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Plot

The series follows four people newly recruited by The Library: Colonel Eve Baird (Rebecca Romijn), of the NATO Anti-Terrorist Unit, destined to be the new Guardian; Ezekiel Jones (John Harlan Kim), a wisecracking master thief and hacker; Cassandra Cillian (Lindy Booth), a brilliant scientist and mathematician who possesses a trace of magic; and Jacob Stone (Christian Kane), a polymath who hides his knowledge of architecture, art, history, archaeology, language, and world cultures of the past and present behind the image of a typical Oklahoman oil rigger. The latter three received invitations from the Library at the same time as the current Librarian, Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle), but for various reasons didn't show up for their interviews. Their lives are threatened in the first episode in the series. At the end of the second episode, the Library reissues their invitations.

In a break with the concept established in the films that there can be only one Librarian at a time, the first episodes reveal that the state of the world is so dire that it needs a team of Librarians, with Baird serving as Guardian of all four. With the help of Jenkins/Galahad (John Larroquette), immortal Knight of the Round Table-turned-manager of the Library's Annex, they solve impossible mysteries, rewrite and fix key moments in history, recover powerful magical artifacts, fight supernatural threats, and learn important things about themselves and each other. In the first season, they battle the forces of the Serpent Brotherhood, led by the mysterious immortal Dulaque (Matt Frewer). Carsen, who spends the first season searching for the main Library (removed from time and space at the beginning of the series) appears in some episodes.

The second season offers up a pair of new villains, both from fiction: Prospero (Richard Cox), from Shakespeare's The Tempest, and Moriarty (David S. Lee), Sherlock Holmes' chief nemesis. The former is positioned as the greater evil, attempting to use magic to destroy the world in order to remake it more to his liking. Moriarty is more of a gray villain—generally aligned with Prospero but willing to side with the Librarians when it suits his own interests.

The third season introduces a new adversary, Apep, the Egyptian God of Chaos. Defeated centuries before by the first Librarian, Judson (Bob Newhart), and his Guardian, Charlene (Jane Curtin), he is resurrected when his sarcophagus is opened and embarks on a mission to release pure evil into the world, possessing many different people along the way. While they are trying to stop Apep, the Librarians' actions are closely monitored by General Cynthia Rockwell (Vanessa Williams) from a new secret government agency, called DOSA (Department of Statistical Anomalies).

The fourth season does away with season-long story arcs in favor of stand-alone episodes, with three ongoing issues. One storyline builds on the season three revelation that the Library is a conscious entity; before the vernal equinox, Flynn and Eve must undertake a ceremony that will bind them to each other and to the Library, as Charlene and Judson did before them. They will become immortal and bind the Library to Earth, giving it a human connection and a human heart rather than the cold, implacable and dangerously self-centered attitude that would characterize it without that bond. The second storyline involves the return of Nicole Noone, Flynn's first Guardian; believed dead and now immortal, her presence raises many questions. The third storyline is the conflict that arises between the Librarians over former Librarian Darrington Dare's assertion that there can only be one Librarian at a time, or the result will be disastrous. All three stories are resolved in the last episode.

Main

Rebecca Romijn as Colonel Eve Baird, a former NATO agent whom the Library has chosen as its main "Guardian", tasked with protecting and training the new Librarians and protecting Flynn. In "And Santa's Midnight Run", it's revealed that she was born on Christmas Eve, and her parents named her accordingly. She and Flynn are attracted to each other almost immediately.

Christian Kane as Jacob Stone, an Oklahoma oil-rigger and genius with an IQ of 190 and an extensive knowledge of languages, archaeology, Native-American culture, art history, conservation, architecture, and more. Fearing disapproval from his family, he has hidden his talents from them, publishing under several pseudonyms and winning worldwide recognition for his expertise. While he initially does not trust Cassandra after her betrayal in "And The Crown of King Arthur", he eventually accepts her as a valued member of the team.

Lindy Booth as Cassandra Cillian, a mathematician who has uncontrollable auditory and sensory hallucinations linked to memory retrieval, as well as a rare condition called synesthesia. She has a brain tumor, diagnosed in childhood, which causes pain if she thinks hard enough. Because of the extreme pain, Stone teaches her to connect to a peaceful memory during her thoughts. Since her teens, she has been living with the knowledge that this tumor will kill her, unless she risks an extremely dangerous surgery that may take her life and, if she survives, will probably destroy her gift. Later, facing death, she has the surgery. The tumor is successfully removed, and she finds her mental abilities are tremendously enhanced, as is her connection with magic.

John Harlan Kim as Ezekiel Jones, an Australian thief and "master of technologies". His credentials include hacking the London Police's security network, NSA, and numerous other law enforcement agencies. He prefers to rely on his luck and wit, not showing much concern for others until he gets to a point of realizing something important about the current case. In season 3, he reveals to his foster mother—but to no one else—that he does not keep his ill-gotten gains, but uses them to support charitable causes and to help the helpless. He believes that this is why the Library invited him.

John Larroquette as Jenkins / Galahad, the Annex's reluctant, sometimes cantankerous caretaker; he is a skilled inventor who has worked there "for longer than anyone knows" and has extensive knowledge of ancient lore. He is also seen to have a connection to Dulaque, as revealed in "And the Apple of Discord". It is later explained that he is the immortal Knight of the Round Table Sir Galahad from King Arthur's Camelot, and Dulaque is Sir Lancelot du Lac (Lancelot's immortality is explained in The Librarians: The Next Chapter as a result of drawing on the power of his shield, though the cause of Galahad's immortality is unknown). He has also known Morgan le Fay (Alicia Witt) for centuries and considers her to be his archenemy, as he blames her for Arthur's death. In "And Some Dude Named Jeff", he confirms that he is Lancelot's illegitimate son.

Recurring

Noah Wyle as Flynn Carsen, the main Librarian since the first film, who periodically works alongside the team. At the end of season four, he and Eve became the new immortal tethers for The Library after the previous tethers, Judson and Charlene, move on to the unknown.

Matt Frewer as Dulaque (season 1), the mysterious immortal leader of the Serpent Brotherhood, who has a past relationship with Jenkins. In "And The Loom of Fate", he is revealed to be the immortal Knight of the Round Table Sir Lancelot du Lac and has devoted himself to reversing the events that brought about the fall of Camelot. In the same episode, he is briefly restored to his younger self (Jerry O'Connell), only to be erased from existence by Flynn.

Lesley-Ann Brandt as Lamia (season 1), Dulaque's second-in-command in the Serpent Brotherhood, who serves him faithfully until he betrays and kills her in "And The Loom of Fate". Her name is a reference to the mythical Libyan queen of the same name.

Jane Curtin as Charlene (seasons 1 and 3), the Library's humorless administrator, who interviewed Flynn for the job of the Librarian. In the final season, it is revealed that she was the first Guardian and that she is immortal. She and Judson performed the tethering ceremony that is one of the season 4 story arcs.

Bob Newhart as Judson (seasons 1 and 3), the first Librarian, who now acts as a mentor to those who take up the mantle. In the third season, it is revealed that he founded the Library in Alexandria during the time of Ancient Egypt after defeating Apep.

Richard Cox as Prospero, the fictional protagonist of The Tempest (season 2), who comes to life seeking to regain his sorcery and conquer the world. During the finale of the second season, ("And The Final Curtain"), he merges with Shakespeare himself, only to be banished back to his original story by the Librarians.

David S. Lee as Professor Moriarty (season 2), the archenemy of Sherlock Holmes, who is summoned by Prospero to assist him. He is eventually returned to his story by Prospero after betraying him in "And The Final Curtain".

Hayley McLaughlin as Ariel (season 2), a real fairy (as opposed to a fictional) who was accidentally written into The Tempest by Shakespeare. She serves Prospero, using her powers to assist him and his followers. In "And The Happily Ever Afters", she manages to disguise herself as a human and contacts Flynn, helping him break her master's control over the other Librarians in exchange for her freedom.

Beth Riesgraf as the Lady of the Lake (season 2), an enigmatic figure that acts as the spokesperson for an intellectual collective that truly comprehends the scientific constructs behind magic and takes an interest in Cassandra due to her unique abilities. In "And The Final Curtain", she helps Flynn and Eve defeat Prospero in the past by providing them with Arthur's sword, Excalibur.

Vanessa Williams as Cynthia Rockwell (season 3).

Rachel Nichols as Nicole Noone (season 4), Flynn's first Guardian (portrayed in the first movie, The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, by Sonya Walger). Flynn thought that she had died, and he is shattered to find her alive and immortal in the present. Thrust 500 years into the past, she used magic to prolong her life and spent the next 5 centuries planning what to do when she saw Flynn again.

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