What are Monarch hiding? Go back to Godzilla’s first attack in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters as we dive into Monarch’s origin and evolution. The first two episodes of this brand new series are available to stream exclusively on Apple TV now, with new episodes airing every Friday up until January 12th, 2024.
Synopsis
Cate travels to Japan to get answers about her father and uncovers a shocking secret. Keiko, Lee, and Billy pursue a theory about Titans.
Review
Despite being a huge lover of the MonsterVerse structure, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters completely changes the formula by introducing us to a more character driven and deep narrative. This first episode lets you know immediately that this is not a monster show. Now, this may deter people from watching, but it’s probably the most riveting and detailed story set within this universe. Sure, the action is minimal and the monsters are very much secondary characters, but the level of intrigue and detail is immense and so much more involved. Episode one beautifully balances the epic nature of this world with the finely structured and grounded nuances this fresh perspective has to offer.
The MonsterVerse, and indeed Monarch, have been with us since 2014, but we’ve never really stopped to consider its origins. We know that when Godzilla first rose out of the water, Monarch began to expand and study these Titans. But how did it all come together? How did Monarch become what it is? And that’s what this show aims to explain, but it turns out there is so much more to Monarch than we ever released. Monarch’s evolution is a complex and multifaceted journey that manifests slowly, and one of the boldest things this opening episode does is take us to a turning point in Monarch’s history with very little context and explanation.
It shouldn’t really work, but it’s such a fantastic introduction because it monopolises on the unknown, in the true spirit of Monarch. Not only are we honing in on a pivotal point in Monarch’s past, we’re also centering on the critical moment when Monarch is forced to change their tactics, and that’s when we meet our main cast. Following on from the events of G-Day, we’re dealing with a world that is adjusting to the mere presence of Godzilla… They don’t even know about the other Titans yet. That new conscious life style is something we’ve never had the chance to explore before.
The MonsterVerse movies have always focused on characters of importance who are usally deeply embedded in Monarch’s web. This episode shifts that view by showing us what life is actually like for ordinary people following on from Godzilla’s attack. How has society changed? What safety measures have been implemented to proect the public from a very literal god? It’s not the most detailed dive into that sort of discourse, but it really sets the tone and reinforces these ideas of perpetual fear and confusion that existed long before Godzilla was revered as a savior in later installments.
In regards to the cast and characters, it’s a bit too early to make any judgements on the characters set in the past because we don’t know anything about them. When we first see them, their histories are unknown, their stories are concealed, but their goal is clear. While their exposure is minimal, there’s a chemistry between them. They’ve formed a bond, we just don’t know how it materialised… yet, and that’s a major hook that this episode plays with.
Anna Sawai and Ren Watabe shine as Cate and Kentaro. Their lives are forced together under unusual circumstances that are being kept well under wraps. What appears to be a simple case of a family being torn apart by an affair, actually morphs into something far more delicate. It’s a slow build, but what sets this episode up as not only a great premiere, but also a brilliant addition to the franchise, is how this episode uses Anna as connective tissue. The references, the recreated scenes from Godzilla, and the fresh perspectives all add an element of depth that truly reveals the devastation caused by Godzilla, both on a physical level and an emotional one. Anna is very much the driving force of this episode and seeing her battle her own ptsd, family issues, and place in this new world world was really quite a wonderful and refreshing change of pace that elevates this episode entirely.
Verdict
Episode one of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters feels like a return to the darker and more mysterious tone established in 2014’s Godzilla. As an introduction, this episode sets up so much while also offering an ambitiously detailed and immersive expansion on what we know. Filled with sublime world-building, effects that capture the carnage and presence of Godzilla beautifully, and characters that actually feel like they have something to offer, this opening episode is a cinematic and well-crafted ride that will have you wanting answers immediately.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hailing from Legendary Television, the series is executive produced by Black, Fraction and Shakman alongside Joby Harold (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) and Tory Tunnell (Spinning Out, Underground) from Safehouse Pictures, Matt Shakman (Wandavision), Andy Goddard (Carnival Row, Downton Abbey), Brad Van Arragon (Yellowjackets, Carnival Row), and Andrew Colville (Severance, Star Trek: Discovery).
Are you ready to learn the truth behind Monarch? The first two episodes are available on Apple TV right now! Episode 3 will air on November 24th. For more Godzilla and MonsterVerse goodness, click here.
