The highly anticipated second season of TNT’s family fantasy series, The Librarians: The Next Chapter, is set to premiere on August 2, bringing with it a new wave of magical adventures and character developments.

At the heart of this season is Vikram, a librarian from 1847, played by Callum McGowan, who finds himself transported to the modern day. This pivotal character, along with his teammates Lysa, Connor, and Charlie, will continue to protect mythological artifacts and battle supernatural forces in a world that is both familiar and foreign.

According to McGowan, Vikram’s journey is one of self-discovery and adaptation, as he grapples with the trauma of being ripped from his home and the realization that he may never return. ‘God bless his heart, he has been through a lot of trauma,’ McGowan explained in a phone interview, ‘with being ripped from his home and then the realization that he’ll never be able to go home and missing the birth of his son and missing a lot of his life, incredibly.’

As Vikram navigates his new reality, he must confront his own ego and learn to work with others, particularly Lysa, who was revealed at the end of Season 1 to be his great-great-great-great-granddaughter. ‘He’s going against his natural ego to do it alone and we see him kind of progressing to that new role throughout the series, especially with his relationship with Lysa,’ McGowan said. ‘We see that grow and him take on those responsibilities more and more.’

The introduction of a new character, wizard Merlin, played by Dominic Monaghan, adds a fresh dynamic to the show, allowing Vikram and the Librarians to confront their greatest fears and develop trust and affection for each other. ‘You’ll see from the first episode of the new season. We all admit to ourselves our greatest fears and you’ll see those fears played out throughout the series,’ McGowan teased.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Librarians: The Next Chapter is the cast’s real-life connection and camaraderie. As they worked together in Serbia, they formed a found family, bonding over their shared experiences and becoming close friends. ‘We met as strangers at the beginning of this process and we played that out kind of life in the show itself,’ McGowan recalled. ‘Coming back to the second season, we found ourselves being reunited as a family and living together again. We live in each other’s pockets when we’re out there. We spend so much time together. It’s amazing.’

McGowan’s passion for the show and his co-stars is evident in his words, as he expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to work with his friends every day. ‘We still talk as it is, but we have that mutual respect and love for one another that I think really comes out on screen,’ he said. ‘I’m so beyond humbled by the fact that I get to play with my friends every day and we’re there for each other.’

The Librarians franchise has a rich history, dating back to 2004 with a trilogy of TV movies starring Noah Wyle. Wylie also served as an executive producer on both The Next Chapter and The Librarians, a TV series that followed the movies and ran for four seasons from 2014 through 2017.