The Librarians: The Next Chapter

Having enjoyed the past incarnations of this series, I was looking forward to "the Next Chapter", but, sadly, it does not deliver. The acting is so bad I'm actually not sure that they weren't intentionally trying to be camp and just missed the mark. The writing is equally inept. There are so many plot holes that the writers actually have to explain why they aren't really plot holes during the story. The nice thing about shows about magic is that you can always write something off to some obscure lore that nobody knew about until it suddenly becomes a brick wall to the story. I call it the "ah, well it doesn't work that way... unless there's a full moon" effect. 4 episodes in and so far.. a disappointment.

Building on the world created in the previous story and the original movies, The Librarians once again has the head of a magical library devoted to protecting the world from magic teaming up with a bunch of randos to repeatedly save the world.

Like the first series, this is incredibly silly. While the characters are all adults, they all act like they're about 15, and there are episodes heavily focused on things like, "why don't the other kids invite me to hang out with them." So that's weird.

But the show is quick moving and funny, and some episodes are actually surprisingly clever. The best episode to date (I think there have been 7 so far) involves a train trapped in time, which is fantastic. There's also an excellent take-off on cozy murder mysteries, with characters hurling their backstory at everyone that passes.

The characters are enjoyable, even if Vikram's librarian can be annoyingly pompous and Charlie wears these weirdly distracting contacts that make her pupils insanely pale. The best character is the mysterious Elaine, who unfortunately is only seen sporadically.

Some people here have pointed out that a lot of this makes no sense and is neither internally consistent no consistent with the original series. Which is a weird complaint, because The Librarians never made a lick of sense. My guess is these are people who were children when the first series was on and now they've developed critical thinking skills they didn't have at the time.

From the beginning, the Librarians has been fun and ridiculous, and this latest version is every bit as fun, and every bit as ridiculous, as you would want it to be. If you don't mind the silliness, you should definitely check this out.

It's ok could be better not the same appeal as the original it's just not keeping me glued to the screen-they had the Jake stone Character kick off the series and then was never seen again, Have some of the other Characters stop by,Noah Wyle is producing but not acting would like to see him in an episode or even another Movie. They could use well more know actors like they've had before the first season they had Jane Curtain and Bob Newhart and then we got Jenkins, played by John Larroquette he kept it interesting I don't think it will make it without one or at least get guest stars that our known.

To say I am a fan of the Librarian franchise is an understatement. I loved the movies and adored most of the first series. It is up there high on my all time list of favorite TV shows.

I am through 10 episodes of The Next Chapter and I enjoy it, but it is at a level slightly below the original.

Every one of the new characters is just a little less than his or her counterpart, and may more than a little.

Noah Wyle is an insanity that is hard to top. He rules. Vikram is also dynamic but I don't feel like he is as loyal to the Library or as much of a leader. He's as arrogant maybe, but Flynn's arrogance was deserved.

Charlie falls far short of Eve. Eve is a leader and fearless and competent. Charlie has nowhere near the confidence. She follows because she needs to. And I can't say she has been the bad ass fighter so far.

Cassandra Cillian is also high on my list of all time favorite TV characters. She is so full of energy and a little crazy. Assuming Lysa follows in her footsteps, which isn't certain in my mind, she doesn't have the energy and definitely no craziness.

Stone appears in the first of these episodes and I can easily see him being the heir to Flynn. I don't see any of the new characters matching him.

Conner plays outside the box as does Jones. Of them all, Conner comes the closest to being as good.

And then there is Jenkins. While he is a true member of the team, so far Astolat hasn't lived up to that. As an actor John Larroquette was maybe as good and possibly better than any of the original team. His comedic timing was brilliant.

I can't decide if the stories are likewise slightly lesser than the original, since I have such a doubt, that seems to say they are lesser.

This review sounds like I hate the new show, but I don't. It just doesn't live up to what I've already said is one of my favorites.

When I heard the next chapter was coming out, I was so excited cause I really enjoyed the original. The characters chemistry, the acting, the story lines, there was no sense of boredom in any of the episodes in all four seasons.

When the first episode dropped and I saw Christian Kane, I was totally stoked. Then the rest of the cast showed up and I was like, ok, let me give them a chance.

There is no chemistry between the cast, like the original Librarians.

When the next chapter came out , I went back to watch the original, then I started watching the next chapter and was wholly dissatisfied. They should use better actors for The Librarian and The Guardian.