The premiere episode of "The Librarians: The Next Chapter" unfolds in Belgrade, Serbia, during the year 1847. Here stands Vikram, a magnetic figure accompanied by the formidable General Gregor. Four sorcerers, cloaked in dark robes, effortlessly shift massive boulders, revealing the entrance to a hidden cave. Together, they venture deep beneath the earth's surface.
Gregor's eyes gleam with lust as he beholds the Sword of Mars, an artifact rumored to be infused with the power of the Roman God of War. Possessing this blade, he vows to reshape Europe in his own image. Yet, Vikram reveals his true colors, declaring himself the new librarian. Bound by an oath to the library, he is dedicated to safeguarding such potent magical relics from falling prey to malevolent hands. This dramatic moment serves as an enlightening introduction to the intricacies of magic within this universe, especially when Vikram draws forth the Scarab of Horus. This ancient artifact possesses the incredible ability to freeze its target in time, and indeed, Vikram finds himself ensnared by its power.
Fortunately, rescue comes from an unlikely quarter – none other than Jacob Stone, the librarian of our own era. Tasked with overseeing Vikram, Jacob finds himself confronted with a rebellious and rule-breaking ancestor. Vikram blithely disregards all established protocols, including the dire warning that tampering with the timeline could spark another catastrophic apocalypse. Jacob, Cassie, and their comrades have already weathered more than their fair share of such existential crises!
Vikram remains unyielding in his pursuit, driven solely by his longing to reunite with his beloved Anya. With a heart racing, he dashes towards the castle, desperate to uncover the path back to her side. Along his urgent journey, he encounters two fresh faces joining their ranks: Connor Green, a podcasting genius historian, and an avid "spectral snoop," who has dedicated his time to unraveling the mysteries of the library's artifacts. Despite losing his job due to his relentless chase of what many dismiss as a mere conspiracy theory, Connor stands firm in his conviction, believing he is on the brink of discovery.
Introduced alongside Connor is Lysa Pascal, a brilliant scientific prodigy and the new inheritor of the castle, which also happens to be the ancient home of the enigmatic library. Adding an eerie twist to her narrative is a portrait stunningly resembling her, discovered in the castle's basement (later revealed to be Vikram's cherished Anya), along with the mysterious disappearance of a realtor.
Vikram's fervent wish to restore the library intersects with Connor and Lysa's own quests when he unleashes magic upon the world. They find themselves abruptly transported within the newly manifested Annex, a mysterious realm intricately linked to the Library itself. Amidst their awe and disbelief, the pair inadvertently touches the Kraljevic stone, unwittingly summoning the formidable spirit of the Drekavac. Oops, indeed!
Jacob Stone is less than pleased upon discovering this mishap. Despite temporarily halting the monstrous creature in the hallway, the battle is far from concluded. The Drekavac lies in ambush, regaining its strength for another onslaught. It now falls upon this trio of spirited individuals to track down the beast before it's too late, the stakes higher than ever before in this gripping saga.
As Vikram and his scrying glass led the way, they took a brief detour to a church to procure Holy Water, a necessity they believed would quell the beast's rampage. Little did they know that the creature had already unleashed havoc upon the city. Fortunately, they were rescued by Charlie Cornwall, the guardian of the new librarian, who arrived in a blaze of glory on her motorcycle, swiftly sending the monster into retreat.
However, a new dilemma arose. The Drekavac had possessed the body of a human, necessitating a careful quest to identify and contain the beast without ending the life of its innocent host. Thanks to Connor's and Lysa's specialized knowledge, they traced the entity to the Lynch family, residing on the fringes of Belgrade.
Unfortunately, the address was also the lair of the cult of Gregor's Hammer, marked by their ominous sigil, tying everything back to the episode's inception. Charlie and Vikram rushed in, anticipating a fierce battle... only to find the place abuzz with a heavy-metal band setting up their equipment. As they scrambled to locate Lynch, the band's lead singer, Jacob was engrossed in his efforts to seal the Well, which was now swirling with errant magic at the castle.
That evening, Vikram and the others were immersed in the thunderous beats of heavy metal at the venue. Alas, at such volumes, the Drekavac's cries could potentially infect the 300 attendees. Connor and Lysa volunteered as bait, intending to lure out the creature and douse it in Holy Water when it revealed itself. But their plan faltered; the Holy Water seemed ineffective, and they lost the scrying glass in the fray.
Eventually, within the labyrinthine tunnels beneath the earth's surface, armed with freshly unearthed Holy Water, the group succeeds in immobilizing the Drekavac in its tracks. The creature starts to weep, which sparks Vikram into devising a resolution. He comprehends that they must expiate the beast's sins by consecrating it with its own tears and subsequently administering a baptism. This ritual, he believes, will grant the creature an eternal slumber. The plan proves successful, as Lynch is liberated from the Drekavac's clutches, and the scars that once adorned Connor and Lysa's hands vanish without a trace.
With Jacob's newly conjured teleportation door, the group eventually returns to the safety of the library. However, after Vikram unleashes the magic into the ether, Jacob expresses his apprehension that this potent force may have traversed vast distances, potentially impacting countless artifacts across the ages. Vikram steps forward to take responsibility and offers to assist, with Lysa and Connor joining him for their own unique reasons, forming the nascent librarian trio.
As they depart on their mission, a revelation unfolds: Anya is revealed to be Gregor's fiancée. To add to the intrigue, the members of Lynch's band, aided by the scrying glass, locate Gregor. He materializes from within a painting, bursting forth with a manic laugh. Oh dear!
