With Monarch: Legacy of Monsters starting its run on Apple TV+, premiering with the opening two episodes of a 10-episode series, I’ve been lucky enough to get an early look at the whole run and – as a huge Godzilla fan – couldn’t resist seeing where a lower key, but big monster-featuring TV show, would take the MonsterVerse – especially with a lead duo of Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell – spanning a timeline from the 1950s, through to 2015, as the series is set one year after Gareth Edwards’ frankly excellent Godzilla, released in 2014.

I was a fan of his approach, honing in on a more human tale as the great beast stomped into their narrative during his own war with the MUTO, also trying to survive, whilst flattening a lot of the continent throughout. What’s interesting after exploring Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is that it’s all about the human account – and I noticed a few strange comments from other reviewers wondering why this hasn’t happened before, as if Edwards’ approach never existed but it definitely did – and I love it for all those ‘centred’ reasons plus Brian Cranston, Sally Hawkins, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, andeven Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

While avoiding major spoilers, so I won’t go too plot-specific with Monsters: Legacy of Monsters, from series creators Chris Black and Matt Fraction, but can tell you that it’s overall arc is that of family secrets and lies – weaved in amongst tales of giant beasts. And it certainly had an Edwards’ vibe to the narrative, over the big ‘fight’ of the more recent Godzilla films (which I’ve also enjoyed). Generally, it follows four key characters, with the first two being the introduction of the legendary Kurt Russell playing ‘Lee Shaw’ in the 1950s, with his real-life son Wyatt Russell playing Lee Shaw in 2015 – complete with some very rewarding scene dissolving moments (and film projections) as the filmmakers clearly couldn’t resist a literal layering of their stance and faces, which adds an extra quality, as the series progresses.

The additional pair leading the way are Anna Sawai’s Cate and Ren Watabe’s Kentaro, who both have a family secret that spans literal distances, and connects as they’re actually siblings who had separate families yet didn’t know about each other (an early plot reveal, so not that secret). While the Russell’s Lee Shaw has lived within decades of Monarch’s involvement with Godzilla and the relevant MUTOs, so knows a thing or two about what went down in 1954, and how it developed into a secret organisation – he links the periods for the younger generation – and obviously brings real-world star power.

The opening two episodes, streaming now, follows the first threads of the wider picture, with Cate heading to Japan for the first time and discovering who her Father really was, plus the early ‘coming together’ of the quartet, with the introduction of Kiersey Clemons’ May, who is one of those classic techy, edgy characters who brings a more street-level insight into their worlds, as well as co-starring roles for Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, Qyoko Kudo and Elisa Lasowski. 

The first scene re-introduces John Goodman’s character (as an adult) and his film work from the past offers a new connection – see the clip at the bottom of this review for a teaser – and later in the series, there’s also a particular Godzilla Bikini Atoll moment with his younger self, and I’m not entirely sure the footage isn’t the same as the film that’s part of the title sequence for 2014’s Godzilla – excellent.

What I can promise with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is lingering mystery boxes, and unexpected surprises, both in character progression, their realities (keep an ear open for discussions on an ‘age’ related curio) and also big monsters appearing across the Earth. Yet, as a series it lags in a few places, especially with stretched out situations that really push the limits of ‘survival’ and senseless decision making (considering how clever they are in other moments) but perhaps that’s highlighting the innocence of the younger characters. In reflection, it’s amusing that I can accept living in the MonsterVerse, and let a few ‘game narrative’ moments slide, but get frustrated by small human decisions that make little sense.  

I do wonder if that annoyance comes from embedding in the story they’re trying to tell, and then not accepting their naïve decisions in distinctly crucial moments. However, returning to positives, after a few drops in logic, we do hit some heartfelt family moments, which offer welcome surprise because of the committed performances (I’m looking at you, Episode 5 ‘The Way Out’) and also it opens up little moments that we’ve previously seen and not necessarily comprehended earlier on in the show.

In some ways, the 1950s story feels more balanced and grounded than the ‘now’ – and I did find I missed the older world when we step away, yet the ambitious nature of the wider worldbuilding is impressive and I did appreciate they’ve kept the world of Skull Island, Godzilla Vs Kong, etc going as an unexpected ‘alternative MCU*’ of its own. If you’re looking for new adventures, and the secret history of Monarch, then the opening episodes will pique your interest before settling down into the new journey, and then let it take you somewhere new. If you’re content following crossed timelines and different narratives, across various story time-leaps, then this is exactly what they’re aiming for.

Filmed with a cinematic sphere in mind, if you love the MonsterVerse, then you’ll have fun over the 10-episode run with it’s Trent Reznoresque scoring (from Leopold Ross) and wide scope. Sure, there’s some deep exposition but it’s trying to help expand to a Global scale, entwined with a human story that helps the ground-level audience connect. You also get Kurt Russell back in the snow, and a host of monsters (of all types) to revel and enjoy just at the right time, and I always love seeing the King of the Monsters: Godzilla doing Big-G things, and what’s not to love about that?

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters debuts on Apple TV+, with two episodes on 17 November, followed by new episodes every Friday through to 12 January

From Legendary Television, the series is co-developed and executive produced by Chris Black and Matt Fraction, with Matt Shakman directing the first two episodes and serving as exec producer alongside Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures, Andy Goddard, Brad Van Arragon, and Andrew Colville. The other episodes are directed by Mairzee Almas, Julian Holmes, Hiromi Kamata, and Andy Goddard.

Two episodes are written by Black, with three episodes by Mariko Tamaki, and then one each from Milla Bell-Hart, Andrew Colville, Karl Taro Greenfeld, Al Letson, and Amanda Overton.

Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the mighty owners of the Godzilla character.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPcM2GlLlbQ