The FOX Network premiered a new television show in September, 2013. Sleepy Hollow is a science fiction drama based on the legend of the same name about a headless horseman who cuts of the heads of people while his remains in the possession of the person controlling him. While this story has been made into movies, this is the first time that a television series is based around the short story written by Washington Irving in 1820.

To create the possibility of a long-term story line, the headless horseman was written as one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, Death who’s coming would signal the end of the world. There are only so many heads that could be cut off, so a long term plan to keep the story going and audiences watching was created as the horseman works toward freeing the other three horsemen, as well as getting his head back.

The forces of evil cannot run amuck, so there are two main heroes, witnesses that are spearheading the fight to stop the coming Apocalypse. In this iteration of the story, Ichabod Crane cut off the head of the horseman, who at the same time, stabbed Crane. The two died at the same time and their blood comingled tying them together in death. Crane’s wife, Katrina was a witch and preserved him in death in the event the horseman was ever awakened. Ichabod wakes 200 years later in modern day to discover times have changed.

The second witness is Lieutenant Abigail Mills of the Sleepy Hollow sheriff’s department. As a child she and her sister experienced a pre-coming sign of the headless horseman. While her sister told the truth, Abbey hid the story and went to lead a somewhat normal life, absence of ridicule. Her sister , Jenny, however, told of what they saw and subsequently was sent to an insane asylum. Jenny’s quest for the truth of what happened does provide a wealth of knowledge that become invaluable to Ichabod and Abbie as they try to defeat the horseman.

The main character of the Sleepy Hollow .Ichabod Crane, is a white male. Abbie Mills is a black female. Her sister, Jenny is also portrayed by a woman of color, as well as the head law official is portrayed by a black male. The recurring cast of the first season also included a man of Asian descent. Special appearance actors included both Caucasian and African-Americans. The main male character is Caucasian, but as he was a soldier in the Colonial Army under General George Washington, having a main white character is historically accurate. Upon meeting Abbie, Ichabod comments to being pleased that blacks have been emancipated and does not treat her with any disrespect.

Ichabod speaks is most comfortable with his 200 year clothing style, although toward the end of the first season he is starting to use a mobile phone. The idea of buying water is appalling to him and hasn’t tried driving yet. He speaks in old English tongue and is very smart. Ichabod is a man of honor and is very it is funny to watch the 200 year old character move about amidst modern day technology. Ichabod has discovered that he is tied to the horseman, even though the blood tie was broken, but feels it his duty (which was given to him by George Washington) to stop the horseman, and to free his wife, Katrina from purgatory.

The show has been historically accurate although the story is false. It has represented the issues of how America was constructed (slavery) and that not all people of that time were prejudice. The show gives a glimpse of what was, and how far American has, and has not come. The show is a fairly good representation of various races working together.

Television today has many good shows, but there are many more popular, bad shows on. For example, VH1’s Basketball Wives: LA (http://blog.vh1.com/2014-03-13/basketball-wives-la-episode-5-sneak-peek/) show black women as loud, cat-fighting individuals. Their use of language and profanity does represent all black women. While shows like Scandal and Being Mary Jane may show black women as ‘the other woman’ they are educated women who are trying to make a way and looking for love. They show the good and bad sides of all people.

The reality MOB Wives (http://blog.vh1.com/2014-02-26/mob-wives-reunion-sneak-peek/) depicts Caucasian women as gold diggers and very violent. They are also shown as loud, obnoxious, and violent, as if they are also gang members. Not all Italian women or Caucasian women live their lives as such. These shows are considered reality television but for ratings, I believe there is so much extra violence, attitude and drama added to these shows that there is no reality in them at all.

Sleepy Hollow is a good depiction of balance in television shows. There are two main characters, one white, one black. Both are intelligent, articulate and respectful of each other. The writers include historical elements and explain the differences and fights that happened which created American society. Regardless of the story line, shows will be successful when they are able to have something for the majority of people, and include all groups.

There have been shows based around apartment buildings, high schools, diners, and football. What is missing is a television show based in a shopping mall. Between the different stores, management, security guards and customers, all groups can be represented, depicting a more realistic view of life.