The Librarians: And the Infernal Contract focusses on Colonel Baird (Rebecca Romijn) and features John de Lancie (best known for his recurring role as the omnipotent Q in Star Trek) and as a variation on his career defining character, instead of portraying an all powerful being, he, in essence, the devil. The urge to “be cute” with the show’s theme, “The Devil is in the Deal” may be the best one, as Baird not only comes to the rescue, but learns her true purpose as “guardian” of the librarians.
The episode begins with a young lady running from some unseen menace. She ends up in a hotel room where a burning hole appears in the ceiling to suck the women up and out of her sanctuary. Colonel Baird is in the town, visiting an old colleague and friend, and the librarians show up after being directed to the place by the library’s clippings.
Before John de Lancie shows up, each of the librarians have a chance to do a few comic turns. Lindy Booth does a Charlotte La Bouff impression (from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog 2009) when she squeakily refers to John Larroquette’s caretaker as “Big Daddy,” and Christian Kane does an English accent.
Comic turns aside the plot can be seen as variation on The Devil and Daniel Webster or even Faust. Nods to classic tales of “soul selling” and deals with the devil aside, Romijn’s character explains to her friend, former Captain Denning (Michael Trucco), that “magic is real” and that the librarians are there to control it.
A small town politician, Jefferson Keating (Matt Nolan) is running against Denning for mayor, and he has signed a contract with “Mr. Sesselman” who has set up contracts with the politician’s family for decades. Each Keating signatory has been successful at the price of a major catastrophe in the town.
The librarians learn of Sesselman and go to retrieve the contract and save the town from the latest disaster which will affect the burg’s citizens.
This week’s episode was one that defined the characters of both Eve Baird and Ezekiel Jones. It is pointed out by Jake Stone (Kane) that Jones is turning into a good guy versus the thief he was before. Jenkins points out that Baird is not there to save the librarians’ lives but their souls. It is also pointed out, somewhat fittingly by Ezekiel, that “The colonel sees the good in everyone.”
It is always a treat to see award winning actor John de Lancie on any program. The performer has been on several different versions of the Star Trek verse and, on an interesting note, another Star Trek alumnus Jonathan Frakes (Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation where de Lancie played Q eight times through the series’ seven seasons) directs this particular episode.
Before the end credits roll, Baird saves, Jake, Cassandra and Ezekiel as well as her old friend Sam. Jenkins turns out to be far from just an eccentric caretaker and more of a formidable foe, for Sesselman, at least on a temporary basis, although it is Eve that defeats the “devil.”
The Librarians continues to be a show that specializes in family fun and entertainment that does not rely upon gore or gratuitous violence to make a show that is a must see for a Sunday evening on TNT. This episode left the running storyline of Prospero and Moriarty, as well as Carson Flynn (Noah Wyle) out of the proceedings.
Rather interestingly, Jenkins reveals that Eve is there not to protect the librarians from dying, but she is, instead, there to keep them from falling for the temptation of the facility itself and the magic it contains. He tells Baird that Flynn’s predecessor did not die, he was lost to the library’s magic.
Tune in on Sunday for G rated entertainment on TNT and enjoy the magic of the show and its cast.
Brilliant description of a fun show! Totally agree!
Although I’m a bit partial to Lindy Booth meself…LOLOL
Wonderful and whimiscal show . Can’t get enough of The Librarians and Christian Kane as Jake stone! Hope it runs for many seasons to come