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?
Do not cancel sleepy hollow pls and bring back Abby
Everytime a decent show comes around, it gets axed. Instead, they keep all of the stupid “reality” shows that have gotten so off course and out of hand, I don’t know why anyone watches them at all. We need different types of shows, shows with a story line, other than who is sleeping with who, and how many kids can 1 woman have, or who is he/she going to marry that they don’t even know. WHO CARES?!? Give us folks who aren’t into trash tv something to watch, please? This IS a good show. Please renew it.
Please please please don’t cancel this wonderful show! I love the chemistry between Ichabod and Abbie. And please bring back Joe and Corbin!! This is one of my all time favorite series…please don’t let it end!
I think the season 3 finale was intriguing and can’t wait to see Crane searching for his new partner and mixing it up with the government.
Abby herself is gone and will never return to sleepy hollow in the flesh. Maybee her soul comes back as somone else. even if the producers of the show came up with some spectacular turn around and abby does return, it would be suicide for the show. Now Abby’s death does make room for something new, anything..! the sky is the limmit now. It could go in many different directions from here. Infact as far as i’m conserned Abby’s death is thefirst exciting turn off events this season
I absolutely love Sleepy Hollow. I fell asleep towards the end watching it and thought Abbie dying was a dream only to watch on Hulu, and realize it was unfortunately, NOT, a dream. You can’t kill Abbie AND her sister’s boyfriend! C’mon leave us with something! However obviously your judgement is questionable since you moved the show WHILE viewership was going down (basically playing hide-and-seek with the viewers you do have), and now you kill off Abbie!?! Here’s what I’m thinking; allow us to find this “other witness” but allow her to be corrupted by those crooked feds, have her… Read more »
Please don’t cancel.the show…and fond a way to bring Abbie back. I love this show and there is so much potential so please ride out the storm because the concept is great
Please!!! Don’t cancel Sleepy Hollow!!!! I really love this show, and please bring Abbie back!!!! Thank-You!
I was so devastated to see Abbie killed off but the possiblity of the whole show to be cancelled —i could not bare it. Sleepy Hollow was one of my favorite shows on tv i have always loved movies that pertray the unknown, paronomal, and/or mystical. This show was all of that and more for me please do not cancel the show.
So if you’re not in the 18-49 demographic you don’t count? WTF Maybe that’s why subscription services are starting to kick butt over networks. Maybe network execs should start paying attention to all, because people over 49 spend money too. You here that advertisers. Sleepy Hollow is a good show, well acted and even touches on history. Sure beats the reality trash.
Nicole Beharie wanted off the show. That is why she was killed off. She didn’t even want to do season 3, so I think it will be unlikely to see Abbie appear again in any form. The show can continue without her and even be better, They can expand the stories and cut out the Big Bad of the season and do more self contained episodes. A new Witness will breath new life into the stories and raise ratings. Fox will give the show 2 more seasons and by then Tom Mison will be picked to take over as James… Read more »
Abbie cannot be replaced on this show. She and Tom have a magical chemistry which was evident from Day 1. She must be revived if the show is to continue with any credibility. And I want this show to continue. I have to admit Season 3 with new show runners was somewhat problematic, but the basic concept with the original characters is magical and much loved by many. Eff the “desire demographic.” The rest of us also have buying power and want representation.
Please bring Abbie Mills back. Crane and Abbie have great chemistry. I adore this show! Fox you must renew the show!!!
Yes, please keep Sleepy Hollow. I feel the writers of the show got off track and need to renew the creative juices they had flowing in season 1. Fox, keep the show and air it on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday nights or let the show move to another network (even cable) that will welcome it. It obviously appears Fox has not given this show any promo time like it does for Gotham, Lucifer and even Rosewood. Come on Fox, the viewers see right through you in regards to this wonderful show.
PLEASE! Bring back the show! This show is in my top 3 favorite shows. I’m so sad that they had to kill Abby but I think it was a good move to suck us back into the show and it got the episode pretty good ratings! I really hope they bring it back and also try to find a way to bring Abby back.
Personally I feel as though the change won’t be bad, I was bummed that Abbie is now gone but there is a lot of potential with the remaining cast. There is Betsy Ross, Abbie and Jenny’s dad, plus the folks at the FBI. The chemistry will be missed but maybe a new spark is exactly what the series needs, kind of like a reboot! I love this show, it’s one of the few descent TV shows on these days, I would much rather watch Sleepy Hollow than You Me and the Apocalypse! I’m very hopeful for a season 4! I’m… Read more »