Monarch: Legacy of Monsters continues to impress, entertain, and challenge viewers with its fourth episode.
Lee, Cate, Kentaro, and May are back with more action, flashbacks, and heart-pounding suspense in yet another incredible episode of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
If you haven’t started watching this show yet, what the heck are you waiting for? Be sure to check it out on Apple TV!
I won’t be wasting any time and will slap a friendly neighborhood SPOILER WARNING right here as I’m about to discuss the entire newest and fourth episode!
Episode 4 review – “Parallels and Interiors”
The latest installment of LoM, “Parallels and Interiors,” keeps the amazing and fun momentum from the previous episode going, giving us a perfect mix of heart-pounding suspense, entertaining action, and a deep dive into Kentaro’s past.
A scientist, Barnes, on Outpost 47, calls Monarch to report a
disturbance in the Force
“pulsar” found by her instruments’ readings coming from Alaska. According to her, readings like these were seen only on G-Day, the day Godzilla ruined San Francisco, and haven’t been seen since. Hmm. I wonder what that could be.
Picking right up where the last one left off, yeeting our group of main characters into a dangerous game of survival against the gigantic and not-at-all-cuddly Frost Vark (previously known as the Alaskan MUTO). The terrifying encounters with this monster not only serve as a visual spectacle with impressive special effects, but they also keep us on the edge of our seats with a series of near misses. The tension created by the mere presence of the Frost Vark adds an extra layer of excitement and danger to the action sequences, making it one of the highlights of the episode.
However, the episode doesn’t solely rely on adrenaline-pumping moments. “Parallels and Interiors” takes a bold step by going deep into the backstory of Kentaro, offering us a deeper understanding of his character. The flashbacks provide valuable insights into Kentaro’s personality: a dreamer and an artist, dealing with the weight of expectations and the fear of failure. The exploration of his past during a blizzard puts us all in a kind of weird environment experience that puts us in Kentaro’s shoes and mental state.
I do have to say that the intense action with the Frost Vark is so engrossing for the majority of the time that any kind of flashback scenes kind of disrupt the flow and play with our emotions a little bit. This minor inconsistency, however, doesn’t take away from the overall impact of this episode.
What truly stands out is the unexpected love story between Kentaro and May. We see their first encounter, which evolves into a first date in the middle of the chaos of Kentaro’s art exhibit. May’s mysterious past adds a layer of eyebrow raises to the story, leaving us hoping for a dedicated backstory episode for her character as well – we kind of need one as she strikes me as a very wishy-washy person. I do think there’s more to her, but that remains to be seen at this point. Thankfully, the hypothermia didn’t kill her and she recovered from it, so I hope we get to explore her and her past soon.
They’re thankfully saved by Monarch, which leaves us wondering if they’ll join forces or become hostages at this point.
“Parallels and Interiors” definitely succeeds in balancing the people-versus-monster action with a deep dive into Kentaro’s personality and motives. The episode not only satisfies the craving for excitement (on a smaller scale, but still) but adds depth to the characters, making Monarch: Legacy of Monsters a well-rounded and engaging series so far.
Tune into Apple TV next Friday, December 8th for the next episode – “The Way Out”.