Sleepy Hollow - The Complete First Season

"Sleepy Hollow" has the distinction of being completely average. It's the cheese sandwich of TV series, and yet it does break tons of new ground. It has a uniquely out-there premise, great cast chemistry, and is a unique blend of "Doctor Who" and "Supernatural." It is not a must-see-live destination series, but it does have tons of merit --�not to mention it also paves new ground in presenting people of color outside stereotypes.

Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) -- yes that one -- wakes up in modern day. He joins a headstrong (but not sassy) African American female cop, Lt. Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie), in a holy quest to stop the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Oh yeah, because the headless horseman...he's Death.

Despite the slightly bat-shit sounding premise, the story is surprisingly grounded. It has a good blend of humor, historical reinterpretation, and solid entertainment value. The Blu-ray is also well produced for fans and newcomers alike.

One really smart move is that certain features have spoiler-alerts. "Welcome to Sleepy Hollow" is a comprehensive breakdown of the evolution of the series. It also includes a nice comprehensive view of the cast and how they work. Rather than have them as additional features, it includes the original test and audition footage of Mison and Beharie, and you can see their palpable chemistry.

"Mysteries and Mythology: The Secrets of Sleepy Hollow" is a comprehensive rundown of the supernatural creatures and laws behind the series. It profiles how the series blends Biblical mythology, American History, and magic to create a comprehensive view of impending Apocalypse.

The "deleted scenes" are occasionally interesting because they concern secondary characters Jenny Mills (Lyndie Greenwood) and Frank Irving (Orlando Jones). The audio commentaries are a little lacking, only because they are on a scant two episodes. Only one includes the cast and the "pilot" commentary focuses on a lot of things that are covered in the "Welcome to Sleepy Hollow" featurette.

"Welcome to the 21st Century, Mr. Crane" is a reel of Crane's struggles with current technology. Although a bit redundant, it is pretty cute. The gag reel features some funny moments of the actors and crew joking despite the high stakes and magical action.

The most disappointing feature is the "The Corbin Files." This is a collection of some of the audio the deceased character, Sherriff Corbin (Clancy Brown), gives about a couple of the creatures they face.

"Sleepy Hollow" sounds a bit crazy, but in watching the first season you can appreciate how genius the show is. It will never be a "Breaking Bad" or a "Buffy," but that doesn't decrease its entertainment value. The special features show how much work goes into making the series, and the great chemistry of the cast. It also gives insight into the series that makes the pilot seem better than it does. Ultimately, this series is too innovative to not be given a chance to improve.

"Sleepy Hollow: The Complete First Season"
Blu-ray/Digital Copy
$49.99
www.fox.com/sleepy-hollow/