In the aftermath of the cataclysmic clash of titans that left San Francisco in ruins and the world in awe of the existence of monsters, Monarch: The Legacy of Monsters delves deep into the enigmatic shadows of the Monarch organization. Through the eyes of two siblings, determined to unravel their family’s mysterious ties to Monarch, the film takes us on a riveting journey across time.
Twisting Tales of the Beasts
My favorite part is the parallel stories told over different time periods. I do not know why I am such a fan of this narrative method, but something about the revelation in one era setting up the events in another. It’s confusing at first, and to be honest, the pilot episode really is mostly set up. So there other than an immense amount of intrigue and questions, we don’t get any major payoffs. And minor spoiler, we don’t even get to experience the fulcrum character that’s in both times, played by father and son Kurt and Wyatt Russel.
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While the story creates intrigue and wonderfully sets up awesomeness to come, fans get the big payoff of the episode is the kaiju! Monarch: Legacy of Monsters definitely has monsters, and they are epic. Beautifully rendered and menacingly dangerous, these creatures deliver the right amount of awe, eww, and oh!
Captivating Leads
What drives it all are the series leads. Anna Sawai kills with her expressions. Her character, Cate, is able to control her emotions in most situations, and when she wants to deliver a message, gives truly bombastic side and eyebrow raises. In another timeline, Mari Yamamoto plays Cate’s grandmother, Keiko, who is much more restrained but equally as impactful. Yamamato delivers such a subtle yet palpable presence that it directly connects her to her Cate.
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The rest of the cast performs well too, but sadly don’t have the opportunities to be as impactful in just the pilot. However, breadcrumbs like May’s (Kiersey Clemons) and Kentaro’s (Ren Watabe) little argument will keep fans on the edge of their seats to learn more. Also, the wait for that transition shot of Wyatt to Kurt Russel is dinging a whole point off of this review just because I’m impatient.
Monstrous Intrigue
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a brilliant genre series in the world of Godzilla and King Kong. While the two most iconic kaiju are not fully present or the focus, their influence is undeniable. The series is a conspiracy thriller about finding and learning secret information, but it can quickly turn into a monster disaster piece on a dime. It’s an incredible balance of tension that is delightfully addicting without feeling heavy.
For its gripping story, awesome monsters, and wonderfully ever-imposing danger, but for making me wait more than one episode to see the transition shot of Wyatt turning into Kurt, or vice versa, I give Monarch: Legacy of Monsters an 8/10
Get ready to go deep into the history of kaiju when Monarch: Legacy of Monsters premieres the first two episodes on November 17, 2023, exclusively on Apple TV+.
About Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Release Date: November 17, 2023
Executive Producers: Chris Black, Matt Fraction, Matt Shakman, Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, Andy Goddard, Brad Van Arragon, Andrew Colville, Hiro Matsuoka, Takemasa Arita
Cast: Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, Elisa Lasowski
Synopsis
Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.
Are you excited for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters? Would you want to live in a world where the kaiju are roaming the earth? Would living deeper inland be safer than living near the sea? Let us know your thoughts and your kaiju survival tactics on social media!
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