The Librarians: The Next Chapter

I am not speaking as a pro critic reviewer. Just a fan of the librarians universe in general. The movies and tv show where truly fantastic, even if the cgi on most of it was not great. This new show is not extremely bad but you still compare it to the original. Sadly they did not catch the old charm/magic in this new one. I don't really care for the characters or the story like i had previously. I still watch it and it is ok but they lost what was special about it. It's hard to say what that was exactly besides the old characters, who were way better. I am a fan of Dean Devlin and i think they actually tried but it's just not good enough.

I really liked the original but this is a poor imitation. In the original the "Librarian" was not around for most of the series and the "team" had to solve problems with each member bringing their unique talents to the effort. Each of them was also part of the library.

In this version we have a Librarian from another time (why?) and his team is made up of more or less ordinary people (none of whom were invited) who would be best classified as just sidekicks. It seems like any one of them, except perhaps Charlie, could be replaced with no impact to the show. Even Charlie, who is supposed to be the protector, is not really doing much. Eve from the original series was kicking ass early on.

I assume that as the show continues we will see more character development and the cast acting more like a team, but for now I have seen enough.

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.

The writing is juvenile , the acting is amateurish, there is no chemistry between the actors .

The lead is a ham who thinks overwrought facial expressions are Shakespererian .

Olivia Morris is the only likeable main cast member.

Its not the actors i gather i am sure they are all accomplished and are capable of more than what they deliver here .

It is everything else.

Maybe its on the director(s) or studio meddling ....

it feels cheap and shoddy at every level. It is ill spent craftsmanship and ressources

it is a waste of popcorn and a beer, on a night with nothing to do and nothing to watch.

If its a choice between this and watching bacon fry in a pan , or watching my dog chase a stray fly, then its no contest , those win, every time.

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.