If you’re a fan of Godzilla, Mothra, King Kong, and all the other amazing kaiju in the Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse, you’re going to want to watch this.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Apple TV’s newest addition to its show list, is much more than just a standalone show. It is a key piece in the larger puzzle of Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse. This incredible and fun cinematic universe has been weaving together the tales of legendary monsters like Godzilla and King Kong for a while now with movies, creating fun and thrilling interconnected stories.
The MonsterVerse has been expanding steadily, with each new movie and now this series adding layers of depth and complexity to an already fascinating and immersive world. It has carved out a unique niche in the world of cinematic universes, focusing on a blend of human drama and insanely destructive monster battles. It’s a world where the awe-inspiring and the terrifying coexist, bringing to life every kaiju fan’s dream, and paving the way to making new kaiju fans – my own kiddos have become obsessed with the show. They even have their own theories.
LoM has the potential to expand the MonsterVerse even further. By going deeper into the lore, backstories, and secret dealings of the organization known as Monarch, the show promises to add a new dimension to the ongoing story. It’s an opportunity to explore what happens behind the scenes in a world regularly visited by giant monsters. I am personally excited to see how this series will tie into the larger narrative, and how it will set the stage for even more future content in the MonsterVerse.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters kicks off with a tantalizing tease that subverts expectations. This Godzilla-centric series promises more than just city-stomping action. Instead, the first two episodes lay the groundwork for a narrative that’s rich in character development and suspense, albeit light on the kaiju action.
Let’s talk about these first two episodes, shall we?
Episode 1: “Aftermath”
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters opens with a flashback to 1973’s Skull Island. We see John Goodman’s Kong: Skull Island character, Bill Randa, writing a cryptic message for an unnamed friend, hinting at a significant, possibly regretful decision. This opener sets a tone of mystery and anticipation for the show, which stays on point for the entirety of the series so far. The scene ends with Bill throwing a Monarch-logoed satchel into the sea, a moment that connects past and present and fuels the episode’s plot.
Fast forward to 2015, where we meet Cate Randa in Tokyo, having to deal with the complex web of her father’s life (understatement of the year – I really hate the guy so far). Cate’s journey is packed with emotional struggles, exploring post-Godzilla Tokyo with a very realistic side of PTSD, complete with public warnings and conspiracy theories. The portrayal of a city living in the shadow of kaiju terror adds realism and dread to the show’s setting.
Cate’s encounter with her father’s secret family is a very important moment, combining personal drama with the overall MonsterVerse mystery. Her interactions with Emiko (the “other woman”, or “the original”, not sure yet) and Kentaro (her half-brother), her newly discovered family members, are filled with tension and unspoken questions, setting up a compelling dynamic for future episodes and completely reeling the viewers in.
The discovery of Randa’s thrown satchel, from the opening scene, in Hiroshi’s secret office marks a pivotal point in the episode. The contents of the satchel – data storage tapes bearing the Monarch logo – tie Cate’s personal narrative to the larger Monsterverse. Her determination to uncover the truth, aided by Kentaro and “May”, a hacker with a complicated past (another understatement of the year), gives us all a sense urgency and suspense.
The episode seamlessly combines personal drama with the looming presence of Monarch and its monsters. The moment the data from the tapes is decrypted it triggers an alert at Monarch and escalates the tension to a whole new level. This introduces us to the… very interesting Monarch staffer, Tim, whose intentions are initially unclear.
The episode also takes us to 1959 Kazakhstan, where Dr. Keiko Mira, a younger version of Bill Randa, and Lee Shaw (played by Wyatt Russell) are on a mission to prove a groundbreaking theory. Their discovery of a MUTO egg nursery is a thrilling moment, linking past and present events in the MonsterVerse. The episode ends with a shot of Keiko falling back into a pile of baby MUTOs as neither Bill nor Lee are able to grab her in time.
RIP, Keiko. Most badass monster hunter lady, ever.
This episode masterfully combines multiple timelines, personal drama, and the overarching mystery of the MonsterVerse right off the bat. I was a little concerned as how the personal drama might take away from the monsters (don’t lie, you’re only watching this because 1) Kurt Russel, and 2) DESTRUCTION. Just me? Oh.)
The touch of human stories with the looming threat of monsters creates a relatable yet improbable plot, which makes for an intriguing show. This first episode sets the stage for deeper explorations into the characters’ connections to the MonsterVerse, promising more thrilling developments and revelations in the episodes to come.
Episode 2: “Departure”
In the words of my 6-year-old twins, “WHERE IS GODZILLA?! IT MAKES NO SENSE, MOMMY!”
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters continues to play coy with Godzilla’s presence in its second episode. Unlike the expected city-smashing extravaganza we’re all here for and used to, the series seems to be taking a more subtle approach. We get only glimpses of Godzilla through flashbacks, hinting at future action but keeping the mighty kaiju mostly off-screen for now, much to my sadness. This is an interesting choice, suggesting that when Godzilla does actually appear, it’ll be worth the wait.
Please make it worth the wait, Apple TV.
This episode takes a deeper dive into the past, focusing on a flashback to 1952. Here, we meet three key characters, who we already met in the previous episode and are now seeing meet each other for the first time: Lee Shaw, a soldier (who was perfectly cast – having Wyatt Russell play the younger version of his own father’s character made for fantastic immersion); Keiko, a Japanese scientist; and Billy Randa, a cryptozoologist (thank you, spellcheck).
Them meeting was a one-in-a-million chance: Lee is assigned to guard Keiko as a punishment for a bar fight, and he’s initially skeptical about a woman being a scientist. This is also where I had to explain WWII to my two six-year-olds, who didn’t understand why Lee was skeptical. Billy runs into them, literally, and adds to the mix with his belief in legends over science. He’s tracking a dragon-like creature based on local folklore, which coincidentally happens to align with the path of what Keiko is studying. This trio’s dynamic is a fun mix of cultural misunderstandings, scientific curiosity, and adventure. And their chemistry – chef’s kiss.
Their investigation leads them to an incredible discovery: the American battleship Lawton, strangely placed far from its last known location – Pearl Harbor. Billy reveals he’s the sole survivor of its sinking, which he believes was caused by a MUTO (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism). Their exploration takes a sharp turn when they encounter fresh corpses and a giant, bat-like dragon attacking the ship. It’s a heart-pounding scene that combines history, mystery, and monster lore very well.
The episode also touches on the broader theme of legacy. We learn that Bill Randa’s wish to leave a “legacy of monsters” to his son Hiroshi (Cate and Kentaro’s dad) hasn’t taken off yet. So far, the story centers more about how Hiroshi’s parents met Lee Shaw instead of on the monsters
we so desperately wish to see creating some chaos
themselves.
Meanwhile in 2015 Tokyo, we see Cate confronting Monarch agents who are after her father’s files. After a tense encounter, she manages to escape following a very sad PTSD moment. Kentaro also faces Monarch’s agents and learns about Lee Shaw’s location, leading to a daring escape aided by his mother – the real MVP.
The trio – Cate, Kentaro, and May – reunite, each with different intentions. Kentaro’s wants to find Shaw, which leads them to a retirement home that is actually just a front for Monarch’s operations. Shaw, recognizing Kentaro as Hiroshi’s son but unaware of Cate, offers a choice: accept the official story of Hiroshi’s disappearance or join him in uncovering the truth. Guess which choice they picked.
The second episode ends with a promise of more to come both regarding the early days of Monarch and the current search for Hiroshi, indicating that future episodes could go deeper into both timelines, and hopefully will have some actual monster action.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters takes us on a journey that’s both familiar and fresh. The first two episodes, while light on traditional Godzilla action, give us the perfect setup for what promises to be an excellent addition to the MonsterVerse. We can’t wait to see where it goes next!
Make sure you tune into your Apple TV streaming service this Friday, November 24th, for the third episode, “Secrets and Lies.”
What did you think of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episodes 1 and 2? Will you tune into the next episode?