Sleepy Hollow

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
Sleepy Hollow Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Time travel + spooky mystery = zesty TV fantasy.

Fox Drama 2013
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 10 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Sleepy Hollow is a fast-paced, scary crime-and-fantasy series that uses the classic Washington Irving tale as a jumping-off point. The plot involves a time-traveling headless horseman who kills others by stalking and beheading them, so expect to see lots of shots of headless necks, heads flying through the air, axes being swung menacingly, etc. There is also scary imagery: The headless horseman riding through the moonlight, dark woods, lightning. The show is much too scary for young kids, even though they may be fascinated by its fantastic premise and appealing lead actors. Teens and mature tweens should be able to handle the level of violence and intensity, and may enjoy the show for its sci-fi/mystery twists and turns.

Community Reviews

DianaD 1
DianaD 1 Adult
April 3, 2015
age 15+

If you like to be spooked out a little bit this is kind of fun

I am a Christian, and I have to say this is a guilty pleasure. And a lot of ways and makes me feel bad for watching this. I know it's very fanciful and not to be taken seriously. But I think it could very much confuse a young spongy mind. I really don't think I'll let my teens watch this although I do have teenagers that are 17 . Actually I have stopped watching it after the first five episodes. It became overbearing in it's demonic intensity. And I don't like that very much at all. My husband got me back into it after he got past the first several episodes and got a little lighter. All that being said, it's very fun, it's written pretty well written there are some inaccuracies, and the actors are pretty good. Overall it is fun.

This title has:

Too much violence
Jared Galczynski
Jared Galczynski Adult
May 9, 2014
age 12+

Don't let the title fool you

Doesn't make me sleepy!
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In a twist on the classic creepy legend, SLEEPY HOLLOW recasts Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) as a time-traveling soldier who dies on a battlefield in the midst of slaying the creepy headless horseman, and wakes up in modern-day Sleepy Hollow, population 144,000. Everyone Crane knew and loved, including his enchanting wife Katrina, who had secrets of her own, is now dead. But the horseman, not so much -- he's accompanied Crane to modern times and is stalking the residents of Sleepy Hollow and trying to obtain a mysterious talisman for nefarious purposes. Now Crane teams up with police detective Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) to catch the horseman and solve the mystery gripping the terrified town of Sleepy Hollow.

Is It Any Good?

Time travel, the undead, and a National Treasure-style mystery all rolled into one? Sign us up for this guilty pleasure, which has a cool premise: What if the faceless (literally, in this case) killer stalking a town is a supernatural being who can only be stopped with a combination of Law & Order-style police work and supernatural intervention?

Not only that, but near-unknown lead Tom Mison as Crane is both cute of face and pleasant of manner; Nicole Beharie as the crimefighter he teams up with is charmingly tart and intrepid. And all the mysterious goings on, which involve a lot of flashbacks in period dress, will make teens and adults alike swoon.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the original Washington Irving story Sleepy Hollow. How is this adaptation different? How is it the same? Why would the showrunners have changed the original legend?

  • Can you think of any other shows on the air that have a fantasy premise like the one on Sleepy Hollow? What about shows like Once Upon a Time or Teen Wolf? How are these shows like or different from Sleepy Hollow?

  • Sleepy Hollow brings in a time-traveling aspect not present in the original story. Why would time travel be attractive as a plot point on a fantasy show?

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