TV Review: The Librarians – “Crown of King Arthur” and “The Sword in the Stone” (Series Premiere)
by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
When Librarian candidates are murdered by a mysterious foe, Flynn must accept the help of Col. Eve Baird (Rebecca Romijn, X-Men), who has been assigned as the new Guardian of The Library. Together the two find the remaining candidates who haven’t been picked off by the Society of the Serpent, only to have The Library itself come under attack. Following a series of clues, the group must work together to solve the mystery of the Crown of King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone (the titles of the pilot episodes), before evil can unleash magic into the world.
In addition to Wyle and Romijn, the series features John Larroquette (Chuck), Christian Kane (Leverage), Lindsey Booth (Dawn of the Dead), John Kim (Neighbours), and Matt Frewer (Eureka). The pilot also features cameos from Veteran Librarian actors Jane Curtain (3rd Rock from the Sun) and Bob Newhart (The Big Bang Theory).
The two-hour pilot feels like a direct continuation of the stand alone adventures of The Librarian, but easily introduces new audiences to the world of magic. The show is at its best when it allows the characters to react to the situation with wonder and awe, as well as acknowledging the level of humor and insanity with their given situation. The opening sequence with Wyle and Romijn will definitely attract viewers, as the balance between action, humor, and intrigue are at an all time high. While Wyle appears in the pilot of the series, the show is setup to follow the adventures of the new Librarians and their Guardian as they travel the globe on new adventures.
The standout of the episode is definitely Rebecca Romijn, who clearly demonstrates that she is a force to be reckoned with. When I first heard that she was cast in the series, I wasn’t sure how she would fit in. Luckily, the creative team have crafted a fantastic and interesting character for her, that is a perfect fit for the story and for her skills.
Overall
“The Crown of King Arthur” and “The Sword in the Stone” are quite the setup for an ongoing series, and as long as they can continue with the same level of excitement and mythology shown in the movie series, this show should be very well received by both audiences and critics. There is a whole world of magic and mystery out there, and it will be interesting to see how the story progresses from here.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives The Librarians – “The Crown of King Arthur” and “The Sword in the Stone” – 4.5 out of 5 series that make us want a magical sword.
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