BWW Recap: Is 'Paradise Lost' Found on the Winter Premiere Episode of SLEEPY HOLLOW?

Welcome back to another Sleepy Hollow recap! I'm back again this winter with all new recaps of Sleepy Hollow! Don't forget to let me know your thoughts on the episode in the comments below or on twitter at @alanhenryTO.

Abbie, Crane, Jenny, and Katrina awake in the woods and think that the apocalypse is over. We learn six weeks have passed since the fall finale. Crane and Katrina are having marital problems and doesn't want to use her in an investigation into an evil occurrence at a farm unless necessary.

In a somewhat hastily explained scene, the witnesses go to examine this farm - whose significance is very poorly explained. (I for one, was very confused by this scene.) Abbie and Crane discuss what life might be like after the apocalypse, and Abbie suspects Crane merely wants to keep busy because he can't face the fact that his usefulness may be over. "It is the only purpose I know..." Crane says. "Without the apocalypse, what is my place in this world?"

Crane and Abbie then spot a glowing barn, in which some creatures are trying to summon a spirit. Abbie and Crane are attacked but are saved by Orion, a large winged man-sized angel.

Meanwhile, Katrina appears to be casting a spell to ward evil away from Abraham - and tells him she has been searching for a way to return him to his former self. She feels responsible for turning him into the horseman, but he doesn't want her pity.

Back in the barn, we learn Orion was liberated from purgatory the night Moloch died. He tells the witnesses that many evil spirits escaped from purgatory that night, and he's been hunting them ever since. Katrina calls Crane to inform him of something pressing she needs to discuss, and he leaves Abbie with Orion.

Orion tells Abbie he was locked up in purgatory for over two hundred years. They exchange in some clever banter, and about God - but nothing concrete is said. "You'll never be satisfied by my answers" Orion says.

In the archives, Crane and Katrina meet; she asks Crane to help her separate Abraham from the Horseman of Death. In a cutaway, Orion says that the daemon the purgatory escapees were looking for was Abraham - and has a weapon that can destroy him. He asks Abbie to take him to the horseman.

At the bar, Nick and Jenny are having a drink - and Nick is hitting on her. He brings her a daemon tracking rock, however, he doesn't know how to use it.

Back under the town, Abbie and Orion are heading to destroy the horseman. Orion comments on her strength of character, and gives her a charm to summon him should she ever need to. (This, I'm sure, will become important later on.)

They stop in the archives to introduce Orion to Katrina. While Abbie and Crane discuss Katrina's intentions, she slips out past Orion and leaves to go see Abraham. The others suspect she has gone to move him while she attempts to turn him human again - and their suspicions are confirmed when they go to Abraham's cell and find he is gone.

Abbie and Katrina begin to fight, but Crane seems unwilling to take a strong stance. He and Abbie head out to try and locate Abraham, the horseman of death.

Meanwhile, Jenny and Nick are still trying to get the magical rock working. They do figure out how it works and learn that the horseman of death has found the daemons searching for him - and he's returned to his cottage.

Abbie summons Orion and informs him of the horseman's location. As they are heading there, Crane calls her and informs her that he's found reference to Orion in many texts detailing his arrival in locations in the weeks leading up to major catastrophes. Both Abbie and Crane begin to question his motives.

Abbie probes Orion on his motives, and learns he intends to absorb the horseman's powers and pass judgment upon mankind, starting with killing Katrina. Crane arrives as the horseman begins to fight with Orion - who appears to be losing - when all of a sudden his weapon magically stabs him in the back and he appears to be dying.

Abbie distracts Orion while Crane steals the magical weapon and destroys it, saving the horseman. Just when it appears that the horseman will now kill Crane, Katrina runs in and he backs down - and tells them all to leave him.

Back at the cottage where Crane an Abbie stay, Katrina and Crane have a serious discussion about their marriage. By the end of the scene it appears they are going to try and work things out.

The episode ends with Crane and Abbie summarizing recent events, just in case you missed something. In a final cutaway, we see a terrible looking Frank Irving walk into a convenience store - asking if he's in heaven or hell. Turns out, he's in Sleepy Hollow!

Overall this was a very strong episode, and reminds me why I love Sleepy Hollow so much. I hope they bring back the Orion character - whose arc appears to be left open by the charm he left Abbie - which she flashes at the end of the episode. Besides the odd start in this episode with a daemon-filled farm which came out of nowhere - Sleepy Hollow is just as good now as it was when I first became a fan. I'm also thrilled that Irving is back - his death was a huge blow for fans of the show, as his character is a major fan favorite.

Take a look at next week's episode below! (It looks like we're in for a a terrifying episode!) Also - don't forget to join us next week for a LIVE recap - updating here on the website as the show airs!

Follow Alan Henry at @alanhenryTO.

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