Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the latest addition to the Legendary Monsterverse, has received mixed reactions from critics after its premiere at New York Comic Con. The show, which stars real-life father and son Kurt and Wyatt Russell as Lee Shaw, a former Army officer who has a mysterious connection to the secretive organization Monarch, follows two siblings who discover their family’s involvement in the world of monsters. The show spans three generations and two timelines, one in the 1950s and one in the present day, as the characters uncover buried secrets and face epic, earth-shattering events.
The show has been praised for its appearance of the monsters, which include Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and some new original creations. The titan fights are thrilling and spectacular, and the show does not shy away from showing the destruction and chaos caused by the giant creatures. However, some critics have pointed out that the visual effects are not consistent, especially when the monsters interact with humans on-screen. The show also suffers from a thin and overstretched story, which can feel unfocused and confusing at times.
The highlight of the show, according to many critics, is Kurt Russell’s charismatic performance as the older Lee Shaw, who steals the scene whenever he appears. The actor brings his old-school movie star charm and charisma to the role, and his chemistry with his son Wyatt is palpable. The show also features strong performances from Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe, and Kiersey Clemons, who play the siblings Cate, Kentaro, and May, respectively. The show is a human drama at its core, and it explores themes of family, lies, trauma, and legacy.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a show that will appeal to fans of the Godzilla franchise, as well as those who enjoy a global adventure story with a family drama twist. The show is available to stream on Apple TV+, with new episodes releasing every Friday.
