- "Yeah, but the thing is, Crane... Joe, me, Jenny... we are the 21st century, and every day, we take you a step further in that direction. That is the unbeatable enemy beating itself, and we ain't going nowhere."
- —Abbie Mills to Ichabod Crane
"The Art of War" is the seventh episode of Season Three of Sleepy Hollow. It was written by Joe Webb and directed by Hanelle Culpepper. It is the thirty-eighth episode of the series overall, and debuted on November 12, 2015.
Synopsis[]
When Reynolds heads to D.C. to discuss developments in the Nevins case, Abbie is left in command. Jenny and Joe deal with unexpected consequences as a result of stealing the shard, which leaves both the lives of the heroes and Abbie's career in great peril. Meanwhile, a new, more dangerous evil force emerges.[1]
Recap[]
The episode opens with a chess game between Crane and Abbie. Crane quotes from The Art of War, just as she puts him in checkmate and explains that Corbin taught her to feel her way through the game. Abbie points out that he seems off his game recently, and Crane admits that he has learned little about Pandora or her destination. Daniel comes by and Crane excuses himself and goes to get tea. The agent tells Abbie that he needs to travel to DC to ask for an extension on the Nevins case. He wants Abbie to take charge while he's gone, and assures her that she's earned it.
Sophie finds Atticus going through a recent shipment that she brought him. She wants to go get the Shard from Joe and Jenny, and assures him that she'll play rough. Atticus warns that the person who contracted him for the job wants the Shard of Anubis in the next 12 hours, and starts writing down Norse verse from a book. He says that it's desperate times, pockets the paper, and leaves.
Later, Atticus enters the cavern containing Pandora's pool. He recites from the paper and Pandora's Box emerges from the water. Atticus calls upon berserkers, ordering them to obey him until they kill, and laughs in triumph as blue mist fills the room and then fades away. Three creatures appear around him, snarling, and Atticus tells them to fetch the Shard. After a moment, the creatures fade into the darkness.
Jenny and Joe, meanwhile, are sparring at a gym, and Jenny suggests that Joe cash out the money from his dad's Swiss bank account. Joe isn't interested, figuring that it's blood money, and he admits that he feels closer to Jenny now that they're working together. As they spar, Jenny remembers her nightmares. She punches Joe hard and knocks him to the floor, and her skin glows red. She has a vision of runes and a hooded man, and then snaps back to normal.
Later, Jenny and Joe meet with Abbie and Crane and tell them what happened. They guess that it's related to the Shard, and Joe and Jenny admit that they met Atticus. Abbie is unhappy that they met with the man after she told them not to. Crane interrupts her to get a description of the Shard, and Joe confirms that Jenny was the only one who touched it with bare skin. Recognizing the description, Crane explains that there are binding stones that transfer magical energy into those who touch them. He warns that mortal beings aren't meant to house such magical energy, and Jenny realizes that the Shard is going to kill her. The summoned creatures, meanwhile, move through the forest, following a trail only they can sense.
Jenny insists that she feels fine, and Joe suggests that they talk to Atticus. As Abbie objects, Jenny hears something and tells them to be quiet. The three creatures emerge from the woods and the group opens fire. The bullet wounds heal in seconds and Jenny cuts one to pieces in a matter of seconds, faster than it can regenerate as her veins glow red. As Jenny stares at the creature in shock, it heals and Joe yells that they have to go. The group runs to a hatch leading into the tunnels beneath Sleepy Hollow. Abbie points out that the creatures fed on the energy of their attacks, and that they were drawn to Jenny's energy. They guess that Atticus is controlling the creatures and therefore is working with Pandora. Jenny wavers momentarily and they get her moving.
At the archive, Jenny insists that she's fine. Abbie is unhappy that her professional and supernatural lives are colliding, and Jenny warns that things can get messy. Joe admires their ability to focus when people they know are getting hurt, and Crane insists that they have to seize control while they can. He tells Joe to talk to Jenny, and admits that he's losing on many fronts against everything that he faces. Joe tells him to take his own advice and talk to Abbie, and both men admit that they miss the purity of being a soldier. Crane gets an idea and finds a reference to the berserkers. They feed off of the energy of battle and are vulnerable to mistletoe. They glance over at Jenny, who is glowing red again. She speaks in a man's voice, saying that "he" is coming.
In DC, Daniel meets with his superior, Jack Walters, who wonders why the Nevins case isn't wrapped up. Daniel admits that he doesn't have the evidence they need yet, and Walters warns that he can't divert more resources without attracting attention. He gives Daniel two weeks and asks about Abbie, and Daniel says that she's doing fine. Walters warns that there are eyes on her before departing.
In the archive, Jenny wakes up and tells Abbie that she doesn't remember anything. She only has a feeling that she was someone powerful. Jenny realizes that she's in the Masonic cell, and Abbie figures that the berserkers can't get a fix on her. She tells her sister that Crane and Joe are checking on something they believe can track the berserkers. Jenny reluctantly lies back and Abbie stands watch.
The men drive to the closest thing Sleepy Hollow has to the dark metal cave that berserkers frequent: an auto junkyard. They enter the building, armed with mistletoe bolts, and find a dead worker. The berserkers charge at them and Joe wounds one with a bolt. Two of the creatures take cover, and the third one ignores the bolts in its chest. It picks up an engine block and throws it, and Joe and Crane run outside and lock the door. The berserkers break through and the two men drive away just in time.
Back at the archive, Crane says that they need to search Atticus' office and determine what spell he used. Abbie refuses, pointing out that the office is under 24/7 surveillance. She doesn't want to blow the case for Daniel, but Crane warns that the berserkers won't stop until they are stopped. After a moment, Abbie gives him her lock picking set and tells him to get in and out as fast as he can.
Crane drives to Atticus' office in a bait shop and Abbie calls him. He confirms that there's no sign of Atticus' automobile. Abbie then calls Agent Ramirez running surveillance and orders him to check out a suspicious vehicle at the port authority. Ramirez asks if Daniel knows about it, and Abbie reminds him that she's in the agent in charge and Daniel is in DC. Once the agents drive away, Crane breaks into the office and searches for the spell. He notices impressions on a paper tablet, uses a pencil to bring it out, and takes the paper with him. Sophie grabs him outside and searches him, and Crane pins her to the wall. He claims that he's there to buy bait and she directs him to the proper building. She tells Crane to stay clear and he walks away.
Back at the archive, he tells Abbie that he ran into one of Atticus' associates but he handled it. He takes out the paper and confirms that Atticus invoked the power of Pandora rather than Odin. Crane remembers Daniel Boone talking about how to make an unbeatable warrior beat himself. He describes how in 1779, Boone faced a joint force of British and Hessian soldiers. The frontiersman crept into both camps and made them think the other was attacking them. Abbie concedes that it might help and goes to get Joe.
In the cell, Joe takes some blood from Jenny. He assures her that she'll be fine and that they'll both be alive to discuss it in the future. Joe then takes Crane's advice and says that he needs to talk, and kisses Jenny. After a moment, she kisses him back.
Later,Crane, Abbie, and Joe go into the woods and set up climbing gear. Joe opens a container with the samples of Jenny's blood. Once they're ready, Joe shatters a vial on the ground.
The berserkers catch Jenny's scent and run into the clearing. They find the container and smash it, and Joe, Abbie, and Crane drop down behind them. They pour more of Jenny's blood on the back of the berserkers' back and then move off. The berserkers attack and finally only one survives. Crane kills it with his sword and they dissolve into ash. As they head back, Crane and Abbie congratulate each other. He explains that his life isn't what he expected, and it seems like the 21st century is unbeatable. Abbie points out that she and the others are the 21st century, and they're defeating it on Crane's behalf.
Joe moves ahead, and Atticus and Sophie capture him. They take him back, guns drawn, and Atticus demands to know where Jenny is. He says that the person he works for wants the energy from the Shard, and he is far more powerful than Pandora. Atticus threatens to shoot Joe if they don't tell him, and Joe refuses to talk. Sophie announces that she's FBI and aims her gun at Atticus. When he tries to shoot her, Sophie shoots him in the shoulder. She warns Abbie that she had to blow her cover and Daniel won't be happy. Sophie warns that Atticus sent men after Jenny and tells Abbie to find her
The trio returns to the Masonic cell and discover that Jenny is gone. The cell lock is broken from the inside, and there are drawings on the wall that match the ones Jenny described from her visions.
Jenny goes to the ruins and plunges her hands into the pool. The water glows red, and Pandora and a hooded figure emerge from the tree. Pandora orders Jenny to kneel. The Hidden One announces that he has arrived.
Cast[]
Starring[] |
Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
|
Trivia[]
- Historically berserkers were Viking warriors who entered such a state of battle frenzy that they risked attacking their own men in the heat of battle. According to legend, while in this frenzied state, berserkers lost all capacity for reason, and were known to scream and howl, and rip enemies apart with their bare hands, and were often used as shock troops. The first mention of Berserkers was in a Norse saga circa 860 - 940. By 1015, Norway had officially outlawed berserkers.
Multimedia[]
Gallery[]
Promotional Photos[]
Screencaps[]
Soundtrack[]
- "Show Pony" - Black Pistol Fire
Videos[]
