Ever heard of the Unusually Uninteresting Sight trope? It's when the residents of Sunnydale don't see anything remarkable when vampires run around killing people. Or as here, when gaping rifts open in the fabric of reality and giant attack tentacles reach through, and no one reacts.

This behavior is practically lampshaded in The Librarians Season 2 Episode 4, and honestly, it's pretty hilarious. Actually, there's a lot of hilarious about this episode, but let's start with this Librarians quote:

Mindy the Cheerleader: I still don't get why Peter left, though. Oh! Maybe he found where the volleyball team ended up after that away game. All we found was a bus full of empty clothes. Great prank, huh?
Cassandra: Prank, terrifying conundrum...

• Permalink: Prank, terrifying conundrum...

Everyone was apparently so used to the weird on this campus that they thought it was totally normal for one in five students and faculty members to just up and vanish without warning.

I couldn't help but crack up as Jake and Ezekiel drove around in the golf cart with Ezekiel having to spout off how awesome he is to get the attention of the ego-monster. There's always more awesome to Ezekiel, apparently.

(Pay attention to the random extras in the background during this scene. No one even pauses when monstrous tentacles appear through magical rifts!)

Of course, there is something incredibly depressing in that it was all but confirmed that Lucy was the only survivor of all those missing people, including the brilliant (if egotistical) architecture professor. Well, at least they closed the rift...?

The professor's disappearance did give Jake a chance to show off his knowledge of architecture. The way he took over the class was really rather funny. Surprisingly, Christian Kane apparently studied art history in college for awhile! Who knew?

Frankly, I thought what Cassandra did, going through the rift to rescue Lucy, was pretty idiotic. Isn't this exactly the sort of thing that Guardians are supposed to keep Librarians from doing? Anyone surprised that the ego-monster didn't immediately pop up and grab Cassandra for that?

Cassandra ended up being saved by the surprise appearance of Beth Riesgraf as a member of the Lake. The Lake is apparently a group of women who understand and appreciate both science and magic and they wanted to recruit Cassandra to their number.

Jenkins cautioned Cassandra about the Lake's ambitions. Anyone sensing a deeper connection between the man formerly known as Galahad and the (cough) Lady of the Lake?

There was an underlying theme in this episode of choice and responsibility. Lucy was responsible for summoning the ego-monster (albeit unintentionally), while the Librarians were (at least partially) responsible for the magic loose in the world.

Magic is out there! More and more regular people are coming into contact with it. We can't just keep boxing it up and pretending it's swamp gas!

Eve

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At the end of the episode, Cassandra pointedly told Jenkins that regardless of what happened next, she chose to remain with the Library despite the Lake's offer. (Something tells me, by the way, we haven't seen the last of them.) As Librarians, they have a great deal of responsibility – saving the world is not all fun and games. 

Ultimately, this really was Cassandra's story, as the previous episode was Jake's. Here, she acted in a very confident manner that showed a great deal of character growth from how she initially appeared. She's evolved from merely trying to protect herself to look beyond her own needs:

You want to know the most important thing I've learned being a Librarian? It's that there's a difference between doing what's best, and doing what's right.

Cassandra

• Permalink: You want to know the most important thing I've learned being a Librarian? It's that there's a...

Though I don't necessarily agree with her choice to dive through a rift in the fabric of reality into a Lovecraftian nightmare realm, it was a big step forward for her character-wise. Even Jenkins was given food for thought by the end.

A few assorted thoughts before I turn this over to you, my fellow fans:

• Beth Riesgraf is a former co-star of Christian Kane on Leverage, though they did not, alas, share any scenes in this episode.
• Ezekiel's "pet" gargoyle, Stumpy, was reminiscent of the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who, albeit much more friendly and definitely funnier. Ah, Stumpy, we hardly knew ye!
• Anyone who's watched The Flash would know that particle accelerators are Bad News.
• The motto of the university was Appareat Diabolus Ignis, which if my knowledge of Latin is any good means something like "let the devilish fire appear." I wonder if that would psych Michigan...

So, what did you think of "And the Cost of Education"? Do you miss Flynn? Did Cassandra make the right choice to rescue Lucy? What do you think of the Lake and their agenda? Let us know in the comments section below!

The Librarians Season 2 Episode 5, "And the Hollow Men," is slated to air on Sunday, November 22, 2015 at 8/7c on TNT. Relive all the witty banter and exciting adventure when you watch The Librarians online right here at TV Fanatic!