5. The Woodsman
Fairytale: Little Red Riding Hood
Fairytale author: Charles Perrault
Odds: Unlikely
The original Little Red Riding Hood had no Woodsman who saved the day, Perrault's original fairytale ended with a happy, well-fed Wolf. It was the Brothers Grimm who added the Woodsman and made the story a bit more age appropriate. The Fables universe reinvents the Woodsman as a washed-up schlub, his glory days long behind him, drowning his sorrows in booze and women. The Woodsman is the obvious suspect; he is caught battering Faith, and it certainly doesn't look good when she turns up dead. Woody, however, is more of a loser than a schemer, and ritualistic beheadings don't seem like his bag, Whoever the murderer is, he definitely hates women and definitely has an axe to grind, but it's probably not a lumber axe.
4. Tweedledee / Tweedledum
Fairytale: Through The Looking Glass
Fairytale author: Lewis Carroll
Odds: Unlikely
The Tweedles were always the creepiest part of Alice's adventures. Their constant contradictions, their man-child mannerisms, their physical grotesqueness - it all added up to characters that were more perverted than playful. In Fabletown, they're envisioned as pair of low level, thick necked thugs. They always seem to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, whether they're searching Faith's apartment or beating the shit out of Bigby. It's the Tweedles' shortcomings, however, that are also their biggest alibis. They're both too dumb and too clumsy to pull off organized murders like these. They're hiding something, but they're the accomplices, not the ringleaders, to whatever is going on.
3. Bluebeard
Fairytale: Bluebeard
Fairytale author: Charles Perrault
Odds: Possibly
A violent aristocrat who beheaded multiple wives, Bluebeard is a reformed serial killer, kept out of trouble by his generous donations to Fabletown. Decapitations fit Bluebeard's M.O., and he has a definite cruel streak - he's willing to torture suspects for information at the beginning of Chapter Two, and Bigby has suspected his direct involvement since Chapter One. Again, however, it's a case of being a bit 'too obvious.' If Bluebeard is the killer, he's certainly not keeping a low profile. He has too much to lose, and the real killer is probably more low key, and less ostentatious.
2. Ichabod Crane
Fairytale: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Fairytale author: Washington Irving
Odds: Possibly
The end of Chapter 2 is a real doozy. Bigby investigates the second murder crime scene - a depraved sexual roleplay gone horribly wrong. And then, the twist - Bigby finds a photograph of Ichabod Crane, mid-roleplay with a Glamoured troll, directly implicating him as a client and possible murderer. It would all make perfect sense if this wasn't Chapter 2 - there are still three chapters to go, and we're not done with the twists and turns. There has to be more to this mystery. Besides, beheading is a bit gory for the squeamish Crane. Isn't that more up the alley of, say, the Headless Horseman? Is he lurking in the shadows somewhere? Time will tell.
1. The Redheaded Man
Fairytale: N/A
Fairytale author: N/A
Odds: Likely
The leading suspect on Telltale's fan forums, the Redheaded Man has made background appearances in many key scenes. He's lying on the floor in Toad's apartment building, and he's driving the cab that picks up Bigby and Snow. Later, when the Redheaded Man passes by Bigby and Snow in the hallway, he and Bigby share a suspicious glance. But who is he? His tie pattern - a shepherd's crook - has led some fans to speculate that he is the Boy Who Cried Wolf. It ties him directly to Bigby, and it gives him a damn good reason to hold a grudge. It also fits perfectly with the future Chapter titles - "A Crooked Mile," "In Sheep's Clothing," and "Cry Wolf." Even if this theory doesn't pan out, it's an inspired bit of fan involvement. It proves that the story, along with its characters, has resonated deeply with its audience. We can't wait for Chapter 3.
