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Hello, SleepyHeads!  This week on Witness Prophecies, we discuss Sleepy Hollow Season 3 Episode 18, entitled “Ragnarok” which originally aired on April 8, 2016.  Ragnarok is a battle in Norse mythology, in which many gods and other major figures die before the world is reborn, and we watched our own Abbie Mills sacrifice herself to stop The Hidden One.  

This season finale (and possibly the series finale) broke many hearts.  We lost the character Joe Corbin last week, and the loss of main character Abbie MIlls this week was crushing to all fans who have watched this show from the beginning.

Pandora has been Sleepy Hollow’s “big evil” this season, although she seemed to lose some of her power to her husband, The Hidden One, during the middle of the season.  She put The Hidden One and his gods to shame with her ability to manipulate others and to recover the power that was in her box, Pandora’s box of evil.  Ragnarok was an epic Norse battle that involved gods and humans in which many major figures were killed, and during the battle between Team Witness, The Hidden One, and Pandora, we watched as the gods were defeated at great personal loss to our team.  The Hidden One got his comeuppance from his wife as she used her box’s power to put him in his place, and Jenny Mills got her revenge for Joe’s death by killing The Hidden One.  Shannyn Sossamon and Peter Mensah gave wonderful performances this season, bringing their respective gods to life.  

There were wonderful moments of closure for the fans during this episode.  August Corbin and his son, Joe, were reunited in “The Waiting Room,” and we saw a touching father and son reunion.  Joe had forgiven his father for the time spent away from him and with the Mills sisters, but Joe never had the chance to tell that to August.  Now they are reunited.  

Ezra Mills established a relationship with his daughters, and helped them in their battle against the gods with information about Ragnarok.  James McDaniel did a wonderful job as the father who abandoned his daughters, and took tentative steps toward rebuilding a life with them.  

Jenny Mills grew dramatically during the year.  She learned to trust people, to open up to them, to have confidence in herself.  She reminded Ichabod Crane why he was fighting as they faced Pandora for the final time.  Lyndie Greenwood mounded her character and matured her in a very real way.  She developed a strong relationship with the sister who denied her claim of seeing a demon, but then came back for her.  Jenny trusted Abbie completely, and Abbie accepted Jenny as a true partner in the fight against the supernatural.  When Jenny lost Joe, she needed the comfort of her sister – a shoulder to cry on – before she refocused on the mission at hand.  

The Headless Horseman, who was a key “evil” creature during the first two seasons, returned to defeat Pandora as the gods finally fell.  We would be remiss if we did not give a shout out to Corey Castellano and his staff one more time for the  incredible monsters and creatures that came to Sleepy Hollow.  

We saw Danny Reynolds and Sophie Foster (played by Jessica Camacho) one last time in a small scene, but they proved to be interesting characters during the season adding background story for our main characters.

And our Witnesses.  We saw brilliant performances by both Nicole Beharie and Tom Mison, especially during the connection of their souls as they said goodbye to each other.  Crane may never have told Abbie that he loved her, but their bond could not have been stronger.  Abbie told him that the life of a Witness is never over, but that she has done what she is supposed to do.  Her life had fallen into place – she became an FBI agent, established relationships with her father and sister, felt that she could have life as a Witness and as a person (with Danny – sorry shippers!).  Ichabod asked what is there in the world for him without her.  He told her he will miss her, and she says to honor their bond and be brave and strong.  She says he’s her guy – always.  He kisses her hand rather than fist bump and he bows.  Could anything be more touching and more poignant than that?  Grace Abigail Mills – we WILL miss you.  

Will there be a Season 4?  We don’t know, SleepyHeads, but know that our bond is strong with you, and we will be here if there is!  Thank you for all your support this season!  It has been a remarkable journey!

History Lesson of the Week – The REAL Betsy Ross

Betsy Ross has been a character that has been changed through the “twistory” on Sleepy Hollow and some SleepyHeads liked her and some were lukewarm on her, however the REAL Betsy Ross was likely a very strong, tough woman for her time, and very much a part of the young American nation.

It is not often that I direct you to another podcast, however there is a wonderful podcast about early American history, Ben Franklin’s World podcast, hosted by Liz Covart.  In episode 50 of this podcast, Marla Miller, Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and author of Betsy Ross and the Making of America, discusses of the life and times of Betsy Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole, the woman we remember as sewing the first flag of the United States.

Elizabeth Phoebe Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole, known in history as Betsy, was born January 1, 1752, in Pennsylvania.  She was the 8th of 17 children, was a Quaker, and was married 3 times.   

Her father was a carpenter, and as a young woman Betsy became an apprentice for a Philadelphia upholstery shop, probably following one of her older sisters there.  It was actually not unusual for young women to become apprentices and learn a trade or craft in that day, and they did the work while the male owners handled the business.  Betsy probably enjoyed working with the fine fabrics in the shop.  She most likely made mattresses, drapes and slipcovers for furniture, and worked as an upholsterer throughout her life.  

Betsy lost her first two husbands during the American Revolution, John Ross and Joseph Ashburn.  In the family legend, George Washington came to the shop with a drawing for a flag, but the stars had 6 points.  Betsy allegedly told Washington that a 5 pointed star would be much easier to make and demonstrated that in the shop.  She was a young widow in need of an income, and not looking it at a design perspective, but from a speed and producibility perspective.  It was 1776, and the navy was going to need many flags, quickly, and the 5 pointed flag would be faster to make.  As she passed this story down through her family, she apparently never told them that she made the “first flag,” but told them that she met George Washington – and that she taught him something.  

As historians were going through old records at Mount Vernon, they found a notation in George Washington’s cash ledger from September, 1774, of a purchase from John and Betsy Ross’s store in Philadelphia, so he knew her before 1776, and most likely did visit the shop to discuss the new flag.  

Betsy Ross may or may not have made the first American flag, however she was a tough young woman, a survivor, and she supported the young nation by making flags during the American Revolution.  

Link to Ben Franklin’s World Podcast – Episode 50 – Marla Miller, Betsy Ross, and the Making of America

Wikipedia Link to Betsy Ross

And SleepyHeads – don’t forget about the book, Sleepy Hollow – Creating Heroes, Demons & Monsters, by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry.  You can order it on Amazon, by using the Golden Spiral Media link.  

Thank you for sending us your feedback, SleepyHeads and for your interaction during the season!  You can still use our Feedback page to type an email, record a voicemail, or upload an audio file, or call 304-837-2278.  We’d love to hear from you!  And while you’re at it, why not take a few minutes to leave a rating and review in iTunes?

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