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[sc:wptop]Hello, SleepyHeads! This week on Witness Prophecies, we discuss Sleepy Hollow’s winter premiere, Season 3 Episode 9, entitled “One Life” which originally aired on February 5, 2016. “One Life” is not only a reference to Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale’s famous last words (“I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country,” but also Ichabod Crane’s awareness that he has only one life, he is a witness, and he must soldier on in his quest even if it means doing so without Abbie Mills.
The episode opens with a flashback to 1776, and Crane and Betsy Ross are on a reconnaissance mission. The espy Nathan Hale, and Crane advises the young man to not indulge in reckless behavior. We immediately jump to present times and we see that Ichabod is not taking his own advice. He is fleeing several gun firing, apocalyptic cultists, having just stolen one of their artifacts, and is only able to elude them by launching his motorcycle in the river. So much for prudent behavior!
Back at the Archives, we realize that it has been over one month since the events in Pandora’s Lair, and Abbie remains missing. Crane is literally a wreck without her – he’s disorganized, desperate, wildly frantic, and suffering the effects of a lack of sleep. 
Jenny Mills and Joe Corbin are clearly worried about him, and tell him to get rest while they pursue their own plan – obtaining a map to lead them to Pandora and the Hidden One, whom they believe can lead them to Abbie.
Meanwhile, Jenny is doing what she has done best, being tough and chasing artifacts, in her quest to find her sister. This is her way of avoiding any thoughts of losing Abbie. Joe realizes that this tough exterior is hiding a vulnerable interior, and tries to get Jenny to open up, but she refuses. It is not until she almost loses Joe (while they are acquiring the magical map), that Jenny admits she has been affected by the loss of her parents, the possible loss of Abbie, and that she doesn’t want to lose Joe, whom she also loves. After their friendship was rekindled this season, Jenny and Joe have now become a couple.
FBI Agent Sophie Foster has been following Crane, as he is a “person of interest” in her disappearance. We learn that her parents mysteriously disappeared during an archeological dig, and locals believe that demons were responsible. Pulling Sophie into the world of Team Witness makes sense, as we realize that she too is seeking answers about supernatural things she doesn’t understand. As Crane works alongside Sophie, he appreciates even more his relationship with Abbie. 
In one of the most poignant moments of the episode, he confesses that he has worked and fought alongside many people, but realizes that Abbie made him more than what he was. She was his better half. Will Ichabod have the courage to admit this to Abbie when he finally finds her?
Yet Crane also realizes as they send their latest demon back to where she came (an onryo, a Japanese vengeance demon), that while he will continue to search for Abbie, as a Witness, he has a mission to save the world, and that mission must come above any and every person he knows. He has but one life to give, and it must be in service as a Witness.
At the end of the episode, we see Abbie, alive but in some unknown place. We know her fighting spirit, and she will work to return to her family and friends. The question is how long will she be away from them? We speculate that we will see her next week as she assesses her situation.
Finally, what does Pandora plan to accomplish by bringing demons and monsters from all over the world to Sleepy Hollow? Will she use their power to “recharge” The Hidden One? How will she keep all these powerful evil forces in line? That seems like a tall order, even for one as formidable as Pandora.
With so much at stake, we believe the spring episodes of Sleepy Hollow will leave us on the edge of our seats!
History Lesson of the Week – Nathan Hale and his Final Words
Nathan Hale appeared to be a bit reckless and inexperienced in this episode, but in reality, he was a highly intelligent young man.
At the age of 14, he was sent with his older brother to Yale College. He graduated with first-class honors in 1773 at the age of 18, and became a teacher. After the Revolutionary War began in 1775, he joined a Connecticut militia and was elected a first lieutenant within five months.
On September 8, 1776, Hale volunteered to go behind enemy lines into New York City, and report on British troop movements. We’ve discussed this period of history previously on this podcast, when New York fell to the British, and the September 21st Great New York Fire.
There are two theories as to how Nathan Hale was captured. One is that he was recognized in a tavern, despite his disguise, and was tricked into admitting he was a patriot, and the second is that his Loyalist cousin, Samuel Hale, revealed his identity. He was captured on September 21st, and hung on the morning of September 22nd, after being denied access to a Bible and a clergyman. He was 21 years old.
His last words were purported to be “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” It was reported that he was composed and spoke eloquently prior to his hanging. There were several versions of Hale’s words based on accounts of his death, and it is likely that these accounts may have been embellished to help drive support for the revolutionary effort. He probably spoke more than this one line for which he has become famous, and it is thought that some of his final words were actually a quote from a popular 18th century play – “Cato,” written by Joseph Addison. Nathan Hale was familiar with this work, and quoted it in some of his correspondence. The key lines that are familiar to the words he is known for today are:
“How beautiful is death, when earned by virtue. Who would not be that youth? What pity it is that we can die but once to serve our country.”
In 1985, Nathan Hale was designated as the official state hero of Connecticut.
Wikipedia link to Nathan Hale’s biography
February 12, 2016 – Season 3 Episode 10 – “Incident at Stone Manor”
And SleepyHeads – don’t forget about the new 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.
Feedback
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