Returning tonight on Syfy for its second season, The Librarians has seen some huge success and is looking to delve deeper into the story than ever before with a whole batch of new episodes.
We got the chance to chat to series star Noah Wyle about the show, what viewers can expect going forward and more - find out what he had to say below...
What can viewers expect from the new series of The Librarians on Syfy?
More hilarity, more adventures, new bad guys and exciting plot lines... just about everything you'd expect!
How was it balancing directing and acting in the show?
I directed the first episode we filmed, but it actually airs as the fifth episode of the season. I really enjoyed it. It's less intimidating than you might think to direct and act. It wasn't as schizophrenic as it seems, it was really easy in a sense. Challenging but with a really talented crew around you, it felt like I was working with an excellent safety net.
What was it about the show and role that made you want to get involved?
I liked the character's fallibility and sense of humour. I liked the tone of the show, I liked that it was promoting a message of literacy and education and that you could be a hero and your strongest muscle could be your brain, rather than your biceps. I liked that it was a physically comedic character and allowed me to stretch some different muscles than I'd been doing on ER.
What's the chemistry like with the actors on set?
It's good! We work really long hours and have a tremendously large workload for the amount of time we have to film it in, so while we do enjoy each other's company and laugh a lot, there isn't really time for a lot of frivolity on set.
The show was the highest rated cable show when it launched last year; how did that feel?
It was very gratifying.
And at the end of the last season, the library was damaged and pulled back into a dangerous world. What repercussions does that have going forward?
We pick up almost right where we left off. There are repercussions from the library being extended out into another dimension, and that comes into play in the episode I directed. Something was seriously wrong with the library and [it] almost becomes a character itself. Its wellbeing as an organic entity becomes one of the pivotal focus points for this season.
Where would you like to take your character in the future?
I think he's been on a slow descent into madness and the longer you're the librarian, the more of a toll it takes on you psychologically. Both in terms of keeping continuity and also enjoying the challenge of trying to pace with that, I'd like to see him become even more eccentric.
We also know you from Falling Skies, how did you find the response to that show's finale?
I wasn't really aware of it. I watched the finale after it aired. I make a point of not logging into websites that give spoilers. I haven't really had a chance to gauge the feeling yet.
I was grateful to have the opportunity to write the ending. So many times in television, you get cancelled arbitrarily as a result of your ratings in the off season and you don't have an opportunity to really script your ending which can leave it an unsatisfying situation for both participants and the audience. Being able to go back and give an ending to that story felt great.
You've been connected to a new series called Adoptable, can you tell us anything about your role?
It's a web series that a friend of mine called Scott Lowell is putting together. He asked me to do a cameo playing an exaggerated version of myself. It's very funny!
Can you comment at all on the ER reunion rumours?
It's been so long since we've all been together. The chances of an ER show or special, I think are probably very slim.
The Librarians returns tonight, Monday 2 November at 8pm on Syfy.