Legendary’s Monsterverse is ripe for expansion. Filled with incredible VFX, bone-chilling screeches, and epic Kaiju fights, audiences have expressed great appreciation for the franchise since its birth under the banner of 2014’s Godzilla, directed by Gareth Edwards (Jurassic World Rebirth). Critics, however, haven’t been as over-the-moon with praise. Beyond the veil of large-scale monster action often lies a shallow human narrative, enveloped in repetitive tales of separation and betrayal that tediously distract from the spectacle.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters on Apple TV+ has seemingly found the best of both worlds, literally and figuratively. The spin-off show’s main appeal lies in its gripping parallel plotlines: one set in the early days of Titan research in the 1950s, and the other in 2015, following the aftermath of Godzilla (2014). Father-son duo Kurt Russell (The Thing) and Wyatt Russell (Thunderbolts*) star as the older and younger versions of Colonel Lee Shaw, a founding figure of the covert, giant monster intelligence organization known as Monarch. Season 2 immediately picks up from its predecessor and follows a mythical Kaiju and its religious disciples, with the heroes travelling across the world to prevent another catastrophic G-Day.
Building upon established romance, corruption, and the new looming threat of Titan X, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 manages to overcome some growing pains to deliver yet another thrilling adventure.
Television on a Monstrous Cinematic Scale
Upon the release of 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, one thing was abundantly clear: the titans felt small. Their terrifying scale was lost the deeper audiences ventured into “Hollow Earth,” prompting a shift in perspective that left Godzilla no bigger than an action figure. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 immediately corrects this with electric appearances from Kong and other Skull Island creatures that reaffirm a sizeable difference. High-effort VFX work captures the unfathomable danger Titan X poses to humanity, with teased brawls proving monumental in their build-up and execution. Although any cost-heavy monster appearances are again reserved for climactic moments, these at least pride themselves on being worthwhile.
Courtesy of Apple TV+
Monarch Season 2 introduces an ominous history purposely hidden from mankind. Here, Titan X’s damning aura is utilized magnificently, with gorgeous night sequences delivering visual extravagance that depicts the creature within an ethereal light. Reminiscent of Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One (2023), Titan X’s sheer size teases a destructive reckoning to come, reinforcing the overarching danger it poses. It truly feels like no character is safe this season. That being said, the sea-based Kaiju sometimes struggles to carry that same weight on land, thrashing so aimlessly that it becomes awkward. Mythological imagery complements the leviathan-like beast, blessing the 1950s timeline with a magic that the 2015 narrative strives to mimic.
Past and Present Timelines Will Once Again Leave Viewers Divided
Monarch Season 1 was criticized for the divide in quality between the two timelines, with the past favored over the present. The second season struggles similarly, like when revisiting May’s (Kiersey Clemons) belligerent Apex Cybernetics subplot. After a mid-season slump, the modern-day story evolves with mind-bending revelations that recontextualize the Monsterverse franchise as a whole. Kurt Russell leads with a dreamy old-school Hollywood gravitas as Lee Shaw, joined by his eccentric band of family and friends. Monarch pokes fun at such an unconventional grouping, impressively restrictive of irony-pilled, Marvel-esque humour. This new season, with minor hiccups along the way, largely succeeds in improving the modern setting. The 1950s timeline remains vastly superior, though.
Courtesy of Apple TV+
Thanks to stellar performances from a tight-knit cast, the stratospheric Titan-based stakes become endowed with awe-inspiring wonder. As the episode count rolls, a sincere love triangle grounds the series. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters boasts a level of heart that the franchise’s recent movies have lacked. Once more, such brilliance does occasionally highlight the breadth of quality between the two time periods. The present-day plot aims for world-ending consequences over intimacy, but it falls short. Terrified of committing to political or capitalistic metaphors, the show boxes itself into simplicity right on the verge of greatness. Furthermore, Monarch relys on uninspired, stereotypical antagonists to round out the series, rather than pursuing its overarching themes further.
Mari Yamamoto and Anna Sawai Steal the Show
The trio of ’50s Lee Shaw (Wyatt Russell), Keiko (Mari Yamamoto), and Bill Randa (Anders Holm) excels in Monarch Season 2. Their character arcs are the most subtle, especially through how the show explores Keiko’s relationship to both versions of Shaw, as she returns to Earth after a 57-year absence in Axis Mundi. Thanks to Rental Family star Mari Yamamoto’s impeccable immersion as Keiko, her dynamic with Shaw is never misaligned. Throughout the season, she perfectly conveys Keiko’s emotional and cognitive struggles as she adjusts to an unfamiliar world, nurturing viewers’ connection to her grief. Over and over again, Yamamoto proves to be a standout this season.
Courtesy of Apple TV+
The parallels drawn between parent and child add a poignant depth to how the show conveys relationships across time, even if mildly slow in its approach. Some of these family relationships are still underbaked, however. For example, Hiroshi (Takehiro Hira) and Kentaro (Ren Watabe) rarely navigate the intricacies of their father-son relationship, excluding one scene late in the season. Similarly, the dynamic between Cate, played by Emmy-winner Anna Sawai (Shōgun), and this duo also falls short. A slight misfortune given her fantastic performance this season, demonstrating franchise-topping talent that rewards patience with her arc in particular.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Prioritizes Fans and New Lore
Shrouded in lore, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 creates a true spectacle with a “fans first” mindset, recognizing the difficulties of attracting new viewers into a deeply established world like the Monsterverse. Thanks to this, little time is wasted in exposition. Series co-creator and showrunner Chris Black trusts fans to remember canon events and stay up to date. It feels far away from Netflix’s ethos of providing “second screen” streaming entertainment. Ironically, this is also where Monarch almost stumbles. Offering a world so convoluted and scarred by insurmountable death leaves the stakes less grand than they perhaps should be.
Additionally, due to following specific villain tropes, this season’s conclusion, while exciting, strives to write the next chapter rather than close the current one. Above all else, Monarch Season 2 still has it where it counts. The show continues to rectify the inherent flaws of Kaiju clashes told through individual narrators. As what continues to be the best Monsterverse project, fans can anticipate another exhilarating journey packed with enchanting monsters and, yes, epic battles. Bold cliffhangers and enriched lore invigorate the series with enough life to keep it going for more seasons to come. Episodes eventually melt together, forming a gelled experience, only hindered by some tonally simplistic dialogue from supporting characters that outlast their purpose.
★ ★ ★ 1/2
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 premieres on February 27 on Apple TV+!
Developed by Chris Black & Matt Fraction.
Based on Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd.
Showrunner: Chris Black.
Executive Producers: Chris Black, Matt Fraction, Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, Jen Roskind, Matt Shakman, Lawrence Trilling, Andrew Colville, Hiro Matsuoka, & Takemasa Arita.
Main Cast: Anna Sawai, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, & Elisa Lasowski.
Guest Stars: Takehiro Hira, Amber Midthunder, Cliff Curtis, Curtiss Cook, Dominique Tipper, & Camilo Jiménez Varón.
Composer: Leopold Ross.
Production Companies: Legendary Television, Safehouse Pictures, Toho Co., Ltd., Milkfed Criminal Masterminds, & Chris Black Broadcasting System.
Network: Apple TV+.
Episode Count: 10 (Season Two).
