List of The Librarian characters

This is a list of characters in The Librarian series. They are all characters who have appeared either in the Librarian television films, or the Librarians series.

Overview

Creator of "The Librarians", John Rogers, noted that Dean Devlin wanted to do a television version of the Librarian movies, in the style of the revived Doctor Who series. Unfortunately, because Noah Wyle was still doing Falling Skies, and Bob Newhart and Jane Curtain were only going to be available periodically, Rogers had to come up with a new approach, noting that Wyle did not want to be recast or replaced as the Librarian, so Rogers came up with the idea of creating a new team of heroes in the style of Doc Savage and team of experts approach. He notes that "Jacob Stone was written with Christian Kane in mind. He worked very hard on Leverage, and he choreographed all of his own fights", "Lindy Booth just straight-up out auditioned everybody" for the role of Cassandra, John Kim won his role by "just being charming as hell", and Rebecca Romijn is someone who "could throw a punch and who could land a joke". He also notes that John Larroquette's role is essentially a replacement for Bob Newhart's Judson, so they had to find someone with "a very specific sense of humor" and "somebody with insane chops". ^[1]

Editors Patricia Demers and Toni Samek, in their book "Minds Alive: Libraries and Archives Now", note that libraries are often identified with the aspirational, and as a result, viewers gleefully accept the heroic characters in "The Librarians", far removed from the typical safe, stereotypical representation of librarians ^[2] In her book "The Laughing Librarian", Jeanette C. Smith, compares Flynn Carsen to Indiana Jones, adventuring with the supernatural, but notes that Flynn's superpower is his "superior research skills". ^[3] Biographer Jonathan M. Farlow refers to Carsen as a "swashbuckling" hero who relies on "his wits". ^[4] Author Karen A. Romanko compares the show to Warehouse 13 in her book "Women of Science Fiction and Fantasy Television", and describes the key characters in "The Librarians", highlighting Colonel Baird's role as not only the protector of the lives of the librarians, but also of their immortal souls. She also notes how Cassandra's brain tumour gives her powers that help the team. ^[5]

Main characters

Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle)

Character history

A nerdish bookworm, Flynn is brilliant beyond compare. By the time he was 31 years old, he had earned 22 academic degrees—12 Bachelor's degrees, 6 Master's degrees, and 4 doctorates—including four degrees in Egyptology, a doctorate in Comparative Religions, and a Ph.D. in Cryptology. In the beginning of The Quest for the Spear , his Egyptology professor signs off on his 23rd degree. (The precise degree is not known, but it must be either a master's degree or a Ph.D, because he already possesses a B.A., a B.S. or both in the relevant field.)

Practically addicted to learning, Flynn would have continued being a perpetual student had Professor Harris not awarded him the degree mid-term, making it impossible for him to sign up for another course for six months. Observing that Flynn did not know the names of any of his fellow students, the professor insisted that he get some real-world experience. Upon receiving a magical invitation, Flynn (asking how did they do that?) applied for a job as a librarian in the New York Metropolitan Library. He was successful in his job interview and was recruited into an ancient clandestine order of Librarians who have protected a range of historical and often magical items (such as the Ark of the Covenant) for centuries.

Flynn is a polymath, highly intelligent and resourceful. He often gives voice to his speed-of-light thinking, which can be confusing—and annoying—to bystanders. A natural gift and years of study have made his powers of observation and deductive skills comparable to those of Sherlock Holmes. His ordinary skills (which did not qualify him for the job) include knowledge of the Dewey decimal system, the Library of Congress, research paper orthodoxy, web searching, and the ability to set up an RSS feed. En route to his first mission, Flynn managed to decode the previously untranslated Language of the Birds in just over seven hours, a feat that no other Librarian (save the one who created the book) had been able to accomplish. Flynn rapidly evolves into a brave hero, not easily overwhelmed by the supernatural.

When Flynn was still quite young, his father was shot by an unknown assailant. It took many years for Flynn to identify the murderer and discover the reasons behind it. He took clarinet lessons when he was young, and when he was nine years old he attended a book signing of Stephen Hawking where he began to argue with Hawking about the correctness of the central thesis of the book.

His geeky bookishness is coupled with a razor-sharp wit that unfortunately has a habit of manifesting itself at the worst times. Flynn really hates being corrected. He is a bit awkward meeting women, and his mother is constantly trying to set him up on dates. Over his first 10 years as Librarian, he is too busy globe-trotting and fighting evil to maintain a relationship, and after the deaths of two great loves he stays clear of emotional entanglements until he meets Colonel Eve Baird in the first episode of the TV series.

By the end of the third and last movie, he has fully embraced his destiny as the Librarian. During The Librarians series he is forced to step back from his usual duties when Charlene and Judson displace the Library in time and space in a desperate effort to protect it from evil forces ("And the Crown of King Arthur") Through its Annex, the Library prompts Flynn to track down three people—Ezekiel Jones, Cassandra Cillian and Jacob Stone—whom the Library invited to apply at the same time it recruited Flynn, 10 years before. None of them applied. Once found—and convinced of their callings—they formed a team of Librarians and assumed Flynn's usual responsibilities of retrieving and protecting supernatural artifacts and guarding the Library and humanity from evil, while he dedicates himself to finding the Library and learning how to bring it back. Flynn returns when the situation requires his expertise—or when he needs them.

There is a running joke throughout the series: No matter what the situation, when Flynn announces or introduces himself with the words "I am The Librarian" he is accepted as a person with a right to be there, no matter how inappropriate the context. Cassandra, Ezekial and Jacob try this repeatedly, but it does not always work for them. Flynn then reveals in the beginning of the episode, "And the Curse of Cindy", that he uses magic in order to convince people whenever they question who he is, which momentarily shocked Jacob who despises using magic. In the last episode of The Librarians, it saves the world.

Description

Noah Wyle describes the character as "Indiana Jones played by Don Knotts", and describes his journey as going from someone who was "a professional student ... incredibly comfortable in the realm of academia" to someone who "has a touch of madness about him now, his people skills are wanting, he's very irreverent and very eccentric." As well as acting, Wyle contributed to the writing and directing of episodes of "The Librarians". ^{[6] [7]} Literary Hub rated Flynn Carsen as 18th best fictional librarian. ^[8] Wyle was nominated for Saturn Awards for his portrayal of the character in all three TV movies in 2005, 2007 and 2009. ^[9]

Charlene (Jane Curtin)

Character history

The humorless, no-nonsense library administrator who interviews Flynn for the job of 'The Librarian'. Flynn was granted the position after he was able to tell Charlene very specific things about her only a few minutes after their first meeting, based solely on his keen observation (among them, having mononucleosis, being divorced two months before, owning three cats, and breaking her nose as a child) and after answering a single question from an unseen Judson, "What's more important than knowledge?" with his mother's wise words: "The things that make life worth living can not be thought here (pointing to his head), they must be felt here (hand over heart)."

In her role as administrator, Charlene is a consummate bureaucrat, threatening to dock Flynn's pay should he break something and insisting that he keep his receipts if he wishes to get refunds for the expenses of his adventures. She keeps a straight face when Flynn makes jokes. In her words, she does not "do funny."

In the TV series' first episode, "And the Crown of King Arthur", after Dulaque's attack on the Library, Judson and Charlene cast a spell to sever the Library from this plane in order to protect it.

In the season three episode "And the Fangs of Death", Charlene has retired to a remote Incan temple and wants nothing to do with the Library. Carsen seeks her out, and she agrees to return to help defeat Apep, but the next day her servants are dead and she's missing. Carsen finally finds her in Shangri-La in the episode "And the Fatal Separation". He discovers that she's been hiding among Sterling Lam's collection of supernatural beings and artifacts. Fearing that Apep could use her to access the Library, she's planning on sacrificing herself, severing her connection to it by giving up her immortality. Finally, Jenkins sends her to another plane of existence, where she rejoins Judson. Among her last words is the injunction to keep receipts. In the next episode, she talks with Flynn through a mirror.

Charlene's recent divorce is first mentioned in the movie "The Quest for the Spear", In the movie, "Curse of the Judas Chalice", Charlene reveals more about her divorce, saying her duty to the Library is what cost her her marriage, and revealing that her ex-husband is named Gaston. It is later stated in the episode "And the Fatal Separation" that Jenkins loved her and that she chose Judson. In the episode "And the Eternal Question", Jenkins tells Cassandra that his true love (whom we later find out is Charlene) chose another after he "had already pledged his heart to her for all eternity".

Description

Dean Devlin speculated that Charlene had in her youth served as the Guardian to a Librarian, as Nicole did. This was officially made part of her history in the episode "... and the Fangs of Death."

Judson (Bob Newhart)

Character history

Judson, as he is introduced in the first film, has previously served as 'The Librarian' and now acts as a mentor to those who take up the mantle. He has a tattoo from a time he served in the Marines and is very handy in a fight. He is able to use mirrors, Television screens and a technique resembling astral projection to communicate with the Librarian anywhere in the world, frequently at less-than-convenient times and places. He dies after the third film, five years before the first episode of the TV series. Flynn keeps his portrait, draped with crape, next to his desk. He tells Eve that Judson is still there in spirit; she is shocked to find this to be the simple truth when Judson appears in the full-length mirror that stands near his portrait.

It is hinted in the film Curse of the Judas Chalice that Judson may be the original founder of the Library, although he finds the suggestion that he might be more than 2000 years old "insulting". In season four of the series, however, it is confirmed that he is the original Librarian, that Charlene was his Guardian, and they performed the Tethering ritual that is one of the story arcs in that season. When the Serpent Brotherhood invades the Library, Judson and Charlene conduct a ritual that severs the Library from the physical reality's plane of existence and sends it into the void. Towards the end of season three, Charlene goes to join him into the void after dying. ^[10]

Description

Bob Newhart said he was surprised at the success of the first movie, because of the message "that it's all right to be smart, which is not the most common message in popular culture", and that he loved the script and his character. ^[11]

Margie Carsen (Olympia Dukakis)

Character history

Flynn's mother, Margie, is constantly worried about her son and encourages him to get a job, find a bride, and be happy. She plays MahJong, likes to give surprise birthday parties and enjoys singing karaoke. She was delighted to meet Nicole at the end of the first film. It is revealed in the series premiere of "The Librarians" that she has died and that Judson helped Flynn through his mourning.

Introduced in Quest for the Spear

Edward Wilde (Kyle MacLachlan)

Character history

Edward Wilde was the 'Librarian' before Flynn, and he was considered to be very good. He worked with Nicole for two years during which time she fell in love with him. During an adventure in the Antarctic involving the Serpent Brotherhood, Wilde had to build an igloo to shelter himself and Nicole. He made it appear to Nicole that he had been killed by the Serpent Brotherhood, but in reality Edward staged his own death to ally himself with the Brotherhood in an effort to steal the Spear of Destiny and take control of the world.

Nicole Noone (Sonya Walger, and Rachel Nichols in the TV series)

Character history

Nicole is an adventurer who works for the library as the Librarian's Guardian, and usually serves as the brawn to the Librarian's brains. She is the youngest of three siblings and the only girl. Her mother is English, and her father is South American (Argentine), but she never bothered to learn Spanish. She never had any pets, and her favorite stone is jade (as mentioned in "The Librarian: Quest for the Spear"). She is fearless, loves adventure, and is an excellent fighter. She developed feelings for the previous Librarian, Edward Wilde, and felt an overwhelming sense of guilt when he was apparently killed. Judson told Flynn to "trust no one", a pun of Nicole's surname Noone.

In The Librarians it is revealed that Nicole got trapped five hundred years in the past while going after H.G. Wells' Time Machine with Flynn. She becomes angry and bitter that Flynn never returned from her. Now immortal, Nicole acts as the primary antagonist of the fourth season, causing the death of Jenkins, the dissolution of the Library and a rift between the Librarians. After the Library is restored, Flynn uses an artifact to go back in time to the moment that Nicole first became immortal in order to right his wrong of never going back for her. Flynn convinces Nicole that she needs to remain in the past and still have her adventures, but this time to have them for the Library instead of against it. Nicole agrees, stating that she realizes now she is the Guardian of the Library itself instead of Flynn and promises that she will see Flynn again in five hundred years. When Flynn returns to the future, he finds that time has been altered and all of the evil that Nicole caused has been undone. Only Flynn and Baird ever remember Nicole's evil actions.

Introduced in Return to King Solomon's Mines

"Uncle" Jerry (Robert Foxworth)

Character history

Jerry was a close friend of Flynn's father, whom he met in 1967, He knew both of Flynn's parents when they met and began courting. Jerry is wealthy and runs a global import-export business. In the course of an adventure to discover King Solomon's Mines, Flynn discovers that Jerry had always been jealous of Flynn's father. He wants to use the power of the Mines to turn back time so he can win the affections of Margie Carsen: He feels that she was stolen from him. It turns out Jerry was the unknown figure who shot Flynn's father, after Carsen refused to tell Jerry about the Mines.

Emily Davenport (Gabrielle Anwar)

Character history

Emily is an archaeologist who holds twenty-five degrees, three more than Flynn, and can argue convincingly about ancient history, Biblical texts, and geography. Emily teams up with Flynn to search for King Solomon's Mines, and may still be in Africa trying to prove that the Queen of Sheba actually ruled most, if not all, of Africa.

Introduced in Curse of the Judas Chalice

Professor Lazlo / Vlad (Bruce Davison)

Character history

An elderly, crippled man who is a brilliant professor at the University of Bucharest. Seemingly harmless, he is taken hostage by the villainous Kubichek, who wants Lazlo to lead him to the Judas Chalice. Later it is revealed that he is none other than Dracula/Vlad the Impaler himself. After drinking from a victim infected by Cholera hundreds of years ago, he became weakened, assuming an almost-human, crippled form. Since then, he has searched for the Judas Chalice, hoping to reawaken his evil powers. After drinking from the Judas Chalice, Dracula regains his powers and battles Flynn and Simone Renoir. Flynn is able to trick Dracula with the Judas Chalice and then impale him through the heart with a stake made from an aspen tree, the same kind of tree from which Judas Iscariot hung himself. Dracula dies, releasing the souls of all of his victims and burning to ash in the process.

Simone Renoir (Stana Katic)

Character history

A gorgeous young New Orleans jazz-club singer, who uses her hypnotic performances to charm an off-guard Flynn. Turned into a vampire some 400 years ago, Simone considers it her two-fold destiny to find the man who condemned her soul to walk the night forever and exact vengeance, and to help protect one of the clues leading to the Judas Chalice. She teams up with Flynn to outwit those hoping to find the Chalice and use it for their evil agendas. While protecting the Chalice, Simone recognizes Professor Lazlo as her sire. Lazlo turns out to be Dracula. He restores his powers with the Chalice, leading to a battle between Dracula, Flynn and Simone. Though Simone is defeated, Flynn kills Dracula using a stake made from an aspen tree. With Dracula, her sire, dead, Simone's soul is finally able to find peace. Simone rejects Flynn's offers to return to New York with him or to turn Flynn so that he can spend eternity with her. Instead, Simone chooses to watch the sunrise for the first time in centuries with Flynn, allowing herself to be killed by the sunlight so that she can finally rest in peace.

Sergei Kubichek (Dikran Tulaine)

Character history

A former KGB agent and Secretary of Defense for the Russian Federation, Kubichek longs to restore the order and power of the former Soviet Union. He is the mastermind of a risky plot to secure the Judas Chalice, resurrect Vlad Dracula, and use him to create an army of invincible vampire soldiers. Unfortunately, the plan backfires when Professor Lazlo reveals himself to be Count Dracula and he is vampirized as a result. Nonetheless, he retains his goal to revitalize the Soviet Union. He is later killed by a grenade at the hands of Ivan, who is killed in the process.

Introduced in The Librarians

Eve Baird (Rebecca Romijn)

Character history

A counter-terrorism agent who is selected by the Library as the first Guardian in 10 years. She is generally given her rank and called "Colonel Baird". The source of her first name is revealed in "And Santa's Midnight Run": She was born at midnight on Christmas Eve.

Description

Rebecca Romijn said she was attracted to the role because she "grew up loving Indiana Jones", and was even more "in love with [the series] because of the comic tone" ^[12] Romijn was nominated for Saturn Awards for her portrayal of the character in 2015 and 2016. ^[9]

Jacob Stone (Christian Kane)

Character history

An Oklahoma oil-rigger and genius with an IQ of 190. An autodidact, he has extensive knowledge of ancient and modern history, world cultures, art and architecture (including the relevant sciences). He speaks 9 languages and can read more than a dozen more. He taught himself to read Greek at night, presumably as a child. He has honorary degrees at universities on four continents. He is "the first one they call when they discover a new piece of art and the one they're afraid to call because I'm the best in the world at discovering a fake." For 20 years he has written scholarly works using pseudonyms representing 7 carefully constructed identities, including Dr. Oliver Thompson, James McKelvie, and Griffin Griffould. He was invited to interview for the position of the Librarian 10 years ago (when Flynn was successful), but did not respond to the invitation because he felt obligated to help keep his family's oil-drilling business afloat. He was a "Librarian-in-training", working alongside Ezekiel Jones and Cassandra Cillian, until being promoted at the end of "And the Loom of Fate". He is currently banned from the Vatican Museum for attempting to rearrange the art there while under the influence of the Apple of Discord. In "What Lies Beneath the Stones" he encounters his father, Isaac Stone, sole proprietor of Stone Family Rigging and Pipeline. Isaac has run the business into the ground, partly because of his alcoholism and gambling. Isaac is sexist, shows contempt for Native American culture and cuts corners in dangerous ways. He constantly belittles Jake, who didn't tell his father the truth about himself because he knew that Isaac would see anything less than chasing the family business as a betrayal. The lies Isaac told to get this drilling project going unleashed Okonote, a deadly shapeshifter: "So many lies from one man," the creature says. Jacob reveals himself to his father, who says " You're my son and I love you," and hugs him. Jacob instantly recognizes the shapeshifter, saying that his father would die before he ever told him that. He leaves without confronting his real father, but back at the Library, he changes the byline on the article he is writing to his real name.

Description

Christian Kane noted that he enjoys the physical aspects of the role; "I do all the fighting; I do all my own stunts ... that's my specialty – fighting on camera." ^[13] Kane was nominated for a Saturn Award for his portrayal of the character in 2018. ^[9]

Cassandra Cillian (Lindy Booth)

Character history

A mathematician and scientist with synesthesia - the special gift of auditory and sensory hallucinations linked to memory retrieval. She also has a touch of magic, Cassandra is a rare case with which all five of her senses can be connected to her memories at any given time. Her synesthesia is originally supposed to be caused by a brain tumor, described as being the size of a grape. It is lethal, but it is under control at the beginning of the series. She was invited to interview for the position of Librarian 10 years ago (when Flynn was successful), but was in the hospital at that time. She was a "Librarian-in-training", working alongside Ezekiel Jones and Jacob Stone, from the end of the pilot until being promoted at the end of "And the Loom of Fate".

In "And the Cost of Education" she is intrigued by college life because she was too sick to attend. In that episode, she is pulled into another world where she is invited to join the Lake, a secret organization of women who realized long ago that magic and science would become one. She has seen their forum on line. They offer her the chance to learn, study and grow with them, but she declines to join them because of her loyalty to her work as a Librarian. Jenkins tells her to be on her guard: In the age-old debate about what to do about magic, the Lake has always been "ambitious."

Cassandra reveals to Ezekiel and Jacob in "What Lies Beneath the Stones" that, knowing the tumor will eventually kill her, she has chosen a specific day to die. In the episode "And the Eternal Question" she is forced to have the tumor removed and as a result her mathematical abilities are greatly enhanced, and she gains the power to communicate telepathically.

Description

Lindy Booth was a fan of the Librarian movies before being cast and loves "the sense of humor in the series, which is perfect for families". She said of her character, Cassandra, that she is an "interesting and fascinating girl" and that it was "a challenging part, because she ... seen her whole life as being cursed, and she's never been happy or comfortable with who she is. So to be able to go on this journey and find acceptance for Cassandra in her 20s, and finally feeling like her curse is a gift, was really exciting to me. So I couldn't wait to do that." ^{[14] [15]} Booth was nominated for a Saturn Award for her portrayal of the character in 2016. ^[9]

Ezekiel Jones (John Kim)

Character history

A world-class thief who supposedly looks out for no-one but himself. He is also a "master of technologies." He was invited to attend the interview process to become the 'Librarian' 10 years ago (when Flynn was successful), but he is a loner and decided not to attend the interview because he believed he received the letter by mistake. He was a "Librarian-in-training", working alongside Cassandra Cillian and Jacob Stone, from the end of the pilot until being promoted at the end of "And the Loom of Fate".

Ezekiel and his sisters were raised by their adoptive mother to be thieves. She doesn't take him seriously until "And the Christmas Thief," when the Saint of Thieves compliments Ezekiel on his exploits. She then demands to know where her cut is. He explains that he has used his ill-gotten gains to support charities and help people in need; that is why the Library invited him.

In the season two episode "And What Lies Beneath the Stones," Jones confesses that after his first big score he was recruited by MI6 to use his skills as a thief on behalf of the British government; he is embarrassed about this.

Description

John Kim feels that his character started off as a "young and arrogant rascal", and he matured a little, but he is still "immodest and big-headed" because "it's just part of his nature". ^[16]

Jenkins / Galahad (John Larroquette)

Character history

The new quartet's reluctant, sometimes cantankerous caretaker; he has worked at The Library's branch office, known as 'The Annex', "for longer than anyone knows," and has extensive knowledge of ancient lore. He is seen to have a connection to Dulaque, as revealed in "And the Apple of Discord". It is later explained that they are both immortal because of a spell Dulaque cast 1,000 years earlier after the fall of Camelot. He was known during King Arthur's reign as Sir Galahad, as revealed in "And the Loom of Fate". He has known Morgan le Fay (Alicia Witt) for centuries and considers her to be his archenemy, as he blames her for Arthur's death. In "Some Dude Named Jeff," he confirms that he is the illegitimate son of Lancelot du Lac. In "And The Graves of Time", he gives up his immortality to bring Nicole Noone back to life after she's killed by a revengeful Rasputin. He's at first unprepared to handle the many shortcomings of being an older human, (poor eyesight and hearing, the need to eat) but soon comes to accept that this is his life now for however long that may be. His immortality is returned in "And the Echoes of Memory" when Flynn persuades Nicole to work for the Library instead of against it and thereby changes history.

Description

Larroquette was nominated for a Saturn Award for his portrayal of the character in 2015. ^[9]

Dulaque / Lancelot du Lac (Matt Frewer)

Character history

The mysterious immortal leader of the Serpent Brotherhood. In the episode "...And the Apple of Discord" it is heavily implied that he is either Sir Lancelot du Lac or Sir Hector de Maris when one of the members of the Conclave calls him "The son of Ban". Dulaque was established as Sir Lancelot in the episode "And the Loom of Fate".

Lamia (Lesley-Ann Brandt)

Character history

Dulaque's second-in-command in the Serpent Brotherhood. Believes that bringing magic back and achieving power will allow them to make the world a better place. She is a skilled martial artist and sword fighter. Dulaque kills her in "And the Loom of Fate".

References

1. Creator John Rogers Talks THE LIBRARIANS, Filling the Genre Gaps on TV, Expanding the Movies to a TV Series, and More
2. Minds Alive: Libraries and Archives Now
3. The Laughing Librarian: A History of American Library Humor
4. I've Seen It All at the Library: The View from Behind the Desk
5. Women of Science Fiction and Fantasy Television
6. Noah Wyle interview: The Librarians, ER, playing Steve Jobs By Louisa Mellor, October 30, 2015
7. Noah Wyle Inks Deal To Return To ‘The Librarians’, Will Make His Writing Debut By Nellie Andreeva, March 30, 2016
8. 50 Fictional Librarians, Ranked
9. IMDB: The Librarians Awards
10. Newhart’s alive and well in “The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice” By Rick Bentley, December 5, 2008
11. The Librarian's Bob Newhart Reflects on His Own Recorded History By Anthony Layser Dec. 1, 2006
12. Rebecca Romijn on ‘The Librarians,’ Women Who Kick Butt, and the Sci-Fi Genre By Rebecca Murray November 17, 2014
13. The Librarians Season 4: Christian Kane on Jake’s Evolution By Dave Vitagliano, January 2, 2018
14. Interview: Lindy Booth Talks The Librarians (Exclusive) By Karen Benardello, December 8, 2014
15. A Conversation with Lindy Booth About ‘The Librarians’ Season 4, by Karen Walsh, December 13, 2017
16. The Librarians season 4: John Kim on the rise of Ezekiel Jones by Brittany Frederick, 20 Dec 2017