One of the few epic non-MCU franchises of the last ten years has been the Godzilla/Kong universe. ThisMonsterversehas been able to take some of the most well-known giant creatures and bring them together into one coherent narrative. Part of this narrative has been to introduceMonarch, the organization that has tracked these creatures and kept an eye on them for an undisclosed amount of time.
But what will the show be about, and what can it bring to the franchise that we have not already seen?
What Is the Monarch Organization?
Monarch is a secret organization that has existedsince the arrival of Godzilla. They have a worldwide membership that aims to keep track of and find new cryptids and titans. For Monarch, the idea of existing behind the scenes came to an end when Godzilla once again returned in 2014’sGodzillamovie. They were then called into action upon learning that King Kong was active inKong: Skull Island(2017).
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The group became more widely known in government circles as new titans were found and old titans came out of the woodwork. These titans, also known as Kaiju, have existed for centuries. Monarch has been attempting to find out what they are, why they are here, and what is causing them to reappear after being dormant for such long periods of time.
Monarch has many members. The ones we have seen in the film have included Ishiro Serizawa (Ken Watanabe), Vivienne Graham (Sally Hawkins), William Randa (John Goodman), and Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall).
Each person on the team has a specific job description, ranging from Cryptozoologist to Geological Advisor. They have all been researching either the Kaiju or the hollow-earth theory that explains how titans travel quickly from one part of the world to another.
Monarch has become synonymous with the reemergence and appearance of the Titans and will be a key player as theMonsterverse moves forward.
What Is Monarch: Legacy of Monsters?
The Apple TV+ show is considered a companion piece to the Monsterverse films. It will follow a character named Lee Shaw, who is pivotal in the Monarch organization. The character will be shown both in his younger days and then roughly 40–50 years later. Shaw will be played by Wyattand Kurt Russell. The father and son have a deep resemblance and will play the character parallel to one another. The show will be ten episodes and air on Apple TV+ in 2023.
Little has been said about the show except for some information and photos of the Shaw character. However, there are many questions that have been left unanswered by the movies that we would love to see the show attempt to answer.
What Isn’t Monarch Telling Us?
The fact that Monarch even exists as an organization on its own is quite telling. Obviously, the governments of the world wanted things kept under wraps even though the entire world was aware that Godzilla existed following his attacks. But there are plenty of pieces that Monarch has not explained to anyone.
How can Lee Shaw’sstory show us the inner workings of this secretive organization? If the show will be following him throughout his life and career, it is obvious that he is a cornerstone of the Monarch organization. Though not the founder, he may have been an explorer whose work has created enough of a stir that he was brought into Monarch so that they could utilize his expertise. The fact that he would be so valuable to them means that there are other pieces besides Godzilla, Kong, and the known titans happening around the world.
The show may want to give us a view of Monarch from the viewpoint of an outsider who rises through the ranks. Shaw may be the warning bell that everyone ignores until it is too late. Perhaps he was aware of Godzilla’s return or may even be the one who found him prior to his waking from slumber.
It is important that the show gives a deeper insight into Monarch, a group that has been seen in small glimpses throughout five movies. We need to know the cards they are holding and whether they have any type of control over what is going on.
Has Lee Shaw Been There the Entire Time?
The show takes place both in the 1950s and the present day. Therefore, Shaw may have been pulling strings throughout his career. The series may want to set up the fact that every person we have seen in the Monsterverse so far has been taking orders from Shaw. Perhaps he is actually the true villain behind the various dominos that have been falling since Godzilla’s reemergence.
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If Shaw is a puppet master, we need to know how he got to that place. Perhaps he has seen so much that he believes the general public can’t understand the entire truth. Monarch is in place to both observe and protect. But maybe Shaw has had them protecting monsters and creatures from people and forgetting that people also need protection from the monsters. He may be an altruistic man whose entire ethos is misguided. He may even be the reason Ilene Andrews is so convinced that the Titans need to be communicated with in the first place. Shaw wants to control the lines of communication, and since Godzilla’s arrival and theouting of Kong, he may be losing his grip.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsterswill air on Apple TV+ in late 2023.
