[Locke]

So I just finished the Sleepy Hollow Pilot.

Pilots in their very nature exist to convince networks to pick up the series. And so although not always the case, it's difficult to judge things like the acting or the action or whatever on the pilot alone, as they may not bother to fire on all cylinders or throw as much money at their episodes, when they've confirmed they have x episodes to play with.

As such, I took the pilot's impressive action sequences and visuals with a grain of salt, as to not end up as disappointed with the show as I was with shows like Arrow. It's hard as well, because everything about this pilot makes me excited, establishing a world and a series of narrative hooks which doesn't promise, but at least hints, that what is to come is going to be exciting and epic. Wrapped in stylish visuals, stunningly directed action and balanced with a wicked sense of humour. I just have to keep reminding myself that Arrow promised the same, and look how that turned out, just gotta keep myself grounded, can't let the pilot suck me in....

Tom Mison is no Johnny Depp, for sure, but his version of Ichabod Crane is still fun enough, as he is depicted as a sort of urban fantasy Captain America, minus the shield (they even make this reference themselves at the end) and Mison adds a lot of charisma to some excellently crafted dialogue.

Sadly, the woman alongside him, Abbie Mills as played by Nicole Beharie is far less interesting. She may be a black, female police officer, which is certainly fascinating to Crane but her performance and her characterisation leaves a lot to be desired. Especially when sharing a scene with Crane, who steals every scene he is in, through copious amounts of scenery chewing and apparently loving every second he's in character. I guess she is there to balance, and ground Crane, but she just sucks the fun out of every scene, as she has to constantly amass a wall of sass at everything, like being alive is a nuisance for her to click her fingers at.

Perhaps the only disappointment is that Clancy Brown dies about five minutes after he is introduced, barely doing anything at all. Why would they hire such a great actor for such a tiny part, in the pilot? At least his death brings John Cho into the show, so you sorta balance it out.