‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Recap: ‘Parallels and Interiors’

12/1/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Anna Sawai, Kurt Russell, and Ren Watabe as Cate Randa, Lee Shaw, and Kentaro Randa in Episode 104 of ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ – ‘Parallels and Interiors’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

For the most part, Godzilla themed stories all build up toward a certain type of ending; an epic finale that features Godzilla. Now, how that shakes out may vary. He may find himself face to face with humanity, as it tries to drive the King of Kaiju back into the ocean to create the imperfect balance mankind and Godzilla share, after a big final battle of course. Or Godzilla and another monster beat each within an inch of their lives before returning to the sea with damage in their wake. Because that’s what we’ve come to expect from Gojira and Kaiju films, and that’s just fine. Because we get our money’s worth and it’s a roaring good time. But clearly, that is beginning to change.

For the next episode of the Apple TV+ series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, made it clear that this series has something bigger in mind that might not just involve the return of Godzilla and wanton destruction. And it accomplished that feat… by outright fooling us. For ‘Parallels and Interiors’ spent a fair of chunk time focused on our heroes’ newfound problems in the frozen mountaintops of Alaska. Because after that Titan smashed the plane to hell and killed an old friend, it came after the group and while they were able to escape, they were in quite the perilous situation. After all, May’s legs got wet, giving rise to the threat of hypothermia and there was no shelter out here and a real chance the Titan would return.

So… the group took a moment to assess their situation and their landscape and split up in an attempt to find help. For Kentaro thought he saw a structure nearby when they landed, and everyone else spotted a funny blue light on the horizon, so everyone but Kentaro went toward that while he searched for the shelter and that made for a scary night. Where the Titan kept chasing Cate’s group, despite their best efforts to steer clear of it, but they gave off heat and it fed off heat, so there was no escaping such a beast, and where Kentaro nearly succumbed to the cold. To the point where he spent some time in this story, in a feverish state, reflecting on his past and his father. But thankfully, he found the shelter he thought he saw, and he found a working radio that his dad clearly fixed, and that led to salvation for all, and an unfortunate reunion with Tim at their destination.

All of which, was at first glance, standard Godzilla fare. Man v nature, the battle for balance. When in reality, it related to so much more. For there was also a side story that took place at Monarch HQ and in the wilds of Utah in 2015. Wherein a Monarch doctor discovered… a spike of energy so powerful that there was concern another G-Day like event was about to occur. And it just so happened that this spike was happening in the wilds of Alaska, and that likely meant something was on the horizon. Something that prompted Cate and Kentaro’s dad to head that way and find himself in danger. But what mattered more about this plot thread, was that the blue light… was the source of the anomaly, and Shaw saw it and was captivated by it, and the reunion with Tim, undoubtedly has ties to this and of course… that all has to be building to something bigger. Something important.

As to what that is exactly, time will tell. But it is nice to know that a Godzilla story is working toward more than the just the usual. Giving rise to the reality that this truly is a special Kaiju story, one with depth and meaning and grandiose ideas, courtesy of the surprise that something large looms storytelling wise and through what happened here. Since Kentaro really reflected on some powerful moments, such as imposter syndrome and what it means to find our niche, and the wonder of love and connection, and of course… there are other mysteries brewing regarding May and why Shaw was so enamored with that stunning blue light. All of which compels us, to continue the journey. To see how all of this will come together as this incredible season of storytelling rolls along. Until next time.

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