Critic’s Rating: 2.75 / 5.0
2.75
I hate to admit it, but Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is losing me.
If you’ve read my reviews, you know I’ve been very positive about the show, its scale, and its well-written characters.
Sadly, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 Episode 7 is another scattered outing. I don’t mind where the story is going, but the journey to get there just isn’t fun.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
Let’s start with present-day Lee trying to help his younger self after the wild transmission from the Axis Mundi at the end of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 Episode 6.
I’ll be honest, it took me a minute to realize it was Lee talking to his younger self. I initially thought it was his father and was trying to make that make sense.
Seeing Lee in the Axis Mundi and his struggle to survive after losing his entire team did add depth to his story.
I always figured he’d seen some things during his years of exile, but I’m not convinced now was the right time to dig into that.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
It feels like a storyline that would have landed better earlier in the season. That said, Wyatt Russell deserves a lot of praise here.
He’s been knocking it out of the park as we dig into some of Lee’s most harrowing years, and he really sells this version of the character as someone determined to survive and reunite with the love of his life.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Is Giving Lee a Lot of Material
Knowing what we know now, the idea that reaching out to Keiko could change the future had to be devastating.
I did like that Lee’s first instinct, upon realizing he was talking to his older self, was to assume he was losing his mind. That felt very real.
I’ve gone back and forth on whether his feelings for Keiko are love or something else, but the look on his face when he realized he couldn’t speak to her said a lot.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
Like Lee, Keiko is isolated in the Axis Mundi, and having someone familiar there would have made everything a little more bearable.
It’s still hard to say whether they would have lasted under normal circumstances, but that’s part of what makes their dynamic interesting.
If the show really wanted to slow things down, a what-if style episode might have made more sense here.
Knowing present-day Lee is willing to put his life on the line as Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 heads toward its conclusion does raise the stakes a bit.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
I don’t think he’ll die, especially not so soon after Hiroshi, but I do think he’s heading straight into danger to protect the people he cares about.
Away from Lee, Cate and Keiko are still testing theories and, unsurprisingly, end up in another dangerous situation.
I like anything involving Keiko making up for lost time with her grandchildren, but this feels like something that should have happened an episode earlier.
There was so much emphasis on their breakthrough last time that this didn’t feel like much of a progression.
Cate has been saying for a while now that Titan X isn’t the villain, and this reinforces that.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
At this point, I’m ready for everyone to come back together because the separated storylines aren’t doing the show any favors.
Kentaro’s trip to Thailand to hear about Isabel’s plan is one of the more random developments, especially since the previous episode made it seem like their meeting might not have even been real.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 Episode 6 honestly could have used some disclaimer after that information dump.
I’m still not sure what to make of Isabel. Like a lot of what’s been happening lately, she feels like she’s been dropped into the story without enough buildup.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
I’m always happy to see more Amber Midthunder, but this arc needed more setup.
Kentaro comes across as the easiest to manipulate right now, which at least makes his involvement make some sense.
Isabel’s Endgame Isn’t Clear
Isabel’s plan hints at something big, but the show needs to do a better job of following through on its ideas instead of constantly shifting focus.
Then there’s May, who gets hauled back to Monarch for not following Tim’s orders to the letter.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
It feels like a convenient way to bring her back into the fold, and earlier episodes probably would have handled that with more care.
Tim is clearly under pressure, so his reaction makes some sense, but May has proven her value time and time again.
Right now, it’s hard to tell where Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is heading as the season winds down, and that’s a problem this late in the game.
The pieces are there, but the show feels like it’s struggling to put them together.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
What are your thoughts on the trip to the past with Lee? Do you think he made the ultimate sacrifice by staying silent around Keiko?
And what’s your take on Isabel? Does she feel too late to the Apple TV drama’s story?
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