IR TV Review: MONARCH - LEGACY OF MONSTERS - EPISODE 1 [Apple TV-S2]
Coming out of the end of season one of "Monarch: Legacy Of The Monsters" the intent of what the island could be for both Shaws is reflected in the path of the younger people. The aspects of abandonment are part of the idea that drives them. But when it becomes clear what they have discovered and what is being protected it makes more sense. The key though in this episode is the visage of Keiko (Mari Yamamoto) who has had her entire world turned upside down but also gets a reflection of what was created after. Kentaro (Ren Watabe) is an more of an enigma to her and his own daughter because he wants to live in two different worlds. That said, the duality of Lee Shaw (as played by Wyatt Russell [young] and Kurt Russell [old]) is one and the same. Shaw's focus is unwavering and yet is just a little more grizzled (as Kurt often is). Some of the non-Monarch team are focused enough to go searching again for him on the island which seems a little more like a doom's crusade. The space beneath (as seen in some other Kong world films) is interesting bizarre but doesn't enough to the equation as say certain parts of "Invasion" did.
The final resolution of the space gives the episode some finality in terms of rectifying lasr season's finale but opens up another can of worms. The primary protector but also one of tolerance is seen in that of Kong who pushes the concept of containment (and yet it is the ignorance of youth elsewhere that opens up another door that will likely create more problems. However, in the guise of serialization, this is a battle to be fought another day. However that is why the dual storylines across the time periods tends to work especially now that there is more of a conversion of sorts. The rub is not having it get too far out of hand that it lacks credibility. Granted this is a monster series, but like with one of the monsters with a ship last season, there is a way to give it an air of mystery like "Lost" did. Episode 1 wants to grab the audience back in but it can't go too far into itself to lose its way. B
By Tim Wassberg
