The Librarians and the Magic App

Season 1, Episode 7: “And the Rule of Three”

Weird things are happening related to Chicago’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Fair, including a Newton’s cradle that defies gravity and a really spectacular volcano eruption from a less-than spectacular display. After the Clippings book reveals that a series of top competing students have come down with mystery ailments and dropped out of the competition, the Librarians, posing as judges, show up to investigate.

I don't know, people ALWAYS underestimate librarians. But why are the real ones apparently Late? #TheLibrarians

— Sarah Uthoff (@Trundlebedtales) January 12, 2015

Every time something odd happens, the fair’s corporate sponsor, Lucinda McCabe (Alicia Witt), interjects a few lame excuses to calm the crowd, but the Librarians aren’t buying it.  As Cassandra and Ezekiel look for something out of place, Jenkins shows up, clearly suspecting something is afoot. He tells Cassandra and Ezekiel to look for a coven — the pattern of three.

As the Librarians encounter several cliques of students, they work their way through the suspects, including a threesome of Goth students, without much to show for the effort. The upside: they have an opportunity to reveal to us more about themselves throughout the program.

Jacob gives some sage advice to Dashell, one of the Goth crowd, who adores top STEM fair contender Amy (Arrow‘s Bex Taylor-Klaus), but has all but given up on her. As he talks with Dashell, Jacob shares a nice bit of poetry from Lord Byron (“one of the original bad-ass Goth-boosters from the early 1800’s”). Jacob delivers a nice bit of advice to this young man about not giving up, and in return, learns a lot about Amy and her competitors at the fair, to see who might be causing all of the malicious mayhem.

Gasp. He’s quoting Lord Byron! Faints! #TheLibrarians

— Karma's Knockin (@karmic9) January 12, 2015

https://twitter.com/jaimecallahan/status/554449232426729473

They discover Amy’s phone with an unusual app, so they take the phone to investigate it. Hmm…magic: is there an app for that? It just so happens that there is. They find an “enriched fulfillment” spell embedded in an app with a very advanced code, but the usage log reveals that Amy has never used the app; it just didn’t feel right to her.

https://twitter.com/Sesker9/status/554451810799599616

https://twitter.com/ewillse/status/554444664242057217

Cassandra talks with Amy and shares her story of being driven by her parents to achieve their dream of excellence, only to drop out after the pressure to excel became more important to her parents than her happiness. Amy, who is a driven contestant with an over-protective, over-driven mother, realizes that her life is not balanced.

wolverine of mothers… yeeeah… *steps back a few steps* You creepy me out lady XD #TheLibrarians

— Mindy Miles (@MindyM79) January 12, 2015

Amy explains that the app was a gift from her mother, who got it from some online parents forum. The team realizes that any number of students trying to get ahead might have this app, and they set out to investigate the rest of the contestants. Ezekiel hacks the app’s website and finds 27 users at the STEM Fair (3 x 3 x 3: the rule of three, thrice over), which would increase the spell’s power exponentially, or as Baird puts it: this is an “accidental super-coven”.

I love the word "thrice"#TheLibrarians

— https://www.threads.net/@bex_tk (@IBexWeBex) January 12, 2015

Basically, if all of the students are using the spell against each other, they are creating a giant negative feedback loop that will release a bunch of energy, very fast and in an uncontrolled manner.  Yep, folks: an explosion.

Hogwarts app. I'd pay $1.99 for that. #TheLibrarians

— Hannakin (@HJad_victoriam) January 12, 2015

Meanwhile, Miss McCabe wanders away from the auditorium and steps through a door into the Library Annex, where she seems pleased to find this mysterious room that doesn’t belong there, and Jenkins, whom she recognizes, standing in the middle of it. The Arthurian legend is furthered in this episode by the reveal that Miss McCabe is actually Morgan le Fay, and she refers to Jenkins as Galeas. Is this Galahad? Talk about having a long history!

Well now we know who Jenkins is. http://t.co/v8MFT9w2h5 #TheLibrarians

— Fezzy is ready for a nap (@ItsAFez66) January 12, 2015

@johnlarroquette so much conveyed in two words and those faces – Oh My. #TheLibrarians

— Jamie Crumley (@jlc4310) January 12, 2015

Morgan is behind the app, having had it developed in order for her stay young by skimming the magic off the top of the mayhem it creates. Baird tries to shoot her; however, the bullets stop in mid air. Morgan has used the app to create a home-field advantage for herself.

To avert the energy that is building up in the auditorium, Cassandra convinces Amy that magic is real and enlists her help to create a makeshift Faraday cage from a metal table in Amy’s booth.

That little "magic is real"
Moment between @IBexWeBex and @LindyBooth is one of my faves if the season #TheLibrarians

— John Rogers (@jonrog1) January 12, 2015

Ezekiel makes the rounds to pick-pocket as many of the phones with the evil app as possible, taking them out of service so that the energy is not as concentrated. Meanwhile, Baird uses the app to wish for the ability to kick Morgan’s butt and to Morgan’s surprise (and our delight), she delivers an amazing left jab to Morgan’s mouth, followed by a nice head butt.

@RebeccaARomijn kicking sorceress butt! @aliciawitty is delicious as Morgan LeFay, but go Col Baird!!! #TheLibrarians @LibrariansTNT

— Becky Szymcik (@BexxSz) January 12, 2015

As the energy builds in the auditorium, Baird must make a choice to help the team save the students or capture Morgan while she still has the advantage. Jacob marks off a large pentagram for the Faraday cage, Amy encourages everyone to the middle for safety as part of an “impromptu experiment,” and Baird leaves Morgan to join them as one of the five pentagram points needed to channel the energy away from the crowd using the legs of the metal table.

Morgan Le Fay, having tapped into the vast amount of energy released, transports Baird and herself to another dimension to taunt Baird about how her decision to save the students allowed Morgan to escape and hide in safety from the world’s “impending doom.” Before she leaves, Morgan gives Baird a message for Jenkins. She then disappears to her own safety, returning Baird to the real world and its fate. I hate to admit it, but I was really looking forward to an advanced aging session at Morgan’s demise. Alas, it was not to be…at least, not this week.

I don't think I've ever seen @aliciawitty in antagonist role. It's kinda freaking me out how good she is at it. #TheLibrarians

— Lee Ann L (@LeeAnn_KY) January 12, 2015

Amy, who has ditched her protective mom and is now holding hands with the new beau, takes the heat for the Faraday cage and is disqualified for her “blatant lack of safety,” and the first prize goes to the kid with the simple volcano (who was clearly the only other student besides Amy who did NOT use the app to get ahead). The award, is of course, granted by our impostor judges from the Library.

BTW, we are avail to judge any Science Fairs out there #TheLibrarians

— Rebecca Romijn (@RebeccaRomijn) January 12, 2015

Ezekiel has a few nice moments with Cassandra in this episode, and after the day is saved, he presents a trophy to her for her excellence in “Mathemagics.” (Yes, he stole the trophy, but he assures her that she earned it.)

The message from Morgan to Jenkins is translated: “do not fear the villain, fear the hero.” Jenkins is furious with Baird for saving the students rather than ending Morgan when she had the chance. This episode ended on a bleak note as he angrily warns Baird, “The end is coming — learn how to fight the war instead of just winning the battles.”

So, at the end, the students are alive, but the cost was letting Morgan le Fay free to run. Morgan, Jenkins and Dulaque all have shared history, and in this episode, Jenkins is identified as Galeas, (possibly Galahad), leaving us to wonder if Dulaque is Lancelot du Lac of the King Arthur stories. The unanswered questions: who might be the hero to be feared, and just exactly what war is coming?

https://twitter.com/RC_Art/status/554455890485870592

Tune in next week for another double episode to end the season and hopefully answer many questions, as the Librarians tackle the City of Light and the Loom of Fate.

[Show web site on TNT]    [The Librarians and the Fables of Doom]