‘Sleepy Hollow’ Boss on Giving a Full-Circle Goodbye to the Season 3 Finale Casualty
Warning! Major Sleepy Hollow spoilers below for the Season 3 finale.
Team Witness just suffered a fatal blow.
Though Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) has been no stranger to sacrifice for the cause, the Season 3 finale called for her biggest one yet: she gave up her life to power Pandora’s (Shannyn Sossamon) box, which ultimately led to The Hidden One’s (Peter Mensah) undoing.
RELATED: The Shocking Twists and Turns of the Season Finale
A heroic, world-saving death was the only fitting for Abbie to go out, but it took a bit of time for Ichabod (Tom Mison) to come to grips with his Leftenant actually being gone. (Earlier, Fox/20th Century TV/the producers released a statement confirming this wasn’t another temporary twist in the show; Abbie won’t be coming back if the show returns for a Season 4.)
We spoke with Sleepy Hollow boss Clifton Campbell about the seismic shift to the series, bringing Abbie full-circle, how Beharie and Mison influenced the decision to keep their characters platonic, and more.
I can’t imagine this was a moment the writers’ room came to lightly. What were the discussions that led to the decision to kill off Abbie in the finale?
Well, it seems on a show like this—and particularly, genre [shows]—you’ve got to find ways to evolve shows, not just the characters. We’ve all thoroughly enjoyed working with Nicole. She has created a remarkable character who is complex, intelligent and insightful; and was the perfect complement to Tom Mison’s Ichabod Crane.
It wasn’t easy. Deciding to do that was something that was complicated and difficult, creatively. Certainly, how do you say goodbye to such an incredible character that has really defined this show and this world, and leads us to the mythology that was set up originally? There’s a lot of stories yet to be told in Sleepy Hollow. It was really complicated by how much this pairing was working for everybody. The iteration of the show that is Ichabod and Abbie Mills needed to find a spot that would take the show in a different direction. And a show that is so agile and adept at finding the super dynamic season-enders, we were challenged on how to do that, and still have the show evolve.
The natural, best version of that was to take a page from other genre shows; despite being a character we all loved and cherished so much, it’s the nature of [these stories] to kill off a major character. It was a tough decision to make. But we feel, in this world, and with what we hope is the future of this show, this was the very best thing to do.
At what point did you land on this as the way you’d end your season?
It was really in the back half of the season. There were lots of creative conversations that happened at the beginning of the season in terms of where we would land. And then because there’s always the conversation about the next season just around the corner, part of that is conversations and planning and the original bible from the show’s conception that you want to continue to use as a guide. A lot of that pointed to the direction of killing off a major character this season.
Given the talk of Abbie being similar to the Phoenix and her spark being out there, is there room for Abbie, as we know her, to ever be a part of the Sleepy Hollow mix at some point? Or do you feel this was truly Abbie Mills’ goodbye?
This was Abbie Mills’ goodbye. The character will not be returning to the show. Her essence travels on in spirit, as we say in the last few scenes of the season. The reflection of who that character is and was for Ichabod Crane certainly are things that will filter through the show moving forward. But the character of Abbie Mills will not be [there] and she will not be on the show.
Considering how important Abbie was to the world—and to fans, as well—what was essential that you got right about her exit? What do you want to make sure viewers got from her final hour?
There was a lot of options we had to dramatize the things that had come full circle for that character. A lot of relationships, a lot of career ambition, a lot of goals, which we had set up very early this season that she was moving forward with her life: joining the FBI; rekindling a former relationship with someone she cared a great deal about in Daniel Reynolds; in reconciliation with her father; with a better, stronger, more supportive relationship with Jenny. We built it all toward the end, so that we had the option of looking at this character, having come full circle, going back to the pilot, taking on a task not of her choosing. Doing her job to the absolute best of anybody’s ability to support her fellow Witness, to accept his sacrifice and meet it with a sacrifice of her own, to save the world, felt like the perfect ending.
Ichabod visits Abbie’s grave.
Ichabod and Abbie’s relationship was such a vital part of the show thus far. While some fans certainly saw something more than platonic between them from the start, only recently did people start acknowledging on-screen that it appeared Ichabod had feelings for his partner. What led to the decision to not have them cross that line, ultimately?
Well, they did have one of the purest forms of love. We’ve been saying all season long, you’d have to be [oblivious] and have a cold, cold heart not to see how much they love each other. You can see it in their actions, how much they love and respect each other, and how much they do for each other; how much they can rely and count on each other is really key. There’s an intimacy in that we felt always superseded a physical relationship.
Tom and Nicole have been incredibly helpful in helping us engineer that line between that level of intimacy and a physical level. We all agreed, on some level, [a romance] cheapened the deep abiding love; a love very few people obtain in their lives. We all agreed a physical love wasn’t where their hearts were. It felt a whole lot more organic to what they meant to each other to have it be the relationship we gave to everybody.
Just to clarify, when Pandora talks about Ichabod’s love for Abbie, or Betsy is talking about his heart belonging to Abbie, is that them misinterpreting his feelings? Or did he have a romantic, unrequited love?
I think their love is very true and very real. We want to attribute feelings of love we’re all familiar with to that relationship, and we don’t have that right. That’s a relationship that belongs to the two of them. I would hope our fans—even our hardcore ‘shippers—would respect and appreciate that with a great deal of thought, we drafted and created a relationship that does supersede the physical. And appreciate the intimacy…and the, albeit, deep love they have for each other.
There were also great callbacks to the series as a whole. What led to Headless and August Corbin (Clancy Brown) coming back into the mix?
It wouldn’t be full circle for Abbie if we didn’t have front and center, some of the things that brought her into this incredible weird world. Her father figure in August Corbin is certainly key to signaling to the audience that her world, her life, has come full-circle. On the other end of the spectrum, Headless. Having them be in the mix in the very end allowed us, in a very short amount of time, give the fans the greatest hits of Abbie Mills. And Nicole was all on board and loved it, and totally understood, and got it. She was very excited to give that to us.
Abbie Mills, at peace.
When did you know that you wanted to have that beautiful Joe and August moment?
When we brought Zach Appelman back, we started to give Joe Corbin some legs of his own. During that arc where he was in search for what his father was really up to; we thought how great it would be if we could have the two of them together. We have a lot of respect and parameters with the mythology, so that didn’t seem way off…as [Joe] got deeper in his search and he realized how complex his father’s life had also been. In fact, his father’s greatest sense of honor and duty was to sacrifice, which is what they both did for the cause. It’s a wonderful moment at the very end, that just happens deep in this realm. You have a simple father-son moment. We were very excited about that.
Given the show’s bubble status, is there anything about the finale you would have changed/added if you knew, for sure, it was returning? Or if anything you would have altered if you knew, for sure, this was the end?
Not at all. We understand what the studio and the network are up against in making decisions. We’ve had incredibly positive conversations about the creative direction for Season 4 in the last few weeks and up to today. A decision has not been reached. But these conversations goes back far enough that they influenced what we did in the last few episodes; we wouldn’t change a thing.
Looking to a hypothetical Season 4, do you see there being a time jump? Or do you want to play in the immediate aftermath of what we last saw?
No real sense of the time yet; I don’t personally think it would be long [if there’s a jump]. I think we gave the audience a very interesting peek into how the world is opening its eyes to what’s been going on. Being able to hand off some key information to Ichabod in those last moments. But beyond that, there’s still certainly conversations, we’re still in talks [about the show’s future].
When you were crafting the idea or a new Witness, did you have someone particular in mind? Was it perhaps someone we’ve already met? Or are you still waiting to see where the story takes you in Season 4?
Well, mostly waiting to see where the story takes us in Season 4. It will not be somebody we’ve already met.
A lot of other characters wrapped up their stories this season: Betsy, The Hidden One and Pandora seem done. Do you see room for fellow newbies Sophie (Jessica Camacho) and Daniel (Lance Gross) to continue on in a hypothetical Season 4?
We’ve developed a lot of great characters this season. I wouldn’t necessarily take anything off the table.
Now that you’ve finished your first season as Sleepy Hollow showrunner, what do you feel was your biggest lesson so far? And what have you been the most proud of?
I’ve worked on a lot of shows, and this one is challenging on a lot of levels. I’m very proud of the season. There were obviously some things that with pressure and constraints of time were difficult to execute fully. But with a show this big and this crazy, and you’re constantly shifting points of view, I think we satisfied certainly on a studio and network level all the boxes that need to be checked. I know we resonated with a number of our fans.
I’m disappointed, personally, we weren’t able to satisfy more of the Ichabbie shippers, but I also knew deep in my heart the things I knew about the characters, and Tom and Nicole’s feelings, that it was going to have to be a deep abiding love…that was going to have to suffice.
I wouldn’t change much. But I’m sure there are things I would have wished we had done if we had more time.
This is a twist I imagine most fans won’t have seen coming. Is there anything you want to say to the fans, to help them through the (hopeful) hiatus between seasons?
Yes, I would. We appreciate their loyalty. I really hope they appreciate television, and the need for a show this big—with the hope and promise that it started with, and continues—the need for the show to expand and evolve. This is by no means the end of this story that we have in mind. This is by no means the last or final iteration of the show. And we feel like we have the support of the studio and the network. And we have the creative energy and love for the show to give them a next season, hopefully, as much as they’ve loved the first three.
Conversation37 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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Killing her off means killing off the show. Pretending otherwise is a waste of time and I wish Campbell and FOX had had the guts to end this with a bang, with both Witnesses, Abbie and Ichabod, riding into the sunset, ready to take their next challenge off screen. Fans would have loved to continue that story on their own, but Campbell had to kill even that dream. The heart of the show is dead, killed by bad writing and awful decisions.
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Well Abbie and Ichabod together are what make the show. This is suicide. I don't know if I buy the official story about her exit either since they sidelined her on her own show, although you could say that's the very reason she chose to leave.
Anyway, show is dead.
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Will I miss Abbie? Yes. Will I watch Season 4 if it comes true? Yes. I was always worried that the writers would cross that line with their relationship, and I am relieved to read this interview. To me the show has always been about Ichabod. Even though this is an adaptation/recreation/reimagination or what have you, it's still based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. If they took Ichabod out, -that- would be the death of the story. The characters around him could come and go as long as it was well written. After all, the original story centered around his loneliness.
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This isn't the original story. In the original story, Ichabod Crane never married Katrina, it didn't happen in the same time period and there were no witnesses or apocalypses.
You maty be content with what has gone on here but this was a disastrous decision.
Not only are fans swearing to tune out an unlikely fourth season some are swearing off television in general. Television writers have to stop doing this to their audience while they still have one. This credit is going to be a black mark on the CV of every writer involved.
You do not reward viewer loyalty with this kind of brutal contempt. They knew the show might not be renewed and yet they chose a tragic, unsatisfying, open ended conclusion over many happier ones.
They CHOSE to upset their fans and many of those fans are going to respond by choosing to avoid investing in this or other shows going forward.
You can only abuse your audience emotionally for so long before they move on to reruns and novels and television may reach the tipping point of trying audience patience sooner than they think.
This is why ratings are getting lower every season.
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To each their own. I just wanted my voice out there so people knew there was more than one opinion. I won't be bullied or talked into changing my viewpoint.
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How dramatic and awfully defensive. No one is "bullying" you or even cares enough to try and change your special magical viewpoint. Just because the person that responded gave a rebuttal with good and valid arguments, you decide to be petty and yell "bullying".
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Not really. I'm just one person that wanted to say she liked the show. But I guess that is not allowed. I'm just saying it's futile to direct anger at me. I didn't have anything to do with the show.
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i agree with you. i like the show as a whole and a part of me wonders if all these people screaming "Done!" are actually going to be the reason that SH gets picked up for a fourth season!! i think that would be awesome cuz quite a few people would probably still tune in!! lol!! I will continue watching for as long as this show runs. It was the show as a whole that drew me. Not JUST one character. or one over another. If the actress playing Abby wanted to leave (for whatever the reason) then maybe this was the way to do it, the way she wanted to do it. unless we were all there when that decision was made, it's really just an assumption. i'm curious to see how it plays out if there is another season!! Long live Sleepy Hollow And Tom Mison!! Btw, to each their own and everyone is entitled to their very own opinions. This one is mine. Have a great day!! 🙂
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I agree. For the last few years, at the end of each season, I'm kept waiting to know if at least two of my favorite shows will be renewed after they've done something like this (although nothing this horrible!) I'm tired of getting jerked around. They at least owe us a Season 4 where they wrap up Crane's part. Let him go be with Abbie!
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I thought it was a fantastic conclusion. It leaves it wide open for Ichabod to locate the next embodiment of the "spirit of the witness". Who, as the story read, will be a member of Abbie's family. He can journey anywhere in his search and still have experiences and learn about his "new world" and expand his view of the country that grow up after the revolution. I can see Ichabod experiencing places like San Francisco, Seattle, LA, lol. New Orleans, and places in the east that tie to the Revolution then the Civil War. It would be amazing as he hunts and gets closer to the new witness.
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Boy, bye. This read like the way the adults on Charlie Brown sound. Bon voyage, Sleepy Hollow, and thanks for nothing.
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Well I'm done. They can talk all they want about nurturing Ichabbie's relationship but most of the time they separated them to kill their chem. I'm not even going to bother watching tonight. I'm so upset. Yes, I get that Beharie wanted out, probably because the writing sucked so bad. I can't really hate her for it, I just hate a lot of what has gone down this season and last and was hoping for some type of payoff. It's been a long time since I've hated the EP and writers so much. Sleepy Hollow is the only prime time show I really watch. The only other can't miss show for me is Expedition Unknown. What a huge disappointed. I"m just not going to get invested in shows anymore.
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You baited Ichabbie because you knew that kept what little viewship you had and then you essentialy killed Ichabbie(by killing Abbie), resulting in effectively killing more of your audience, where is the logic?
You obviously did not see the value of Abbie/Nicole to the success of your show
Tom is great but it is with Nicole that the magic happened.
Your weak writing, pacing and inconsistencies would have lost you more viewers without Ichabbie, guess what happens next. Well we will always have season 1, bye show
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They didn't bait the Ichabbie shippers, the Ichabbie shippers went through all sorts of gymnastics to interpret everything as shipping. It was all in your heads. The ACTORS didn't wan't Ichabbie. Get that? Plural. That includes Nicole--who has actually been nothing but consistent in stating she DID NOT want Abbie and Crane to start a physical, romantic relationship. It's funny how all of her fans have been ignoring that fact for years. Your girl DID NOT WANT IT. So it did not happen. Deal.
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Question SHOULD have been WHY did you decide to ruin the show? Why is your ego to 'shock the audience' more important than to entertain the audience?
I love Tom Mison, but it's the Nicole and Tom show. Glad I saw the spoilers, hard enough to watch the episode knowing I wouldn't watch again, but the episode gave you HOPE she would be saved until the final scene. What an epic FU the producers sent to sleep hollow fans today. Just terrible storytelling.
Also, I usually abhor throwing racial and gender implications, but I've never in my life seen a show kill off the most popular white male lead, hard to believe they didn't think she was disposable because she's the female lead.
Love Nicole, she's got such a bright future ahead, she's a truly amazing and gorgeous actress. Can't wait to see what's next for her!
love tom, but for me, hollow is gone.
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I cannot stand when a show creates an environment that makes the star want to leave...why would she stay on a series that has made the destructive creative decisions Sleepy Hollow exes have allowed? I am so disappointed and, frankly, fed up with the American television model/format. What I mean by that is Sleepy Hollow should have been planned for several years and stayed the creative masterpiece it was in the beginning...just several years, as are tv shows in other countries. Popular demand would bring it back for event tv like Luther or Sherlock (Cumberbatch version).
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Not sure why folks are so mad. The show is most likely not getting renewed and no one on this show stays dead for long if there is another season. It was good while it lasted and what a way to go out if it is the end. I would have hated it if they did the whole they get together and live happily ever after crap.
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I guess the show had too many minorities on it so instead of killing off one of the second or third level minorities, they had to do Nicole who wss leaving the show AND it would throw watchers of the show a loop.
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They don't seem to understand the difference between being in love with someone and having sex with them. Every time the interviewer asked if Ichabod was in love, they kept going on about physical relationship. Um, not the same thing. One =/= the other.
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Sleepy Hollow kind of lost it a long time ago when they decided to make it more of a 'weekly adventure' kind of show instead of being a long-form show that builds up over the course of the season. One thing they probably did right was never having Abbie and Ichabod 'hook up'. Their relationship always stayed a 'sibling' kind of love and only occasionally hinted toward a romantic turn. I just started to lose interest once they resolved the whole 'four horsemen/apocalypse' theme of the show. It just became a whole 'creature of the week' show where they'd ward off another new monster. This Pandora storyline dragged on far too long.
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Sleepy Hollow is the final straw...what happened with the show as a property is why I will probably never invest the time to watch another show live (vs later). I know what it means to get my viewing point or whatever tabulated. It was one of two shows -- just two shows -- that I even tried to watch within live plus 3 ratings tabulation period. It's only a handful of shows that I watch(ed) period. The other shows have a much tighter storytelling format and they get it done.
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i thought the true direction of the show was loss a long time ago I loved the connection between Ichabod and Abbie and that was the stuff the story was built on all the other players were clutter and background noise...the show is dead PFFFFFFTTTTT there is a lot of horror sci fi out there this is now garbage
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How dramatic and awfully defensive.
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I would like to add my disappointment with the final show this season. Even if the show continues for another season I will not be tuning in. I am seeing more and more the disregard for loyal viewers regarding network tv shows. This is why I almost exclusively watch Netflix, Acorn, or Hulu now. Better to watch tried and true repeats than grow feelings for a show only to have the network or writers go and muck it up!
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This show is kinda like The Following. Decent season 1. Completely bonkers season 2. I never bothered with season 3 to be upset by its finale. Is this show seriously coming back for a season 4? Why?
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Once again, a BW/WM pairing is never allowed to come to a satisfying point in a ROMANTIC relationship. What is Hollywood so afraid of?
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Neither Tom nor Nicole wanted Ichabbie, so that would be a big reason it didn't happen.
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I don't get it. Why are people so obsessed with getting people in bed together. It would have degraded the relationship to something merely physical and ugh. Come on. These two people shared a level of intimacy that many people never share. Their relationship wasn't romantic, never was it designed to be a romantic relationship. It was a true spiritual relationship based on full respect of each other and the role they had inherited. That was so much more satisfying to watch than craving them to devolve to the cheap physical side of things.
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Oh well. Canceled for a 4th season anyway.
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I enjoyed this show, and am saddened to hear that it will not be returning. A huge mistake was made in killing off Mills.
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Ugh, this show is dead now. Abbie was the only reason I watched.
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I no longer have the incentive to finish out this season, including what's still on my DVR, let alone watch till the end. You had a great thing going, and as with many series, you decided your audience just had to have a major change in order to keep it "fresh." Some fans like what you started with and don't want big, weird changes.
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Fuck him and the horse he rode in on. Waving bye to this show like I said goodbye to 15 other shows for shitty storytelling decisions this past TV seasons.
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How can they kill off Abbie? She was one of the point of view characters! I think that, in the pilot, we got her point of view before we got Ichabod's.
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Wow, I'm really glad that I didn't waste my time with this season.
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Killing off Abbie was extraordinarily risky. Taking Ichabod off to DC effectively kills the title Sleepy Hollow. Are they thinking of having Ichabod becoming a Squintern on Bones? Whatever, if they offer a glimpse of Tom Muson's eyes next year, I will be there to watch.
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Physical romance 'cheapened' their relationship? What bs, y'all just didn't want them together. I'm glad Nicole left this trainwreck, no reason for me to watch anymore.. I wish Nicole the best and hope to see her in many different projects and hope Lyndie and Tom and the rest of the cast come to their collective senses and do what Orlando and Nicole have done and make a swift escape..
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