Between the commercial success and excitement surrounding giant monsters in its feature films, the studio produced the series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.” This series consists of 10 episodes, each with an average duration of 45 minutes. It was released by Apple TV+ in November 2023 and concluded in early January 2024. The series stars Wyatt Russell, Kurt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski. So, what does the series contribute to supporting the cinematic universe, specifically the MonsterVerse?
The series’ plot unfolds a year after Godzilla’s “G-Day,” which occurred in San Francisco. The narrative incorporates flashbacks throughout its 10-episode duration, focusing on the background of a specific organization called Monarch. Monarch is tasked with investigating the existence of monsters, known as Titans, on Earth. The organization has been active since the 1950s, initially led by Japanese scientist Keiko (Yamamoto), followed by zoologist Bill Randa (Holm), and US officer Lee Saw (Wyatt Russell).
The story begins with siblings from different mothers, Cate (Sawai) and Kentaro (Watabe), searching for their father Hiroshi, Keiko’s son. Their investigation, guided by the elderly Lee (Kurt Russell), intersects with Monarch, which has a keen interest in locating the portal through which Titans can enter Earth’s surface. This portal resulted from Keiko and Bill’s discovery, with Keiko falling into it.
Amidst the chaos of the monsters above, the question arises: is this story necessary? The motivation behind it seems to be the commercial success of the feature films. The MonsterVerse commenced with “Godzilla” (2014), directed by Gareth Edwards, a film praised for its balance between monster action and drama. However, subsequent entries in the franchise became dominated by large-scale titan battles, often accompanied by the iconic monster King Kong as a compromise for Western audiences. The Monarch organization, symbolically present in the films, failed to capture much viewer interest.
A significant question arises: where do all the characters from the series fit into the feature films? The US government was aware of the monsters’ existence long before G-Day. The series’ plot is forced to align with the broader MonsterVerse storyline. This may be attributed to current trends and, perhaps, the characters and Japanese locations in the plot serve as a compromise for the monsters’ origins.
Contrary to its title, the series seems to focus more on Monarch’s background story and its internal conflicts rather than exploring the grander MonsterVerse narrative. The series leans heavily into family and friendship drama, with Keiko’s character serving as a central figure that balances the personal drama with Monarch’s bureaucratic affairs. In the present timeline, Keiko’s son, Hiroshi, becomes paramount and serves as a strong reference point for Cate, Kentaro, May, and of course Old Lee, whom share a past relationship with Monarch. These two significant storylines overlap, at times clearly and at times confusingly, often disrupting the story’s flow. The displacement of these story elements occasionally hampers the narrative. So, where are the monsters? If you’re seeking them, they only make brief appearances, feeling like mere minutes.
“Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” explores the weaker side of drama amid the frenetic action of the monsters. The urgency of the series’ story, aside from providing exposition about Monarch, remains unclear. Perhaps in the future, some characters from the series will appear in feature films. Notably, the prominent films (excluding Godzilla) mainly depict giant creatures battling each other without much focus on drama. Their presence is uncontrollable by humanity, and Earth seemingly belongs to them; humans can only watch their battles. As to who emerges victorious, it becomes a matter of indifference. The intriguing concept of Godzilla as a force balancing natural harmony, as initially presented in “Godzilla” (2014), seems to have been overshadowed by the spectacle of titan clashes.
