‘THE LIBRARIANS,’ SEASON ONE: EPISODES 1 & 2 (2014)

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Way back when there were made-for-TV films starring Noah Wylie about his, by now iconic character, the Librarian. To be honest, it wasn’t really my thing probably because the sidekick winds up being a vampire. Promotional material for this show looks fun so naturally I decided to see what the record breaking ratings did for the two-hour premiere. 

The Librarians, Season One: Episodes 1 & 2

Colonel Eve Baird (Rebecca Romijn) is in Berlin for a NATO counter-terrorist mission when things get dicey. While there trying to stop the bad guys and a bomb from detonating, she meets Flynn Carson a.k.a. the Librarian (Wylie) who is busy recovering a lost artifact. Then before she can process what she sees and is told, he’s gone. Back home, she’s put on leave for the fallout, and just as she wonders what to do with her free time, a white envelope appears inviting her to the library. At the library she learns that she’s been selected to be Flynn’s guardian (essentially his bodyguard) much to the resistance of Flynn. But turns out he’s investigating the murder of a man; the only clue a photo of a painting on his body. This leads he and Eve to discover that before he got the job, those invited to interview for the Librarian are being murdered.  

‘THE LIBRARIANS,’ SEASON ONE: EPISODES 1 & 2. Talking about the TNT adventure show with Christian Kane and Rebecca Romijn. All text is © Rissi JC

This leads them to three names, all of whom are potential suspects the Brotherhood may want dead. The ancient cult wants magic back in the world and seemingly won’t stop at anything to accomplish that. The proof is in Flynn saving Ezekiel Jones (John Kim) from the Brotherhood and Eve finding Jake Stone (Christian Kane) in much the same situation. Along with mathematician, Cassandra Cillian (Lindy Booth), Flynn and his reluctant team (he doesn’t want them along for the ride) head to Germany to learn the painting’s secrets.  

Hit or miss is my mantra for the sort of comedy The Librarians opts for. It’s an assortment of subtle and flat-out ridiculous. Unlike the last movie installment, I loved every second of this premiere. What makes it work so nicely is that the show seems to know it’s a bit over-the-top crazy and plays that as a strength. The counterweight of the funny quips ensures that the excitement of the sequences don’t fall into a darker theme. Fortunately with a fresh-face cast (for the most part) and equally fascinating characters, the show is unique; especially when thinking about the carousal of titles seeing air time today. 

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‘THE LIBRARIANS,’ SEASON ONE: EPISODES 1 & 2 (2014) #TVarchives Click To Tweet
‘THE LIBRARIANS,’ SEASON ONE: EPISODES 1 & 2. Talking about the TNT adventure show with Christian Kane and Rebecca Romijn. All text is © Rissi JC

Aside from the sparkling humor, what else was fun to the scripts was the historical throwbacks woven into the story. (Episode one is titled “And the Crown of King Arthur” and episode two, “And the Sword of the Stone” is more of one collective story.) We jump from Berlin to Germany and eventually, London, which is a great way to kick off stories that promise adventure. Another thing that is an advantage is really the characters. There’s more depth than I’d given the writer’s credit for, particularly since one character has a clock on her life. Eve proves a sassy heroine although the “twist” regarding one of the characters (can we say a double-cross!?) does surprise; Ezekiel is way fun – plus the dude has an accent! Works for me. What’s nice about this group that has come together is how they all have something to offer the team. Having a strong group of actors is a must. Early signs point to the fact that this show gets one of the big things right.

If I’m being honest, the main reason this caught my eye was one of its actors. One of the attractions for me was Christian Kane. Just coming off the finale of Leverage, it’s a nice surprise to see him starring in a new weekly show; I adore Christian’s Leverage character (Elliot). Speaking of Leverage, if you were a fan (also a TNT show), this is really something you’d enjoy. The vibes are similar when looking at the comedic scene or the humorous dialogue, which is nice. Or even Doctor Who. Between the magic and multiple locations the team visits for their cases, there’s similarities. Starting out, I think this show has a strong hook. The ratings for the premiere are understandable, there’s something magnetic here.

The characters mesh well together (a huge must in any show) as well as the way the individual elements twist together. If you like history and something that will tickle your funny bone, then looking into The Librarians won’t leave you disappointed. 

What about you, friends; did you watch and like The Librarians? Is this a show you’re going to watch? Comment any thoughts you have below. 

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

15 comments

  1. Loved it.. very fun and exciting show.. One the whole family can enjoy!!Christian Kane brought his own magic to The Librarians.. and to his movie 50 to 1 which is another family friendly projec.. It's coming out on DVD/VOD Spring 2015 .. so be on the look out for that as well ..you will love it too!
    (PS.. wasnt sure if it went thro first time sorry if it double posted)

    1. Thanks for all the info. on more of Christian Kane's projects! I hadn't heard of the title you mention.

      Glad you liked this show too! I thought it was way fun and will look forward to seeing how it evolves. :)

  2. I loved it! Of course, I also loved the three movies. For my they were a nice break from what I typically watch and were just fun for me. Honestly, I had worried about how much I had been looking forward to this series. I was concerned my expectations were too high. But, Dean Devlin, John Rogers and crew hit it out of the park for me!

    Plus, I also am a big fan of Leverage and enjoyed Christian Kane in his new role. I also liked seeing Noah Wyle, Jane Curtin and Bob Newhart again…plus I like the new roles from John Larroquette, Rebecca Romijn, Lindy Booth and John Kim. Can't wait for next week!

    1. I only saw the one movie, Jamie, but did really like the premiere of this show. Like you, this is a nice break from my usual fare and I loved it because of that if for no other reason. Isn't that the best!? It's always great when a show we've anticipated live up to expectations.

      I loved Leverage also. Again it was not my normal show, but a nice, lighthearted break from the crime dramas I usually watch. Yes, the creators were fabulous to bring back from of the original characters while introducing us to so many newbies. Made for a fun two hours! :)

  3. I've heard about this, and I wondered if it was related to the movie! I remember watching the first one ages ago, though I remember nothing about it. I'll have to check it out, since you liked it so much! :D

  4. I LOVED the premiere and had been anxiously awaiting it since Spring! I am a Kaniac, so Christian Kane drew me in (actually when he left the 50 to 1 tour to begin filming cause I was going to KY to see him) and got me interested. I.had totally enjoyed the Librarian movies and I was not disappointed Sunday. Check it out! Magic, fun, adventure, Christian Kane, I bet you'll like it!

    1. Me too! The premiere was such fun and I liked the blend of history and action. Thanks for your thoughts on the movies! I'll have to look them up at some point. :)

  5. My sis and I went and watched the three movies in preparation for this show and just last night we finally got around to watching the first two episodes! I loved them! I love how it feels like a mix of several shows I like but is still really unique! Christian Kane is what made me look into this show too! He was absolutely amazing in Leverage!

    1. *high five* to a fellow Christian Kane fan. :) I so liked his Elliott on Leverage and think I'll like him muchly in this show too. Glad you liked it, Abbi – and I hope you continue to. As you said, the blend of genres is what made it so unique. :)

  6. Thank you thank you thank you for reviewing this one, Rissi, because I've been trying to figure out whether or not to check this one out and this was the deciding factor! (You seriously write the best book/movie/tv reviews.) I'm also a Christian Kane fan. One question though–do you think it's helpful to watch the movies before checking out the show? Thanks again!! :)

    1. Happy to, Bekah! I watched the premiere (the first two episodes) on a whim one day and figured they'd make for good reviewing material. :)

      As for the movies, I only watched one and didn't feel confused. Flynn (Noah's character) is the primary character in the movies but the show basically introduces us to four new characters, who the show will focus on in future episodes. I'd say you'd be okay to watch this without seeing the movies. Either way, I hope you enjoy them – and Christian is fun, same as with Leverage.

      Thanks for reading, Bekah! Always enjoy chatting with you.

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