving (Orlando Jones), Officer Andy Brooks (John Cho), and Sheriff Reyes (Sakina Jaffrey). In addition to an ethnically diverse cast, Sleepy Hollow was also co-created, in part, by the dynamic duo that helped co-write films such as Mission: Impossible III, Transformers I & II, both recent Star Trek films, The Amazing Spiderman, and many other successful sci-fi/fantasy/action films - Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.

Following in the footsteps of other FOX hits, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sleepy Hollow also does a wonderful job of showcasing the strengths and diversity of female leads/characters not only in television but specifically in the horror-fantasy genre. With complex main characters like Katrina Crane (played by Katia Winters), and Jenny and Abbie Mills - alongside many other recurring female characters, like Cynthia and Macey Irving (played by Girlfriend's Jill Marie Jones and Hunger Games's Amandla Stenberg) - this show is certainly ahead of the game when it comes to representing a vast array of female narratives.

Aside from its triumphs in casting, Sleepy Hollow's real strength lies in its storytelling and the ability to take an old tale and make it a new again. While we're all familiar with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the countless film and television shows that found inspiration in it, this show seamlessly intertwines that original tale with an interesting new one. Each episode is filled with new revelations that keeps the viewers excited for more and the ways in which characters, settings, plots, and legend interconnects is awe-inspiring.

The Fandom

Many fans fell in love with Sleepy Hollow after just the first episode - and with characters like Abbie and Ichabod, it's hard not to. Still, over the past two seasons, viewers love for the show has grown and grown. And while the Sleepy Hollow fandom has a small following here on Mibba (mostly in our role-play forums), it has thrived on social media websites like Tumblr. While some fans are strictly enamored or curious about the plot, other fans have taken to the 'ships (both canon and potential) like ducks to water.

The most famous 'ship, of course, is Ichabbie (Ichabod Crane/Lieutenant Abbie Mills). Though often plagued and thwarted by Ichabod's fragile relationship with his wife Katrina (and the show's writers insistence on adding new possible romantic interests for Ichabod each season), fans of Ichabbie often find hope in the subtle nuances of their strengthening friendship, chemistry, and their bond as witnesses.

Another popular 'ship is Ichabod/Katrina, the only popular canon ship in the fandom. Although Ichabod and his wife's relationship has been wrought with strife from the start, those same hardships are what helps pull them together. Throughout their history, they've fought to keep each other alive, safe, and stay together, whether it was the Headless Horseman, the impending apocalypse, or their own son threatening to pull them apart.

The third most popular Sleepy Hollow pairing is Captain Frank Irving and Jenny Mills. Their relationship (friendship or otherwise) is built on Frank and Jenny's vital part in stopping the coming of the apocalypse and Frank's acceptance of Jenny's past and how it has shaped who she is today. As Jenny re-joins life outside the asylum, she finds an ally and friend in Frank, someone who doesn't doubt her sanity or usefulness to the mission and who understands the importance of the sacrifices she's made.

Bottom Line

Whether you're in it for the characters, the 'ships, or the story itself, Sleepy Hollow is definitely a show worth watching and the budding Sleepy Hollow fandom is one worth diving into. Catch up on recent episodes on Fox's Sleepy Hollow or learn more on the show's Wikia: SleepyHollow.Wikia.com before the new season starts this October. And remember, if you're looking for other Sleepyheads here on Mibba, the Sleepy Hollow thread is a great place to start.

Special thanks to losing control. and nearly witches. for editing.