Tonight marks the end of the third season of the Sleepy Hollow TV show on FOX and it very well may end up being the series finale as well. The show has been doing very poorly in the ratings and now, the producers have made a move that will likely infuriate more than a few loyal viewers. Should this Friday night show be cancelled or renewed for a fourth season?
A supernatural police drama, Sleepy Hollow follows Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison), a patriot who was killed 230 years ago. He finds himself resurrected in modern-day and partners with a female police lieutenant (Nicole Beharie). The cast also includes Lyndie Greenwood, Shannyn Sossamon, Nikki Reed, Lance Gross, and Zach Appelman.
The series was a hit in its early days but those great ratings are long gone. This season, Sleepy Hollow premiered to a 0.98 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 3.36 million viewers. Compared to the third season debut, the debut was down by a whopping 51% in the demo and down by 38% in viewership. SPOILER AHEAD.
The numbers got worse as the season progressed so the execs sent the series to Friday nights, likely hoping that the show’s loyal fans would follow and the ratings would stay at the same level. They looked stable for awhile but the numbers got even worse over the course of the rest of the season. The last couple episodes have attracted about a 0.65 rating with 2.6 million.
And now, in tonight’s finale, the producers have killed off one of the show’s lead characters — Abbie Mills, as played by Nicole Beharie. The executive producers, studio, and network released this statement to EW:
“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.”
With such poor ratings, Sleepy Hollow, once again, is very much in danger of being cancelled. Now that one of the main characters has been killed off, should the series return? Should they bring Abbie back somehow or, is it okay that she’s gone? What do you think?
As long as they keep a strong female lead for Tom Mison to play off of I’ll keep watching.
Mison carries the show. Abbie will be sorely missed, please continue and bring Abbie back from time to time… Love this show…hated to lose Joe!!! It was unfair to kill the hem both off so close together.
I am a loyal viewer and fan, having watched every episode so far. Was I devastated when Abby left the show? Of course, but there are so many possibilities that have just opened up for season 4 to explore!! PLEASE renew Sleepy Hollow for another season and possibly more. I will watch Tom/Crane to the end of the earth ♡ And thanks for a sweet ending for the Witness’s at the season 3 finale. Their bond was a special one.
The first two seasons were definitely better but if it’s back to Crane and a more supernatural big bad like Moloch (I’m not a fan of having deities as the overarching enemy) then it would be amazing. Death of a main character doesn’t mean end of the show…. look how well Charmed continued after Pru was replaced by Paige. I think SH could recover and endure in the same way.
I also want to add: you say the ratings are down, I don’t have cable or an antenna for my television so I watch Sleepy Hollow on Hulu TV & I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that does. I hope that that is monitored also cause I never miss it & I watch it several times.
Although Abbie is gone they offered up many ways the plot can move forward without Abbie. Also it is asupernatural based show where anything is possible. It is a show based in fantasy.
I watch Sleepy Hollow on Roku when deciding the ratings did the network take in consideration those that watch using a device like Apple or Roku? I want the series return it is very good and I looked forward to watching it.
despite the risk of getting bricked and covered in tar & feathers by furious fans, i must say that i am so glad abbie is finally gone. i never liked her, and she should not have been given so much importance in the story, she should have stayed a side character, since for me ichabod is the main character. i was miffed as katrina was zapped away and never returned, she was a great add-on from ichabod’s past. also i found unnecessary that nick hawley had to disappear, i loved his character and well,he was gorgeous eye candy, yum. why… Read more »
I would welcome Hawley back and was really hoping they would find a way to bring Betsy into the 21st century or continue her link with Crane. Perhaps they can bring the actress back as decendent who is the new Witness?
Well whatever and ALL you others that hated Abbie you’ll get your wish, but hopefully and prayerfully they’ll be only 12 or 13 episodes, with the ratings dropping even lower into the basement and finally sinking the dead ship once and for all. They didn’t have to kill Abbie or Joe but I’m glad those of you here are showing your true colors.
Death time zone always hurt show. Grimm suffers same problem. As a senior I have no real plans for a Friday night but it is still a night for younger people to be out and about. Ratings are based on what? Do they honestly think people downloading or getting it from other than mainstream sources are going to report themselves?
please, give this terrific series the chance it deserves..its been gripping,exciting ,and overall its bloody brilliant ..wake up fox, listen to the loyal people that follow Ichabod and abbie.its the fans that Make your business a success after all. .
It’s a great show—bring it back!!
I haven’t been happy with this show since it became “all about abbie” and I’m very happy to see that end. I would like to see the scenario move to the 18th century to explore Crane’s spy connections and of course, reunite him with this wife. Because the show became Abbie Hollow, a lot of the classic and exciting characters (Headless among them) were trashed. But here is a chance to give us the witch we craved and the wife Crane needs. The show should resume the Moloch type of villain, not some guy in a Halloween costume. It was… Read more »
Please renew Sleepy Hollow.It is an awesome show.I am an avid fan.
Please bring Abbie back!
PLEASE RENEW SLEEPY HOLLOW! I can’t take the thought of Ichabod’s story ending here!! Even if Abby stays dead, her eternal soul will live on in a new witness. They refered to the Phoenix rising from the ashes…The new witness will have the same soul, so pretty much Abby in a new body, I assume…The witnesses are true soul mates. It is such a beautiful thought, and a fresh take over the typical love stories blossoming from partnerships. This is why the MUST make another season. At least let Ichabod find the new witness! My world will not be balanced… Read more »
Typo: “they” not “the” It’s obvious what I meant, but I had to correct myself.
Omg and I my autocorrect changed Abbie to Abby! Uggh!
I give up