Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Review

Summary

• Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a character-driven MonsterVerse series that focuses on the history of the secret organization Monarch and the worldwide repercussions of the MUTOs.
• The series offers a more realistic story with compelling characters, allowing audiences to connect with the protagonists and get fully invested in their arcs and relationships.
• While the show doesn’t feature as many large-scale kaiju battles as the films in the MonsterVerse, it does include thrilling action and chase sequences and introduces new titans with unique abilities, further expanding the franchise.

After the gargantuan success of the MCU, it wasn’t long before numerous studios wanted to dip their toes into their own cinematic universes in an attempt to create their own. However, thanks to mismanagement and a rushed schedule, most of these cinematic universes would quickly fail to live up to their expectations. Take your DCEU, or Universal’s Dark Universe, for example. Yet, among these failures, there was at least one that became a major success. One of the best cinematic universes is Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse, which saw its not-so-humble beginnings with Gareth Evans’ Godzilla in 2014. There are currently four films in the franchise, and a fifth on the way in the form of Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, along with a Netflix animated series (not to mention the unrelated Godzilla Minus One from Japan).

Now, Legendary Pictures, Safehouse Pictures, and Toho Co., Ltd. bring their first live-action series set in the MonsterVerse. Developed by Chris Black and Matt Fraction, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a compelling character-driven series that delves into the history of Monarch, the secret organization that specializes in hunting and studying massive unidentified terrestrial organisms, otherwise known as MUTOs. It offers a far more grounded take on the colossal world inhabited by the likes of Godzilla and Kong in order to tell a story that’s far more interested in its characters and the worldwide repercussions of the MUTOs than it is its gargantuan Kaiju battles.

However, that’s not to say that the series is devoid of epic action sequences. In fact, Apple TV+’s MonsterVerse series offers a surprising number of chases and conflicts on an impressive scale. Featuring a plethora of new and returning titans, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters sports stunning CG and some thrilling action. Enhanced by outstanding performances from its great cast, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a series not to miss for fans of the franchise and kaiju in general.

Predominantly set between the events of the 2014s Godzilla and King of Monsters, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters follows brother and sister Kentaro (Ren Watabe) and Cate (Anna Sawai) as they go searching for their missing father. Joined by computer whiz May (Kiersey Clemons) and retired army vet Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell), who shares a deep history with Monarch, and the discovery of titans, Cate and Kentaro traverse the globe, discovering secrets from their father’s past, all while battling Kaiju and avoiding authorities.

A Grounded Character Driven Story

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

Release Date November 17, 2023

Cast Christopher Heyerdahl, Mari Yamamoto, Qyoko Kudo, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell

Main Genre Action

Genres Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Seasons 1

Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse has always faced criticism when it comes to its depictions of human characters and their drama. It’s just never been as interesting as seeing two colossal kaiju’s duke it out. Yet, perhaps because of the length and space television provides, what Legacy of Monsters nails is its characters. Focusing on a more grounded story than its special effects-laden monster battles allows the show to put its characters front and center, giving audiences the opportunity to connect with the show’s protagonist, and get fully invested in their arcs and relationships.

As a sufferer of PTSD from the battle of San Fransisco in the first Godzilla movie, Cate is perhaps the most fascinating character in the show. The film handles PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks extremely well, and through quick cuts, stressful music, and an immersive performance from Anna Sawai, audiences will be shrouded in tension and fear, putting us in Cates’ shoes. Likewise, the computer whiz May is an intriguing character. Her confident yet reserved persona makes for some brilliant dynamics, which is only enhanced by the outstanding performance from Kiersey Clemons. Additionally, Kurt Russel seems to be having an absolute blast in the role of Lee, a compelling and entertaining character full of witty dialogue and a complicated and emotional past which Russell effortlessly delves into.

Related: Best Kaiju Movies That Don’t Feature Godzilla or King Kong, Ranked

Contextualizing Monarch

Apple TV+

Monarch plays a huge part in the movies. However, the organization’s origins are often glanced over, and never fully explored. Thankfully, with a lot of jumping back and forth in the nonlinear timeline, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters finally contextualizes a lot of the long-standing questions many fans may have about the organization. This B-plot is often more interesting than the A-plot; we’re treated to much more monster hunting, and its three protagonists are a blast to watch.

One of the show’s biggest highlights is how it showcases the effects of monster attacks, something the movies often fail to do and to really take seriously. Within the first episode, we see Cate land in Japan where her plane has to be decontaminated, and when she walks through the airports there are numerous signs with pictures of Godzilla on them warning passengers about the kaiju threat. As previously mentioned, the show similarly deals with the personal trauma that comes from these attacks, like PTSD, and panic attacks, making for a much more rich, grounded, and realistic world.

Related: The Warner Bros. MonsterVerse Movies, Ranked

“It’s a Monster Mash”

Apple TV+

While Monarch: Legacy of Monsters doesn’t feature fights on a scale as large as those from King of Monsters, or Godzilla vs Kong, the show certainly isn’t shy about throwing numerous titans, such as the legendary Godzilla himself, at audiences. Continuing its focus on characters, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters doesn’t feature many kaiju vs kaiju battles, and instead offers up some thrilling scenes that see our human protagonists high-tail it from some intimidating monsters. These chases are well-shot, well-directed, backed by a heart-pounding soundtrack, and carry a lot of stakes.

Godzilla looks and sounds as good as he does in the movie, elevating the show’s production value. Keeping up with the exceptional sound design from the movies, the aural palette of the Apple TV series does not disappoint. Hearing Godzilla’s iconic roar sounds as good as ever, and all the crashing, smashing, roaring, and ice effects from the other titans sound crisp, immersive, and big budget.

While seeing Godzilla will always fill us with excitement, it’s the new titans making their debut in the show who really caught our eye. Perhaps the most memorable was the titan which inhabits the snowy Alaskan tundra. This large four-legged monster not only sports a great visual design, with the short tentacles that protrude from its mouth, but what makes this creature so cool was its unique abilities. Similar to Superman’s ice breath, this unnamed titan instantly freezes anything in the firing line of its wintry breath. On top of that, the series introduces dragon-like titans and giant crab creatures into the fold as well. They’re really building something here with this MonsterVerse, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is an important step.

Monarch : Legacy of Monsters premieres globally on Friday, November 17, followed by one episode every Friday through January 12 on Apple TV+. Check out the trailer and a link to stream the show below:

Watch on Apple TV+

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