Josh Gates, host of Discovery Channel's Expedition Unknown, guest-starred as himself in The Librarians: The Next Chapter's September 6 episode, marking a rare crossover for TNT's fantasy drama.
TL;DR
- Gates played himself in the episode "And What Dreams May Come," which aired Sunday, September 6, on TNT.
- The same hour brought back Dominic Monaghan as Merlin, part of a starry season 2 guest list.
- Season 2 leans heavily British, also featuring Jeremy Swift, Oliver Dench and Ty Tennant.
- The show still has no confirmed UK broadcast or streaming home.
Who is Josh Gates, and why is he suddenly in a fantasy show?
Gates has spent close to two decades in reality television. He started as a story producer on Destination Truth before hosting Expedition Unknown and its spin-offs, Expedition Files and Expedition X, according to Collider.
He also fronted a short-lived talk show early in the Covid-19 pandemic. That real-world, relic-hunting persona made him an unusual but fitting fit for a series built around magical artifacts.
Scripted dramas recruiting outside names for a ratings jolt isn't new — see the final season of From leaning on its horror-mystery pedigree to close things out on its own terms.
What happens in 'And What Dreams May Come'
Gates guest-starred as himself in the episode "And What Dreams May Come," which aired Sunday night on TNT, according to Collider. TNT's official synopsis describes a distress call from Merlin that leads the Librarians to a town where the entire population has mysteriously fallen asleep.
Dominic Monaghan — the British actor best known for playing Merry in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Charlie on Lost — reprises his role as Merlin in the same episode.
A season leaning hard on British star power
Season 2's expanded guest list is unusually stacked with UK talent. Alongside Monaghan, it includes Jeremy Swift, known for Ted Lasso and Downton Abbey, plus Oliver Dench of Hotel Portofino and Ty Tennant, who plays a young Aegon in House of the Dragon. Tennant is also the adopted son of Doctor Who star David Tennant.
Jason Sarlanis, president of Turner Networks, said the network has always stood for "big, bold adventure," and that this season pushes further into unfamiliar territory with new guest stars, according to a press release from Warner Bros. Discovery.
Despite the star power, the show still has no confirmed UK broadcast or streaming deal. As of the most recent reporting, The Librarians: The Next Chapter remains unavailable on any major UK platform, according to WhatToWatch. UK viewers have generally needed a VPN to watch it live via a US TNT login, according to Reelgood.
Why the crossover matters for the franchise
Nearly 13 million viewers Source: VitalThrills, citing TNT's season one premiere data
The Librarians: The Next Chapter premiered in May 2025 and became cable's top-rated new drama debut that year. Season 2 has kept chasing that momentum with a steady run of high-profile guest spots, of which Gates is the most unexpected yet.
Showrunner Dean Devlin said the crossover feels less like a guest cameo and more like two different shows colliding, told to TVInsider. That framing extends naturally to Gates, whose real-world exploring reputation blurs the same line between reality television and scripted fiction.
The strategy mirrors a broader casting trend across network TV this year, including Grey's Anatomy's James Wolk addition for season 23 after two long-running stars departed.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed September 7, 2026.
