Lyndie Greenwood Teases a 'New Direction' for 'Sleepy Hollow'
Sleepy Hollow is always a hotbed of activity — paranormal and otherwise — but tonight’s episode will prove especially eventful for one particular resident of the not-so-sleepy burg: Jenny Mills. The butt-kicking, magic-hunting sister of local law enforcement officer Abbie Mills (Nichole Beharie), Jenny (fan favorite Lyndie Greenwood) has been somewhat sidelined this year, relegated to helping new guy on the block Joe Corbin (Zach Appelman) adjust to life as part of Sleepy Hollow’s Scooby Gang. That’s definitely not the case with this latest episode, “The Art of War,” which could really be titled “All About Jenny.” “There’s an interesting turn for the whole show this week, and a lot of it involves her,” Greenwood tells Yahoo TV. “It’s not an easy time for Jenny. She’s already been through so much, and we’re going to see that it gets worse before it gets better.”
First, a quick recap of what brought Jenny, and the show, to this crucial turning point. Last week, she and Joe uncovered a red gem hidden inside the Shard of Anubis, the magical doohickey that’s been a regular topic of conversation all season long. The jewel promptly disintegrated in Jenny’s hand, but still left its mark, as her skin acquired a red hue in the episode’s closing moments. That glow is still present this week, and you don’t have to be an expert in the paranormal to diagnose that it suggests a serious, and potentially fatal, condition. Sure enough, Jenny finds herself on a countdown clock to a premature demise, spurring Abbie, Joe and Ichabod (Tom Mison) to find a cure, even as their enemies, Pandora (Shannyn Sossamon) and Nevins (Bill Irwin) seek to manipulate the situation to their own nefarious ends. “We’re coming to our midseason finale, so you can be sure that the storylines we’ve been developing have to meet at some point,” Greenwood says. “A lot of things happen in this episode that propel us forward in a new direction.”
Season 3 already represents a new direction for Sleepy Hollow after a dour sophomore year that left many fans (and even certain cast members) unsatisfied. Incoming showrunner Clifton Campbell has made a point of lightening the tone back to Season 1 levels, while still keeping the monsters dark and spooky. “The writing this year has just been such a blast,” Greenwood says enthusiastically. “If I’m being honest, the first season [established] the potential for Jenny to be an amazing character, and Season 2 left her alone to tell other stories that were more important at the time. It’s been satisfying to come back and complete the storylines we felt were left hanging.”
In addition to positioning Jenny as the dramatic center of the episode, “The Art of War” also reminds us why she’s Sleepy Hollow’s finest action hero. Even though the jewel is sapping her life, it’s also enhancing her already formidable fighting skills. In an early scene, she’s sparring with Joe in a boxing ring when she delivers a blow that would stun the Incredible Hulk.
And later on, Jenny takes out a trio of demon warriors with Flash-level speed. “A lot of people have been asking me, ‘When is Jenny going to fight?’” Greenwood says, laughing. “Fans really seem to love her spunk and will to survive.” The actress adds that fans have also repeatedly expressed their admiration for the sisterly bond between Jenny and Abbie, which will play a big role in tonight’s episode. “Watching these sisters come together after years of being apart was something that resonated with a lot of people. If Jenny’s in trouble, Abbie is a very strong, protective force. So we’re going to see what this new situation does for Abbie — it’s going to greatly affect her as well as Jenny.”
Greenwood will have the chance to experience fan reaction to Jenny’s future (and the cliffhanger ending) in real time, as she’ll be live-tweeting the episode starting at 9 p.m. “I’m excited to see what people think! It’s really satisfying, because I feel a lot of storylines are wrapped up and the episode ties into previous seasons in an interesting and organic way.”
Sleepy Hollow airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Fox
