ThoughThe X-Filesis arguably the show to have jump-started the paranormal procedural craze, it’s hard to deny thatThe CW’sSupernaturalrivalsthe alien-based series in ongoing popularity, having done well to follow in its footsteps with its engrossing monster-of-the-week storytelling and characters. While the years since have similarly seen other shows attempt to matchSupernatural’s success, the one that has stood the test of time to become the best successor isThe Librarians.
Developed by John Rogers and showrun by Dean Devlin,The Librariansserved as a continuation of the Noah Wyle-led movie trilogy of the same name, following Wyle’s Flynn Carsen as he’s forced to relocate to a new Annex to try and tether The Library back to his world following an attack from the Serpent Brotherhood. This leads to him crossing paths with former Librarian candidates Cassandra Cillian, Jacob Stone, and Ezekiel Jones, all of whom land the job and, joined by new Guardian Eve Baird, embark on investigations regarding magical happenings, while Flynn searches to restore The Library.
The Library Is Like A More Streamlined Version Of Supernatural, In The Best Way Possible
Serialization & Case-Of-The-Week Storytelling Mix Effectively
Even withbothThe X-FilesandSupernatural, one of the biggest problems I’ve had with similar shows is their difficulty striking a balance between their full-season arcs and the cases of the week.The X-Filesfrequently became troubled by the personal lives of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson affecting their production availability, leading to story changes that were never as engaging as the ones from the start of the series.Supernaturalsimilarly got off to a great start with its first few seasons, while those after season 5, its originally planned final season, were a mixed bag.
…Devlin and Rogers always found a strong way to strike that balance by keeping seasons to no more than a dozen episodes.
The Librarianssmartly avoidshaving 20-plus-episode seasons, which ultimately requires some filler episodes to pad out that runtime. That’s not to say that some of the aforementioned shows' filler episodes weren’t great, as they were actually some of the best, but they largely distracted from the intriguing season arcs. ForThe Librarians, Devlin and Rogers always found a strong way to strike that balance by keeping seasons to no more than a dozen episodes.
One of the best examples of this is the show’s second season, which saw Shakespeare’s iconic villain Prospero serve as the overarching villain with the help of James Moriarty, brought to life via magic fromSir Arthur Conan Doyle’sSherlock Holmesnovels. Nearly every episode in the season held some kind of connection to the group’s efforts to stop Prospero from undoingThe Tempest’s ending by reclaiming his magical staff, even if they shifted their focus to seemingly isolated investigations.
The Librarians' Cast Of Characters Is Charming & Full Of Heart
A Little Extra Development Would’ve Been Nice, Though
With the original trilogy of movies having been almost exclusively focused onWyle’s Flynn Carsen, introducing not one, but four new protagonists forThe Librarianscould certainly have been alienating. And yet, Rogers and Devlin did a wonderful job putting together a roster just as exciting to follow as Flynn. Christian Kane, a frequent Devlin collaborator on the likes ofLeverageandAlmost Paradise, brings much of the same comedy as his other roles, and while his characters' supposed lack of fighting skills compared to Eve may not be believable, he expertly captures Stone’s passion for art.
Admittedly, John Harlan Kim’s Ezekiel took a while to grow on me, as he was a typical thief out for his own gain, and his selfishness was sometimes less comedic and more grating. Lindy Booth’s Cassie steals the show every time she’s onscreen, and her mix of quirky social awkwardness and genuine heart also makes her one of the most gripping characters, given how the show explores her life-threatening tumor. Meanwhile, Rebecca Romijn’s Eve is a pretty run-of-the-mill action heroine in the writing, despite being a nice change of pace from similar genre fare with male guardian characters.
While I do generally enjoy the characters,The Librarianscould have improved by giving its characters deeper development. Cassie enjoys the most range in her evolution, not only with her acceptance of her tumor and gifts, but also her use of magic. But given just how engaging this was, and that it encompassed multiple episodes across every season, it made it all the more disappointing that Ezekiel, Stone, and Eve’s character growths were essentially done at a fraction of Cassie’s.
The Librarian’s Production Values Are Quite Impressive
Even For Cable TV, Its CGI Looks Solid
With the show offering a wide range of foes for the titular group to face, from vampires to Egyptian gods and snow trolls,The Librarians' production values were certainly an important thing for the show’s adventures, and they thankfully pulled it off to exhilarating success. The show primarily utilizes great practical effects, which is always a better choice, but considering how underwhelming cable TV CGI could look, I was largely impressed by how good the majority of it looked which, when combined with its fun storytelling and great characters, continues to make it one of the bestSupernaturalsuccessors out there.
The Librariansis available to stream in its entirety on Prime Video.
