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 thebest cinematic universes is Legendary Pictures’MonsterVerse,which saw its not-so-humble beginnings with Gareth Evans’Godzillain 2014. There are currently four films in the franchise, and a fifth on the way in the form ofGodzilla X Kong: The New Empire, along with a Netflix animated series (not to mention the unrelatedGodzilla Minus Onefrom Japan).
Now, Legendary Pictures, Safehouse Pictures, and Toho Co., Ltd. bring their first live-action series set in theMonsterVerse.Developed by Chris Black and Matt Fraction,Monarch: Legacy of Monstersis 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 itsgargantuan Kaiju battles.
However, that’s not to say that the series is devoid of epic action sequences. In fact, Apple TV+‘sMonsterVerseseries offers a surprising number of chases and conflicts on an impressive scale. Featuring a plethora of new and returning titans,Monarch: Legacy of Monsterssports stunning CG and some thrilling action. Enhanced by outstanding performances from its great cast,Monarch: Legacy of Monstersis a series not to miss for fans of the franchise and kaiju in general.
Predominantly set between the events of the 2014sGodzillaandKing of Monsters,Monarch: Legacy of Monstersfollows 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
Legendary Pictures’MonsterVersehas 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, whatLegacy of Monstersnails 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.
Asa sufferer of PTSDfrom the battle of San Fransisco in the firstGodzillamovie, 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.
Contextualizing Monarch
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 Monstersfinally 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.
The Warner Bros. MonsterVerse Movies, Ranked
With four action-packed movies in their cinematic MonsterVerse, Warner Bros. has quietly built a solid shared franchise. Here’s each film, ranked.
“It’s a Monster Mash”
WhileMonarch: Legacy of Monstersdoesn’t feature fights on a scale as large as those fromKing of Monsters,orGodzilla 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 Monstersdoesn’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, andMonarch: Legacy of Monstersis an important step.
Monarch : Legacy of Monsterspremieres 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:
