Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the newest addition to the decade-old franchise known as the MonsterVerse, which began in 2014 with Legendary’s Godzilla reboot. Halfway through this first live-action TV installment of the series, fans seem happy enough with Monarch to make it one of the top shows of the last month, beating other ongoing Apple TV+ series like For All Mankind and Slow Horses. Though mileage will vary from viewer to viewer, this show is a necessary step for the beloved franchise and the fans who have stuck around since the beginning.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Premise
Set across multiple timelines, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters serves as both a continuation and a prequel to the MonsterVerse, interweaving with events from the recent Godzilla movies and Kong: Skull Island. A year after the events of Godzilla, two half-siblings uncover their father’s connection to Monarch, a military/scientific operation that deals with the Titans. Decades earlier, we see the origins of this organization, where Bill Randa (a character from Kong: Skull Island) and some associates discover evidence of the Hollow Earth and the monstrous creatures that inhabit it.
The Russells and Fan Service in ‘Monarch’
If you’re here, you already know if Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is right for you. Despite partially taking place earlier in the timeline compared to the films, the producers do not intend Monarch as an introduction to the MonsterVerse. Even so, Monarch has value in its characters and situations amid an ambitious construction. Playing two different ages of the same character, the real father-son duo Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell provide a sturdy backing to the plot that becomes more important with every episode. Though their involvement took time to develop into something meaningful, as the show progresses and the strings of the plot become more intertwined, Lee Shaw generates more interesting material with every new sequence.
Still from ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’
The MonsterVerse has relied on various creatives to mold the franchise’s vision, with seasoned producer Chris Black leading the charge this time around. Black’s involvement in sci-fi TV and beyond is notable, and his efforts to balance moving characterizations with kaiju action have paid off: Monarch currently holds some of the best reviews of any chapter in Legendary’s MonsterVerse output. Shaw’s slowly mounting significance, combined with a moving tale of trauma and PTSD through the eyes of the main character, Cate (Anna Sawai), has made Monarch a viable critical success and a satisfactory installment in the eyes of audiences.
‘Monarch’s Place in the MonsterVerse
With Shaw’s prominence growing and a lot of ground left to cover in Monarch, it remains a mystery how the show will end up compared to the rest of the MonsterVerse. As it stands now, many viewers would likely rank Monarch: Legacy of Monsters below some of the franchise’s films due to its drawn-out pacing. Critics were far more patient with the series than the films to rate Monarch higher, but the lengthy dialogue here does not match the thrill ride of the Kong films.
Luckily, Monarch is only a notch below the best of the franchise and still a positive experience even for casual viewers caught up on the MonsterVerse. If you have made it this far, missing out on Monarch would be a tragedy.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is streaming now on Apple TV+.