Legacy sets up what’s to come. Plays a huge part in what is and what could be done. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has addressed this concept. The series shows the world, in a magnified lens, occupied by monsters or as the universe describes them as, Titans. It also puts a personal look on the organization that studies them, Monarch. When the series was announced it was a chance for audiences to get more of Godzilla, Kong, Titans that were already introduced and new ones. Having too much of Godzilla is never a problem. Exploring that world, which has strong history with Titans, was also going to be a positive welcome. But has the show done that? Has Monarch: Legacy of Monsters really delivered on giving audiences monsters and the world that they have impacted?
With the title alone, fans of the Monsterverse had expectations going into the series that the show would highlight Monarch and the organization’s mission to search, study, investigate, and record anything about the Titans of the world. By doing so, it puts more focus on the main selling point of the franchise; giant monsters. Fans could get the chance to explore more about all Titans ranging from Godzilla to fan favorites like Behemoth and of course brand-new original Titans created for the series. The movies simply don’t have the time to explore that, but a series does, particularly the ones that were glimpsed. Those Titans obviously had to play backseat to allow Godzilla, Kong, Mothra, Rodan, Ghidorah, and the Mutos their proper time. The series had the potential to explore more about Behemoth’s physiology. Scylla’s hunting patterns. Amhuluk’s influence on the environment. And so on. What the series also had the perfect opportunity to expand, were plot points that Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Kong: Skull Island had. Those films briefly mention the Titans’ impact on culture, history and mythology. Some of the Titans introduced are in fact the same ones that are in myth. Others are merely inspiration for those myths. While some have a whole separate myth just revolving around them like Kong. For being such an intriguing but small detail in those films that can’t be fully explored due to time, that fits perfectly in the jurisdiction of what a series could do. But, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has done some of that but at the same time has included plots that fans are not too interested in.
The show has played with material that does benefit the larger Monsterverse. Another realm has been introduced. Axis Mundi has been set up as another area that Titans and other monsters claim as their territory. This new area also warps time which gives the show its own toy to play with. It also has explored a little history of Apex, the company that built MechaGodzilla. It was a little jarring to see another mega company appear out of nowhere with no prior mention in Godzilla vs Kong. Was even more jarring to see that this company was able to build a mechanized Titan with no evidence of it. Over the course of season 2 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, that has been shown gradually and logically. So, this plot thread gives more believability to Apex’s and MechaGodzilla’s presence in Godzilla vs. Kong. The show also demonstrates the PTSD that some people have living in this type of world. The main character, Cate Randa, dealt with that in season one. It was also shown how easily the world is at the mercy of Titans. At any given moment, civilians must stop what they are doing to take shelter from landfall of a Titan. Those scenes capture that fear. However, these particular moments only stay on screen for certain amount of time in favor of something else.
Although those moments intrigue and offer exciting details about the world of the Monsterverse, they still have to compete with plot elements many fans reject. A lot of the show’s makeup is about family turmoil. It could be interesting if those problems are more associated with the Titans but each episode puts more and more space between that. The show has explored two different love triangles, a character (Kentaro) trying to find who he is and another character (May) that just feels like she keeps going in circles. These are human problems that are present in any walk of life, real or fictional, monsters present or not present. It’s these plotlines that soak up most of the screentime. Goes without saying that they offer little to nothing to the plot that revolves around giant monsters. But yet, this is the plot that fans see most of the run time. That rubs fans the wrong way. And is the main gripe that fans have with the show. Season 2 of Monarch has done a better job in putting more emphasis on Titans, especially the new one the season has, Titan X. But it could also be said the new season has put just as much emphasis on the human and family drama, that feels, at times, completely separate from the Titans material. Instead of the conservation points being about the Titans, conversations among fans are about how much the show revolves around the family drama.
So, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has done some good and some questionable for the Monsterverse and the fanbase. But where does this truly leave the series? It still serves as a chance to visit the Monsterverse, Godzilla, and Kong while fans wait for the films. The series temporarily satisfies that demand. Only when the series puts stress on the monsters and the world they impacted. Most of the time however, the focus shifts to areas fans do not approve of. That means the series lands in between this middle ground. For the most part, the series does highlight the family drama a bit too much but when it includes Godzilla and/or Kong, the series really hits. That’s when it hits its stride. It becomes tempting to think what the show could have been if it constantly and continuously highlights those points. Because again, when Godzilla is on screen, when Kong is on screen, when they are being discussed among the humans, those scenes really demand focus. This season has done slightly better in handling more of the monsters. Kong has had some moments, Godzilla has had his, Titan X obviously. And even though MechaGodzilla is not in this season, he’s still getting some of his own due since the season is exploring how the robotic titan came to be. As of time of writing, no official news on a potential season 3 has been announced. The Monsterverse still has life. Godzilla x Kong: Supernova is slated for next year. Another spinoff is set to star a young Lee Shaw set before the present day of Monarch. And there are discussions of even more spin offs. But if the show were to continue, with the pattern that started in season 2 and feedback from the fanbase, there is potential that a season 3 could put more focus on Titans and Titan lore.
