Do you enjoy action, adventure, and witty dialogue while watching a team of people thrown together try to save the world while also indulging in some campy humor? If so, then The Librarians on TNT is for you.
The Librarians takes up where the third The Librarian movie left off. If you don’t know The Librarian series, it stars Noah Wyle as Flynn Carsen, a man who has more PhD’s than is good for him and no social life therefore, who gets chosen to be the protector of the magical library that houses pretty much everything from myths and legends and science, too. He also gets to romance a tough, spunky, brave, capable, and, above all, smart girl in each movie. It’s pretty much Indiana Jones crossed with Warehouse 13, Mortal Kombat, Tomb Raider, and, well, you name it, while the tone keeps its tongue firmly in cheek.
The series continues this in all ways, but it ups the ante. It helps if you’ve seen the three Librarian movies, but you don’t have to see them in order to enjoy this show. Basically, the evil bad guys manage to infiltrate the Library and therefore the main Library gets detached from our realm of reality. At the same time, the bad guys are killing off all potential future Librarians, and since being the Librarian is a high risk job, this is a very bad thing. Our Librarian, Flynn Carsen, and his newest Guardian, Eve Baird (Rebecca Romijn), head off to rescue the remaining Librarian options – Jake Stone (Christian Kane), Cassandra Cillian (Lindy Booth), and Ezekiel Jones (John Kim). They find a Library Annex being managed by Jenkins (John Larroquette) and set up shop, intent on saving the day.
After some major drama where a huge amount of magic is re-released into the world that sets up both the plotline and some interpersonal conflicts that will need to be resolved as the show goes on, our main Librarian goes off to find the Library, leaving Eve in charge of the three Junior Librarians. Flynn makes several appearances, but it’s Eve’s show to run, so to speak.
The cast clicks well and they’re all enjoyable to watch – they’re having fun and it shows. Ezekiel Jones is a character I thought I’d despise, but with the way John Kim is playing him, I kind of adore him. I’ve enjoyed Christian Kane since he was in Angel, Lindy Booth is sort of doing the Fred character from Angel, but with a lot more gumption from the get-go, and Rebecca Romijn should use this show as an audition to play Sonja Blade should we ever get another Mortal Kombat reboot. (And that’s a compliment – two of my dogs are named after Mortal Kombat characters.) John Larroquette is, of course, great. (But you already knew that.)
Frankly, this is the show that I expected Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to be – fun, action-packed, with cast members that are clear individuals with clear abilities that differ from the other cast members. And I actually care about these cast members and can tell you, easily, who they are and what their skills and damages are – and this was after the first show, not 15 episodes in. True, The Librarians is heavy on the campy side of the house – but that makes the show fun to watch. They’re saving the world every week, but they’re having a great time while doing it.
They’ve landed some great guest stars, too, including Matt Frewer, Tricia Helfer, Tyler Mane, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Plus any show that casts Bruce Campbell as Santa, and then gives you one of the best Christmas episodes ever on top of that, is a show that deserves to be watched.
The Librarians is campy fun, with an enjoyable cast that clicks, fun scripts, and a storyline that celebrates smart people. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds.
5 Episodes In: "The Librarians"
Summary
Do you enjoy action, adventure, and witty dialogue while watching a team of people thrown together try to save the world while also indulging in some campy humor? If so, then The Librarians on TNT is for you.
The Librarians is campy fun, with an enjoyable cast that clicks, fun scripts, and a storyline that celebrates smart people. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds.
Very well said Gini. This is a very fun series to watch. Popcorn entertainment at its best.
Thanks, Kevin! The show became a fave of ours right from the get-go and every week it’s just getting more and more fun.
Absolutely loving this show! Christian Kane is awesome!
Yeah the whole cast is doing a great job. John Kim has made me love the Jones character, but the whole thing is just great fun.
Thanks! I, too, adore the characters and the show! #Kaniac
Yeah, isn’t it just tons of fun?
Such a well done précis of The Librarians. As the weeks have been going by I’ve loved the show more and more. The last ep, The Fables of Doom, was so much fun I didn’t want it to end. And finally the wonderful Christian Kane got to show what he’s made of with his fighting and axe-wielding skills. Let’s hope for more seasons!
I know! It’s just staying steadily awesome each week. I look forward to spending time with the characters, which is what you want in a weekly TV show.
Well said Gini.
I love the series because it’s like a cross between a live action Looney Tunes and The Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s so fun, zany, smart and silly that I want to join in this fantastic fantasy with these clever individuals and eccentric characters each and every week!
Exactly and that’s a great comparison! It’s just this fun mashup of all the fun things out of history and entertainment. I’m using the word “fun” a lot, but it IS. LOL
I’ve loved Dean Devlin’s vision since the original Librarian movies aired and his touch of fancy and heist with Leverage. The Librarians definitely honor the magic of fantasy with the detail of science fiction.
AND they include science, too. Just to prep we watched the 3 Librarian movies back to back before the show started, and they remain so fun and watchable. I was so glad the series just continues on with the awesome.
That is the perfect description! thank you! love this show, so glad I could purchase the season. Now I shall not miss any 🙂
Yay, and thank you! Gotta get ’em all! 😀
I love this show. The cast is just wonderful together. This is just what tv needs right now a little light hearted fun and this show is it. It also doesn’t hurt that Christina Kane is in it
My thoughts exactly! Though I have to admit that John Kim is just stealing every scene he’s adorably in.
I started watching for Christian Kane and now I love the whole cast. The show gets better each week. I can’t wait for the double episodes this Sunday.
I know! I’d be happy if they were weekly two-hour movies. LOL
Loving The Librarians! This series just gets better with every episode! Love the entire cast, but Christian Kane is, and will always be, the exceptional standout!!!! Add the incomparable John Larroquette, whom I’ve adored since his Night Court days, and you have a recipe for total success. Thanks Dean Devlin and John Rogers for an amazing escape from reality with each episode. Come on TNT, announce that renewal!!!!
I can’t believe we only have one more week! Hoping second season gets announced pronto!