Why ‘Sleepy Hollow’ season 4 did smartest thing possible with Witness reveal

When the fourth season of “Sleepy Hollow” was announced without Nicole Beharie in the cast, we understand the trepidation. It felt almost foolish to be excited about the idea of getting more of the show without her.

Now, we’re two episodes into the fourth season, and there’s zero hesitation on our mind when we proclaim that the show in its new form is rather good! It may actually be the strongest we’ve seen it since the first season just from the vantage point alone of presenting something unexpected, and shaking up the foundation of what the story is and how it should proceed.

It was suggested strongly in the season 4 premiere episode that the new Witness was not going to be Diana (Janina Gavankar), as many expected; rather, it was going to be none other than her daughter Molly (Oona Yaffe). If there was ever something easy to celebrate, it is the show making a genuine effort to not just go the easy route. This is an eleven-year old girl now tasked with trying to preserve the fate of humanity and take on monsters and demons in the process. It feels fairly safe to presume that we’re going to be seeing Diana operate almost as a surrogate for her in the field, but her to be involved on a planning level. It also changes the way Ichabod communicates.

Think of the new dynamic like this: For the majority of the series, Ichabod’s been the only stranger in this strange land — other than of course Katrina, but let’s pretend that some of season 2 happened given how much of a hot mess it was. With Molly, you’ve got much of the same sort of feeling. She’s still getting to know the world and her place in it, and this puts Ichabod in more of a teaching position than ever before. It was one thing introducing someone like Abbie to the dangers of the world, but this is a child! It’s an interesting doubled-edged sword; she may be more inclined to believe, but less capable of taking on the evil that is out there.

We may only be two episodes in, but with this new dynamic and some interesting risks being taken, all of a sudden, “Sleepy Hollow” season 4 is starting to look promising. We just have to see now if the show can properly keep this up as we inch forward.

What do you think: Is “Sleepy Hollow” moving in the right direction? Share now in the comments, and head over here to get some other news on the show’s ratings to date. (Photo: Fox.)