Season 1 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters unfolds across two timelines. In 2015, G-Day survivor Cate Randa (Anna Sawai) — a reference to the day Godzilla first publicly emerged and devastated San Francisco — uncovers her late father’s secret life and his ties to Monarch. She joins forces with her half-brother Kentaro (Ren Watabe) and May (Kiersey Clemons), eventually finding themselves in the orbit of imprisoned soldier Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell). In the 1950s storyline, a younger Shaw (Wyatt Russell) works alongside scientists Keiko Miura (Mari Yamamoto) and Bill Randa (Anders Holm) during Monarch’s earliest Titan investigations. The timelines converge in Axis Mundi, a subterranean realm where time moves differently, and Keiko — long believed dead — is discovered alive and unchanged decades later. In the final moments, Shaw remains behind to ensure the others can escape. When Cate and the group finally return to the surface, nearly two years have passed in the outside world during their time inside.
Season 2 opens in the emotional wake of that disruption. Keiko must navigate a future she never expected to see, yet she remains the fiercely independent rebel she has always been. Her greatest obstacle is not the Titans or Monarch’s secrecy, but the realization that her son Hiroshi is now a grown man with children of his own. The cost of lost time lands heavier than any monster encounter, grounding the science-fiction premise in something deeply human.
This season leans more into survival than spectacle. Monarch is not framed as a defensive force capable of controlling Titans, but as an organization that observes, studies, and reacts. That distinction adds tension — and humility — to the narrative. Humanity does not command these ancient forces; it adapts around them, often one step behind.
The scale remains cinematic. Titans carry weight and presence, integrated into their environments with a realism that connects directly to the larger MonsterVerse. Axis Mundi retains its eerie, otherworldly atmosphere, reinforcing the themes of displacement and instability. Even so, the series never drifts away from its characters.
Kurt and Wyatt Russell continue their compelling generational portrayal of Lee Shaw, balancing conviction in youth with reflection in age. Anna Sawai deepens Cate’s arc with controlled intensity, capturing both trauma and resolve without ever overplaying either. The ensemble succeeds because the emotional stakes matter just as much as the Titans looming overhead.
Positioned between Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and the upcoming Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters strengthens the foundation of the MonsterVerse rather than simply filling space between films. It deepens the mythology, reinforces the stakes, and expands the world in meaningful ways. If you enjoyed the films — or were invested in Season 1 — then Season 2 is a must-watch.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will premiere globally on Apple TV on Friday, February 27th with the first episode, followed by one episode every Friday until May 1, 2026. You can still get caught up on Season 1.
Newsdesk