We have watched the movies now we get to watch Monarch Legacy Of Monsters a series exclusive on Apple+.
The interconnected Cinematic Universe. A device that most big-name studios use these days to try and start a franchise in this oversaturated and bland state of cinema. Itβs a risky device that can either guarantee the user a big success, like the βMarvel MCUβ, or complete and utter failure like the disastrous Dark Universeβ which failed to even begin after βThe Mummyβ reboot bombed at the box office.
When you think of an interconnected cinematic universe these days you immediately think of superheroes.
But arenβt we sick of superheroes by now?
In my opinion, the βMCUβ ended after βEndgameβ. What remains is a poorly written mess of projects that no one wants. Just look at the box office returns for their most recent films.
But itβs not just βMarvelβ. βDCβ attempted (and in my opinion succeeded) a cinematic universe with the βZack Snyderβ films but with the studio that hell-bent on catching up to βMarvelβ and hiring a pair of CEOs who donβt want to listen to what the fans want and instead are pushing their own agendas, itβs like watching a dumpster fire in slow motion or the Titanic sinking.
So who would have thought that the most interesting and entertaining cinematic universe to contend with the βHouse of Mouseβsβ βMarvelβ is about big massive monsters fighting each other?
Yep, βGodzillaβ ladies and gentlemen.
It all started way back in 2014 with βGareth Edwardsβ outstanding Solo film that put (Western) βGodzillaβ on the map. Gone were the camp 90s days of the giant mutant lizard from βRonald Emmerichβ in 1998 and in its place was a film that I could only compare to βJawsβ.
βGodzillaβ was this big looming presence that was the titular antagonist of the film but we rarely got to see him in full. Thatβs what made him this mysterious entity to fear, very much like the shark in βJawsβ or the Xenomorph in βAlienβ.
The film ultimately spun off an interconnected cinematic universe (or Monsterverse) with βKong: Skull Islandβ, βGodzilla: King Of The Monstersβ and most recently βGodzilla vs. Kongβ.
Now, the films that followed βGodzillaβ arenβt the best films in the world. The scripts are a bit ropey in places and the suspension of disbelief is bent in places being too fantastical at times, but they are just damn good at making your mind shut off for 2 and a bit hours to watch some cool action sequences and monsters beating the hell out of each other.
Now, rarely has a cinematic universe survived with branching off into Television. βStar Warsβ succeeds as it tries to distance itself from the train wreck of the βDisneyβ trilogy, however βMarvelβ started off strong but has been rapidly declining in its TV shows with poor scripts, forced agendas and truly awful CGI.
So it was a welcomed breath of fresh air when I first watched the trailer for βMonarch Legacy Of Monstersβ, a television spin-off of the βMonsterverseβ produced by βLionsgateβ and made for βApple TVβ. Itβs a series that involves βGodzillaβ but allows the exploration of other monsters within this shared universe and also dives into the human aspect by exploring the origins of the mysterious company βMonarchβ that features in all of the films.
So letβs dive right in.
The show is a continuation of the 2014 βGodzillaβ film, (set in between βGodzillaβ and βGodzilla King of the Monstersβ) and shows the outcome and effects that the battle in San Francisco had on the world. And the show does this in such a better way than the subsequent films in the franchise have done. Itβs the little things like βGodzillaβ caution signs in the airports or the early warning sirens and underground shelters for if there is a βGodzillaβ sighting. It makes the world more believable and draws you into it by showing what life is like after (what the characters call) βG-Dayβ.
The series takes place in both the past and the present. It does this to help explore the creation of βMonarchβ and then show the aftermath of βG-Dayβ.
We open up the series during the events of βKong: Skull Islandβ with Bill Randa (John Goodman) shooting a βlast messageβ on his Super 8 camera before being chased by a massive spider-like creature. What happens next (to quote Star Wars The Phantom Menace, βThereβs always a bigger fishβ), is another monster comes in and starts attacking the spider monster.
Whilst this is going on, Randa takes off his bag full of important documents and chucks it into the ocean (presumably thinking heβs going to die) and then high-tails it out of there. This very act sets up the entire arc for the show, with that bag of documents being the central crux or plot device that drives the story forward. We then cut forward in time to that bag being retrieved by a fishing ship and then begin titles. And the title sequence is one of the better ones out there.
Sticking to the theme of the βGodzillaβ film showing archive footage/Monarch files and with a killer opening theme it sets up each episode for a riveting time of suspense and action.
The great part of having the show split in two halves for past and present is that it allows you to follow a cohesive story without the now overplayed βFlashbacksβ made famous by βLostβ.
It cuts and weaves both timelines together to complement each other making it more coherent with the pacing. It also allows you to follow the story better with each episode establishing when the past sections are taking place at the start to cement to the viewer that this is when this takes place and the rest of the episode takes place in the present. A great example of this is the flawless transitions between time periods with the action happening in the same location but years apart.
Itβs seamless and it works so much better than say βThe Witcherβ season 1 which didnβt make it clear when each part was taking place. I get that they were trying to be clever and artistic with their approach, but ask anyone if they understood season 1 and I can guarantee you they would say that they got confused. Itβs why βNetflixβ had to release a βpreviously on season 1β fifteen-minute catch-up and why the showrunners decided to ditch this approach.
At the end of the day your making the show for an audience who needs to be able to understand and follow events in order to enjoy it. Thatβs why I love the way the showrunners and crew have approached βMonarch Legacy Of Monstersβ.
The series has two central main characters. We follow Captain Leland Shaw (played by Wyatt Russel) in the past as he forms together βMonarchβ with a young Bill Randa (Anders Holm) and Dr. Keiko Miura (Mari Yamamoto). We then follow in the present Keikoβs granddaughter Cate Randa (Anna Sawai) as she flies to Japan to uncover the source of a mysterious set of keys left to her by her late father, only to find that she has a half-brother (by her fatherβs other family).
Cate and her brother Kentaro (Ren Watabe), along with his ex-girlfriend May (Kiersey Clemons) come into possession of Bill Randaβs lost files which their father had been in possession of. This then spurs on a hunt by βMonarchβ agent Tim (Joe Tippet) to recover the files which ultimately leads Cate, Kentaro and May to seek help from a much older Lee Shaw (this time played by Kurt Russel). And what a brilliant piece of casting. Father and Son, who literally look like an older and younger version of each other plays the same character.
One other thing to point out is the character developments that take place over the course of this first season. The most notable are those of Tim, May and Leland Shaw. There are also a few surprises in there, setting up certain things that are explored later in the films.
I wonβt say any more as I donβt want to spoil the show for you.
I mentioned earlier that the show feels more grounded by showing the real-world aftermath of G-Day and how they explore this more than the films. Well, I just want to point out that in all these big-budget films, (Iβm looking at you βMarvelβ, βDCβ and the βTransformers films) where cities are completely levelled due to the fighting that takes place, doesnβt it all seem pointless and leaves you thinking why and what was the point?
Well like with βBatman v Superman: Dawn Of Justiceβ (Ultimate Edition) which explores βSupermanβ being held accountable for the destruction of Metropolis, βMonarch Legacy Of Monstersβ addresses the destruction of San Francisco hands-on after the fighting on G-Day. I like this as the later films donβt really show the aftermath, they just follow the action, whereas a series like this has more time to explore.
And explore we do.
We actually get to see the displacement of refugees who fled for their lives during the attack. And we get to see the ruins themselves. Itβs believable, and interesting and answers that question thatβs in the back of your mind when watching these battles take place. Because of this, the series feels more grounded in realism whereas the later films like βGodzilla: King of the Monsters and especially βGodzilla vs Kongβ have taken the fantastical approach.
However I would like to point out one element from βGodzilla vs Kongβ which I found a tad bit unbelievable and extreme (the Hollow earth theory) is better explained and set up in βMonarch Legacy Of Monstersβ, making it feel more grounded by the theory rather than diving head first into the fantastical.
The production value of this series is also its biggest selling point. It is the best-looking spin-off series that Iβve ever seen. Now itβs not on the same level of budget as say Amazonβs βRings of Powerβ but visually itβs pretty damn close. Itβs a globe-trotting adventure with family in the roots of its story, taking you to places like Japan, San Francisco, Alaska, Algeria and Kazakhstan. And the CGI of the MUTOβs themselves is better than most series (and films) nowadays, and definitely better than the stuff that Marvel has been churning out recently, Iβm looking at you βShe Hulkβ and βAnt-Manβ.
Now even though the series is a continuation of what βGodzillaβ set up, itβs nice that he isnβt featured too heavily in the show. Of course, we get to see him but heβs used in PTSD flashbacks of the G-Day attack to help show Cateβs trauma of the event and in certain other scenes that I wonβt spoil. We do get to see other MUTOβs too but donβt let the showβs title miss lead you. While it might be called βLegacy of Monstersβ the show follows βMonarchβ and the actions of the past and present.
Monarch in the films is this mysterious company and the series shows you how they came to be and also how they emerged from the shadows and into the public eye after the events of βG-dayβ. Itβs about the human factor too and not just the MUTO element. That being said there is a good Monster to human ratio to keep you hooked. And some of them (monsters) look pretty damn cool.
So overall βMonarch Legacy Of Monstersβ has exceeded my expectations. I admit I had my doubts at first, you never know how spin-offs will turn out, but this is definitely one of the more successful film-to-TV spin-offs Iβve seen.
Itβs intriguing and immersive with excellent pacing to keep you hooked every episode. With amazing production values and top-notch casting βMonarch Legacy Of Monstersβ is a series that I would recommend to any fan of science fiction, binge-able shows, fans of the films or anyone who just wants to watch a damn good series. I canβt wait to see where the story takes us next in later seasons.
Monarch Legacy Of Monsters Official Trailer
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The series will be available to stream on November 17th to Apple TV + Subscribers
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