The Librarians: Review: Series 1 Episode 8

…and the Heart of Darkness

The Librarians must come to the aid of a group trapped inside a haunted house…

The TV version of The Librarian franchise has tapped many different formats in its eight episodes to date, but this is the first time it’s really gone for full-out horror, as the team find themselves in the archetypal haunted house. Writer Geoffrey Thorne sets up a situation where every single cliché of the genre can legitimately be used, and goes to town with them, providing the best episode so far, and one that raises the bar for what we expect of this show. He doesn’t neglect the characterisation either: Cassandra’s frustration and subsequent actions ring true – as do Ezekiel’s once he’s removed from the action – and it’s appropriate that the final confrontation between a Librarian and someone representing Death is carried by the person who lives with death every day.

Actors respond to good material, and there are some terrific moments from all of the regulars, as well as from the main guest star Lea Zawada, who has to turn on a dime in certain scenes. It’s atmospherically directed by John Harrison, who joins Thorne in mining some of the genre conventions – to the extent that you may find yourself peering through your fingers at some of the scenes.

Verdict: A different sort of episode, but one that hangs together very well. 9/10

Paul Simpson