Sleepy Hollow : Characters Die, The Show Goes On

Hey, Sleepyheads. Don’t read any further if you haven’t seen the season finale of Sleepy Hollow.

Those of us who have seen the season finale are still reeling from the shock. It appears that the two deaths-one of a major character, and one of a supporting character, are real and not likely to be revoked.

The death of Zach Appelman’s character, Joe Corbin, looked like it left a little wiggle room. Ezra Mills offered to make arrangements for Joe, and I could see Joe being experimented on in a secret laboratory run by George Washington’s X-files. That is, until he was met by his deceased father, August Corbin, when Abbie saw him in the afterlife.  Being hugged by your dead dad is pretty well proof of death.

Abbie’s death is also final, in the sense that she will not appear as herself, played by Nicole Beharie, again. Her eternal soul will appear again as someone else in her own bloodline. The show runner assures us that that won’t be someone we already know.

From Kelly Connolly’s interview with Clifton Campbell in Entertainment Weekly:

KC: Is there any chance that the new Witness might be someone already in the world of the show?

CC: No, there is no chance it will be somebody that’s already in the show.

Nicole Beharie also talks about leaving Sleepy Hollow. Beharie tells TVLine, “Sleepy Hollow has been an incredible experience in every way. I loved playing Abbie. It’s been such a gift to have taken this wild ride… Alas, ‘Abbie Mills has done all she was meant to do.’ I’m excited about what the show has in store for us next. I’m rooting for my co-stars and crew… they have been my inspiration, my teachers, family, my friends, over the last few seasons. I want to thank the fantastic producers, writers, and directors who have worked tirelessly to bring this show to life. I want to thank Fox for their faith and support. But, most of all, [I want to thank the] Sleepyheads for all of your love – what an honor. I will never be the same.”

Abbie Mills’ death was a complete surprise, not foreshadowed by any of the events on the show. She sacrificed herself to stop The Hidden One from taking over and destroying the world. A long goodbye was written for her. She got to see August Corbin again, and see father and son reunited. She and Crane say goodbye in a dream sequence as he lies unconscious after Pandora’s box exploded. “Honor our bond and be brave, be strong. I know you will be. You’re my guy, always.”

The statement given by the studio to Entertainment Weekly shows that they attempted to give the character a decent sendoff.

“The finale featuring the tragic death of Abbie Mills was a very dramatic ending and a bold move for the show, but Sleepy Hollow has always been known for its shocking finales. We feel we provided a wonderfully poignant conclusion for Abbie and showed some of the best moments between the Witnesses that we’ve seen on-screen. We thank Nicole Beharie for bringing Abbie and Sleepy Hollow to life. We are currently discussing season 4, and should the series be picked up for another season, we have some exciting scenarios and new avenues we want to explore.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nicole Beharie has wanted to leave the show for some time. Surprisingly, their sources also say that a fourth season is likely. I’m not sure that the Sleepyheads will agree with that. The online response has been overwhelmingly negative, with the most common comment being that the show is now over for the fan speaking. Think about it-would the X-Files have lasted for nine seasons if Scully had been killed off in season three? Would Supernatural have been renewed for a twelfth season if one of the Winchester brothers had been killed during the apocalypse in season 5? (and stayed dead?) What if there was a Booth without a Bones? A Watson without a Holmes?

Abbie was not a sidekick. She was one half of a team, not to be easily replaced. She was witty, sensible, resolved, brave, and too self-sacrificing. She was everything one would want in a protagonist. The relationships on the show revolve around her. She is Crane’s partner, Jenny’s sister, Ezra’s daughter, Reynold’s employee (and former girlfriend) and Sophie’s co-worker. (Okay, I still don’t really know why Sophie is there.) Those people have less reason to remain part of Team Witness without Abbie. And, for all I know, could disappear next season. I don’t believe that the show can go on without her, and I’m mourning the show as well as the character. In a season full of multiple, important character deaths on many shows, this is the one most likely to kill a show, in my opinion.

Campbell told Entertainment Weekly, “Well, we don’t like to look at it as killing off Abbie.”

But, you did.