The inaugural season of Apple TV+’s “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” ended with a hook that set up Kong’s arrival in the series. The season two finale just followed suit with a tease of the return of a classic Titan for season three.
Throughout the 10-episode second season, the protagonists have raced against the clock, both in the past and present, to thwart catastrophe caused by the mysterious new threat: Titan X.
For all the thrilling Kaiju clashes and Apex revelations uncovered in the S2 finale, though, “Monarch” saves its biggest surprise for its closing coda, which sees Kurt Russell‘s Lee Shaw tracking a Titan in Thailand.
This short scene further exposes the division that formed between our protagonists this season, but more importantly, it culminates with the reveal of Shaw’s target.
Major spoilers ahead!
The closing image of “Monarch” season two reveals that Rodan will make a grand return to the MonsterVerse next season. The giant pterosaur was first introduced to the MonsterVerse in 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters as a significant threat, but bowed to the Kaiju king by film’s end.
With Titan X ultimately revealed to be misunderstood, we’ll have to wait to see how Rodan factors into season three, whether as foe or friend.
Titan X is one of the many reasons to tune into this series. One that seems to keep getting better. I wrote in my review, “The new aquatic kaiju is the centerpiece of a thrilling, much more confident season that expands the MonsterVerse in exciting ways, all while deepening our emotional investment in both its human and inhuman characters alike.”
Season 2 is now streaming in its entirety on Apple TV+ and picks up with the fate of Monarch — and the world — hanging in the balance. Buried secrets are revealed, reuniting our heroes (and villains) on Kong’s Skull Island, and a new, mysterious village where a mythical Titan rises from the sea.
The ripple effects of the past make waves in the present day, blurring the bonds between family, friend, and foe — all with the threat of a titan event on the horizon.
Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Joe Tippett, and Anders Holm return to star in season two, joined by newcomer Amber Midthunder (Prey).
Chris Black, who created the series with Matt Fraction, serves as showrunner.
