Legacy of Monsters’ Season 2 Has Fixed a Season 1 Problem

Legendary’s Monsterverse has evolved into a highly successful franchise since the modern American Godzilla stomped his way into theaters in 2014, as evidenced by the streaming success of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Without the need to establish background for its existing cast of characters, Season 2 is action-packed from the beginning and picks up directly from the time-bending Season 1 finale.

Starring Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, and both Kurt and Wyatt Russell as Colonel Lee Shaw, Monarch has carved out an interesting niche operating in the shadows of the greater Monsterverse. Season 1 gave viewers some brief, albeit exciting, glimpses of what Godzilla was up to between the events of 2014’s Godzilla and 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Season 2 is poised to spend more time with Kong on Skull Island (while still folding Godzilla into the narrative).

While only two episodes have aired so far, Monarch has already demonstrated signs of growth from its already-excellent first season. The most important plot point is obviously the introduction of the massive and mysterious new Titan, so far only recognized as Titan X. A new Titan that appears to dwarf even the superspecies Titans like Godzilla and Kong is an exciting addition to the Monsterverse, and it’s a symbol of what Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has gotten right in season 2.

‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Season 2 Has More Monster Action Than Season 1

One of the most common fan complaints about Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 1 was that the Titans took a backseat to the human family drama that unfolded around the Randas and Colonel Lee Shaw. While it’s easy to understand why a streaming TV show with 10 episodes wouldn’t be loaded with non-stop monster action, some viewers were unsatisfied with what little screentime was given to monsters, Godzilla in particular.

The other side of that argument is that when the monsters do appear in Monarch, it feels significant. Each appearance is an event, giving the monsters a sense of scale and majesty that is too often missing from the Monsterverse movies, which have nearly devolved into superhero movies. However, Season 2 has, so far, wasted no time in upping the ante when it comes to monster screen time, and has even introduced new creatures to the mix at a higher clip than Season 1.

In Season 2, Episode 1, we were introduced to Titan X, the crustacean creepy-crawlies known as Scarabs, the electricity-spewing Psychovultures of Skull Island, and a brand-new ultra-deadly rodent known as a Vinerat. Season 1 introduced its own host of new creatures, but the actual screen time and interactions in Season 2 give the show a different, more exciting, and frenetic vibe.

It also enriches the overall Monsterverse lore, filling in gaps of time and providing important context regarding how the shadowy government organization known as Monarch actually developed and operated before Godzilla’s first appearance. It also changes how viewers actually interpret the world and Titans of the Monsterverse. In the movies, attention is justifiably paid to the relatively small number of gigantic monsters with territories around the globe. In reality, it’s a planet with multiple “realms” beyond the surface, each of which is loaded with creatures of all sizes.

‘Monarch’ Can’t Let The Titans Overtake Its Human Stories

Anna Sawai in Monarch Legacy of Monsters

As exciting as the influx of monsters is, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is still a show about the eponymous organization first and foremost. The 1950s-set storyline following Bill and Keiko Randa and Lee Shaw is crucial to understanding the history of Monarch, and how they fit into the greater world in the present day. Their slow-burning love triangle and monster-hunting narrative provides some of the strongest character work the show has, and it’s part of why the show has been successful so far.

Likewise, the modern-day Randa plotline following Cate, Kentaro, their father Hiroshi, and May is the viewer’s key touchpoint in the tech-forward “present-day” plotline of Monarch. While the family drama might not be for everyone, Season 2 has already made it seem like Hiroshi’s double life and its repercussions won’t be a focus much longer, with more dire situations afoot. Even the former self-described basement troll Tim (Joe Tippett) taking over as head of field operations for Monarch in place of the recently deceased Deputy Director Verdugo is an interesting way to walk the viewer through Monarch’s present-day evolution.

It’s perfectly understandable to expect a show spun off from a connected movie universe centered around Godzilla and Kong to spend plenty of time on monsters. However, the impact those monsters have on the humans in their world is a big part of what makes them fascinating as characters. Wrapping monster action around an engaging human drama is what makes Monarch: Legacy of Monsters worth watching, and Season 2 seems like it will strike that balance even better for monster fans.