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“Think different,” as Apple famously coined, is more than just a tagline—it’s a manifesto, a rallying cry for innovation in all its forms. But what does it mean to truly think outside the box when it comes to indulging in the art form of binge-watching?

With Apple TV+ stepping into the limelight, we’re invited to dive deep into a realm of unparalleled storytelling—a place where creativity reigns supreme and the content is anything but formulaic. Are you ready to uncover a treasure trove of riveting tales, mysterious twists, and groundbreaking ideas that defy convention?

Kai Alexander and Vincent Londez in Masters of the Air

Apple TV+ may not have the quantity of Netflix’s firehose approach, but the quality here is truly second to none. From the nail-biting drama of Severance to the history-rich Masters of the Air, Apple’s distinctive offerings redefine what it means to be binge-worthy.

The Npd BookScan released its Top 20 best-selling adult graphic novels in the United States for January 2025, with 15 of the 20 spots occupied by manga volumes and 5 spots by Solo Leveling (manhwa).

17th volume of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man topped the best selling list of January 2025, with 13th volume of Tatsuya Endo’s Spy x Family taking the second spot.

Check out the complete list of best selling manga in the US for the month of January 2025 below:

RankTitleVolumeAuthor1Chainsaw Man17Tatsuki Fujimoto2Spy x Family13Tatsuya Endo3Solo Leveling10Chugong4Jujutsu Kaisen24Gege Akutami5Dandadan1Yukinobu Tatsu6Solo Leveling1Chugong7Berserk Deluxe (Hc)1 Kentaro Miura8Jujutsu Kaisen1Gege Akutami9Solo Leveling9Chugong10Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated. A Magic: The Gathering Manga2Katsura Ise11Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun21AidaIro12One Piece (Omnibus Edition)1Eiichiro Oda13Berserk Deluxe (Hc)2Kentaro Miura14Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba1Koyoharu Gotouge...

Some of the most sought-after cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game are the secret rare cards that can be found in every new set, and Terastal Festival has no shortage of them. These unique cards are so sought after by collectors everywhere simply due to the fact that they contain special alternative artwork made by incredible illustrators that can be very hard to find. They can be some of the most beautiful cards in an entire set, making them highly valuable.

Although Terastal Festival has a primary focus on Eevee and its eight beloved eeveelutions, it was recently revealed that many other Pokémon will also be getting unique alternative artwork in this set. These include various powerful Paradox Pokémon from the past and future, staples in the recent Scarlet & Violet games. With the set coming out in Japan on December 6, these are the ten cards that collectors should absolutely keep an eye out for.

Legendary will continue to expand upon their monster-filled cinematic universe with a second season of the Apple TV+ series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” and the official Apple TV account over on Twitter this morning has announced that production is underway.

What do we know about “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” Season 2? For starters, Amber Midthunder (Prey) recently joined the cast of the upcoming season. Midthunder’s involvement in the new season is said to be “a heavily recurring role.” As we recently learned, she will appear as new character Isabel, described as “an intelligent and powerful businesswoman.”

The first season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” ended with the surprising arrival of King Kong, and co-creator Chris Black ensures that’s one promise Season 2 will make good on.

Chris Black told Gold Derby, “I think where we left the season gave us so much fertile territory for storytelling. Keiko comes back, we...

Every Berserk fan recognizes the infamous Griffith, especially in the most poignant moments of his rebirth as Femto joining the God Hand, but a new statue looks to add the memory of his emergence to collectors' shelves, too. Courtesy of Prime 1 Statue and hosted on prime1studio.com, dedicated Berserk fanatics can seize the moment immortalized as the cover of volume #12, and it's available on preorder for the hefty price of $899. The statue features enormous amounts of detail and sports impressive heft at 46x44x39cm, with a bonus edition featuring the Crimson Behelit.

While it's a jarring moment that changes Berserk forever, it's also one of Griffith's most iconic scenes, and the artistic detail, enhanced with built-in LED lighting, makes this a sought-after treasure. Every intimate detail of Kentaro Miura's original artwork is viscerally realized, down to the eerie wings of his new Femto form, and the shattered,...

Kong's upcoming return in the Monsterverse can finally help make up for the true sequel to 2017's Kong: Skull Island that never ended up happening. The giant ape was first introduced during his solo movie, before having a crossover with Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021. He was later a prominent character in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in 2024, helping the reptilian Titan take down the Skar King. But his adventures are far from over, with a Godzilla x Kong sequel already in development, slated for release on March 26, 2027.

These crossover sequels have done plenty to emphasize Kong's character, often giving him the spotlight alongside a cast of human allies. By the end of Godzilla x Kong, he's become a king to other giant apes in the Hollow Earth, bringing Suko and Shimo back to help build a better life for his new people. This character arc takes place...

GrX Studio has announced an ambitious plan to invest Usd 50 million over the next five years with its Asia strategic partners to produce 15 Mandarin series and 5 horror films, aiming to expand its presence across the Asia-Pacific region and establish itself as a leading film studio in Taiwan. The launch event was attended by the cast of the latest series and films, including Taiwan actress Ning Chang and Vietnam actor Lien Binh Phat from “The Outlaw Doctor,” which was co-produced with Public Television Service Foundation (Pts) and Chunghwa Telecom (Cht), as well as Korean celebrity Jinyoung and Taiwan actress Moon Lee from “The Photo from 1977,” a film facilitated by the Hakka Affairs Council, with script development supported by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (Taicca), and funded by the Hakka Public Communication Foundation. This international collaboration has generated significant excitement.

The event brought together investors, distribution companies, IP licensing firms, media representatives,...

She's taken on the Predator and lived to tell the tale, but now it looks like Prey star Amber Midthunder is moving onto bigger things. And by bigger things, we mean Kaiju sized, Godzilla and Kong and Ion Dragon sized things. That's right, folks — Amber's about to bring (Mid)thunder to the MonsterVerse! As reported by Variety, the Legion and Avatar: The Last Airbender actor is set to play a major part in Season 2 of Legendary and Apple TV+'s big-budget, small-screen blockbuster series Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters.

Details on Midthunder's role are being kept under wraps for the time being, but Variety's reporting does confirm that her character's name is Isabela, that she's "an intelligent and powerful businesswoman,” and that her role in the show is being described as "heavily recurring". What line of business Isabela is in remains to be seen, but after Season 1's shocking climax,...

Amber Midthunder, whose TV credits include Roswell, New Mexico, Legion and Hulu’s acclaimed Predator prequel movie Prey, has boarded the cast of Apple TV+’s Godzilla-Kong series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

As reported by sister site Variety, Midthunder will fill the Season 2 role of Isabel, an intelligent and powerful businesswoman.

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It was back in April when Apple TV+ announced that it now only had...

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 has cast its first new character with a star from 2022's Predator prequel Prey. Monarch season 2 was confirmed by Apple TV+ in April 2024, following the major success of season 1. The show is the first live-action TV entry in Legendary's Monsterverse, taking a deeper dive into the role of its titular government organization. While Godzilla was a key focus of season 1, the follow-up was teased to have Kong as a more central character following his surprise appearance in the finale.

Now, Variety has confirmed that Amber Midthunder, who starred as Naru in Prey, is the first new character cast for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2. She will be portraying Isabel, "an intelligent and powerful businesswoman," though no further details about her role have been released as of writing. She will have a recurring role in the series, however she will still be appearing frequently, indicating she...

Legendary will continue to expand upon their monster-filled cinematic universe with a second season of the Apple TV+ series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” and Variety brings us some exciting casting news today. Amber Midthunder (Prey) will star in Season 2!

Midthunder’s involvement in the new season is said to be “a heavily recurring role.” She will appear as new character Isabel, described as “an intelligent and powerful businesswoman.”

The first season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” ended with the surprising arrival of King Kong, and co-creator Chris Black ensures that’s one promise Season 2 will make good on.

Chris Black told Gold Derby, “I think where we left the season gave us so much fertile territory for storytelling. Keiko comes back, we appear to have lost Colonel Shaw, we have this reunion with the family… that feels like a great launch pad for Season 2.”

“We want to continue to tell this human story,...

Kentaro Miura’s passing shook the anime-manga community in 2021. His creation influenced many fans around the world and everyone hoped for the mangaka to be able to finish Berserk as he wished to. While that unfortunately couldn’t happen, the legacy Miura left behind is truly one of a kind.

George Morikawa’s Hajime no Ippo | Credits: Kodansha

Many fans wouldn’t be aware of George Morikawa’s association with Miura, before Berserk even began. Along with fans, many renowned figures of the manga industry feel immense respect and admiration for Miura’s talents, and Morikawa is among them as well.

George Morikawa Reminisces about Miura’s Contribution to Hajime no Ippo A panel from the initial chapter of Hajime no Ippo | Credits: Kodansha

The creator of the long-running series Hajime No Ippo, George Morikawa, is a highly respected individual in the manga industry. Upon the completion of Hajime no Ippo’s thousand chapters,...

Anna Sawai has been killing it recently and fans love it when she appears on the silver screen. It is a little hard to track down actors who have great passion for what they do. While they do exist, there’s none quite like the 32-year-old Japanese actor and singer.

Anna Sawai as Cate Randa in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 1 | Credits: Legendary Entertainment

While she has done a lot of acting work over the last decade and a half, Sawai has now caught the attention of many with her roles in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Shogun. Sawai has also acted in the Fast & Furious films as well. However, it seems like her character on Monarch might have some connection to her in real life.

Anna Sawai learned to empathize with Cate Randa

Anna Sawai is someone who genuinely felt a deep connection with her character from Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 has the chance to introduce Mechani-Kong, a forgotten Kong villain from Toho's 1967 film King Kong Escapes. Apex Cybernetics may create Mechani-Kong in season 2, explaining why they're on Skull Island while tying Monarch closer to Godzilla vs. Kong. Mechani-Kong could be Skull Island's mystery mecha titan teased in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, impacting Monarch season 2's storyline by setting the stage for Mechagodzilla's later appearance.

The Monsterverse's TV series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has already revealed the perfect setup for a forgotten Kong villain to make their debut in season 2. The Apple TV+ series follows two different timelines, one set in the 1950s and one in the present day, revealing more history surrounding the Monsterverse's Titan-studying organization. The show became a major success for the streaming platform, with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 confirmed back in April 2024. The show is expected to continue...

Brenda Holland will be back in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2, confirms Monsterverse star Dominique Tipper. Though unsure what her character's storyline will be in season 2, Tipper hopes to see a flip from the more antagonistic portrayal of the Apex character in season 1, as she enjoys exploring "gray areas." With Monarch's season 1 ending setting up a bigger role for Apex in the show, season 2 could explore their origins and how they rose to the power seen in Godzilla vs. Kong.

Though absent from the most recent movie in the franchise, Dominique Tipper confirms that Apex Cybernetics and Brenda Holland will be back for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2. The Apple TV+ show serves as an expansion of Legendary's Monsterverse, exploring the origins of the titular organization as well as their impact on the world following Godzilla's first major re-emergence in San Francisco in 2015. One of the big points...

Some cast members from Monarch: Legacy of Monsters share their hopes for the upcoming season. Anna Sawai hopes that Cate will have more agency in season 2. Co-creator Chris Black teases his excitement over continuing the story and bringing in Kong.

The cast of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters share their hopes for the forthcoming season of the Apple TV+ series. Created by Matt Fraction and Chris Black, this monster television series is part of the ongoing Monsterverse franchise. The show follows half-siblings Cate and Kentaro Randa, who attempt to investigate the truth behind their family legacy. After a successful season 1 which garnered positive reviews from critics and viewers, AppleTV+ renewed the show for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2.

Speaking with Screen Rant in an exclusive interview, Kiersey Clemons, Anna Sawai, Joe Tippet, and creator Chris Black discussed the upcoming season. Sawai hopes her character Cate has more agency in season 2, after...

When Kentaro Miura orphaned Berserk, he unknowingly placed a huge responsibility on his childhood best friend, Kouji Mori. The burden of completing Berserk fell on Kouji Mori as he was the only one Kentaro had discussed the ending with.

Mori wholeheartedly dedicated himself to finishing off Berserk and the manga has already received several chapters. But are they as good as Miura’s work?

Kouji Mori Never Wanted to Replace Kentaro Miura for a Phony Berserk

A still from Berserk | Olm

When Kentaro Miura, the author of Berserk, passed away, his friend Kouji Mori took over his helm. Miura had discussed Berserk‘s ending at length with Mori, so it was only natural for Mori to take over the series and give fans the finale they deserve.

After Miura’s death, Mori appeared in an interview with Asashi and discussed what the author wanted the ending to be like. Mori...

Wyatt Russell shares his desire to act alongside his father in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2, hoping for a scene together. Kurt Russell has been previously cautious about a potential return in season 2, feeling his character arc concluded meaningfully in the season 1 finale. Possibilities for the Russells to share the screen in season 2 include time-bending events or near-death visions, the latter of which could set up either version of Lee Shaw for future Monsterverse appearances.

While his character has yet to be back for the next season, Wyatt Russell reveals his one wish for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2. The Monsterverse show saw Russell and his father, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Kurt Russell, both star as Lee Shaw, a former U.S. Army Colonel who served as one of the founding members of the titular organization alongside Bill Randa and Keiko Miura. The Monarch season 1 finale saw the older version...

We know that the MonsterVerse franchise is extremely popular. What started off as a Godzilla and King Kong reboot became a major cinematic franchise that brought the studio a lot of money. In the meantime, a television series – Monarch: Legacy of Monsters – was also launched and became a global hit, with fans eagerly awaiting a new season. The series was co-created by Matt Fraction and Chris Black, and the latter is going to be at the center of this report.

The topic we wanted to share with you is related to an interview between Christopher Rosen and Chris Black, one of the co-creators of the series. The two of them had a talk as part of the GoldDerby podcast and it was so interesting that we absolutely had to report on it.

As you can assume, Rosen and Black talked about a lot of things, but there is a very interesting one that was discussed,...

The first season of Legendary’s MonsterVerse TV series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters ran on Apple TV+ from November into January (you can read our own Alex Maidy’s review of the first batch of episodes Here), and while Godzilla was an important figure in that season, it wrapped up with an episode that indicated Kong might be taking the spotlight if there were to be a follow-up. The show was co-developed by Chris Black (Star Trek: Enterprise) and Matt Fraction (Hawkeye), and during a recent interview with Gold Derby, Black said that Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 is aiming to be bigger and better – while giving viewers the Kong action they’re hoping to see.

Black told Gold Derby (with thanks to our friends at Bloody Disgusting for the transcription), “I think where we left the season gave us so much fertile territory for storytelling. Keiko comes back, we...

In addition to a sixth Monsterverse movie, Legendary will also continue to expand upon their monster-filled cinematic universe with a second season of the Apple TV+ series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” and more spinoff shows have been teased for the coming years.

But first let’s focus on “Monarch” Season 2…

The first season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” ended with the surprising arrival of King Kong, and co-creator Chris Black ensures that’s one promise Season 2 will make good on.

Chris Black tells Gold Derby this week, “I think where we left the season gave us so much fertile territory for storytelling. Keiko comes back, we appear to have lost Colonel Shaw, we have this reunion with the family… that feels like a great launch pad for Season 2.”

“We want to continue to tell this human story, we want to continue to tell the story of the Randa family and...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1 finale.

Co-creator Chris Black teases that Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 will feature more of Kong. Kong's surprise season 1 finale cameo sets expectations for the future that the show will attempt to fulfill. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1 was well-reviewed because it balanced human drama with monster action, and season 2 should continue this same trend with Kong.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters co-creator Chris Black teases what Kong's role will be in season 2 of the hit Apple TV+ series. After a number of successful films, Legendary's Monsterverse moved into the TV realm, telling a decades-spanning story about one family's ties to the mysterious organization known as Monarch. Godzilla made several appearances throughout the show, but the finale finally features the arrival of Kong, setting up a bigger role for the titan in the confirmed Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2.

In...

There are plenty of anime about cute girls doing cute hobbies but guys can be cute and do cute things too. Anime about cute boys doing cute things is all about an easy-going, tranquil and stress-free atmosphere. Either it’s running a cute cafe and bantering with a barista, talking about shared interests, collecting cute characters, looking after little kids or being clumsy and awkward — it’s all cute and sweet. It’s like covering yourself in a blanket with a content smile. Play It Cool, Guys Of course, this article wouldn’t be about cute guys doing cute things if I hadn’t started with Play It Cool, Guys , which is the epitome of cuteness, slice-of-life and comedy. Originally a full-colored web manga by Kokone Nata that has been serialized since 2019 on Pixiv, Play It Cool, Guys depicts the clumsy days of four different guys in modern Japan. Embarrassment,...

Netflix Releases “Bridgerton” Season 3 Trailer

Dear reader, if it’s a friends-to-lovers storyline you’re looking for, welcome back to “Bridgerton.”

Netflix has released the long-awaited trailer for the two-part third season of its acclaimed regency romance series.

In Season 3 of the Shondaland series, which will center on Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), Penelope has given up on her long-held crush on Colin and has decided to find a husband that will allow her to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown. But lacking in confidence, her attempts fail spectacularly. Colin, eager to win back her friendship, offers to mentor Penelope to help her find the confidence she needs to find a husband. “But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly.”

Watch the trailer for “Bridgerton” Season 3 below:

Season 3 will also star Claudia Jessie,...

Apple TV+ is supersizing its already titanic Monsterverse.

The streamer announced on Thursday that it has renewed Monarch: Legacy of Monsters for a second season; the news comes three months after the Season 1 finale dropped on Jan. 12.

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What’s more, Apple TV+’s new deal with Legendary Entertainment includes multiple spinoff series based on the Monsterverse franchise.

Set in...

The MonsterVerse has taken fans to the beast and humanity’s desperate struggle for co-existence. At the heart of this cinematic universe lies Monarch, a secretive organization dedicated to uncovering the truth about these ancient creatures.

A still from Godzilla vs. Kong

“Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” delves into the world beyond the blockbuster films, exploring the operations of the team through small screens. Fans were surprised about how well the first season of the series turned out to be and have been waiting for a second season ever since. Unfortunately, they might have to wait a bit more considering the recent comments made by one of the series’ major actors.

Anna Sawai Does Not Have An Answer For Monarch Season Two

A still from Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

Rising star Anna Sawai plays a pivotal role in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters as Cate Randa. Cate, a Japanese American schoolteacher, stumbles...

Keiko's character in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters could explore her family relationships and her adjustment to society. Keiko will have to catch up on 50 years of science and adjust to a world changed by the Titans. The first season ending sets up new potential storylines for both Keiko and the MonsterVerse as a whole.

In a recent interview, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters star Mari Yamamoto discussed where she believes her character Keiko's story could go in a second season. The Apple TV+ show takes place in the overall MonsterVerse timeline, with the first season exploring both the founding of Monarch in the 1950s and the aftermath of G-Day in the 2010s. The series ended its first season earlier this month, bringing Keiko into a new timeline.

The season finale brought Keiko into the future, where she reunited with her son and grandchildren. This has given a lot of narrative...

The season finale of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters hints at the introduction of a mecha-Titan, potentially on Skull Island. The show deviates from the heroic portrayal of Monarch in the Monsterverse movies, as Apex rescues the main characters. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters may explain why Monarch desires a mechanized giant and how it ties into Mechagodzilla in the Monsterverse.

Warning: Spoilers for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 10

The twist at the end of the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1 finale means the Monsterverse may be on the cusp of introducing its missing mecha-Titan. Wrapping up on a game-changing development, the finale revealed that two years had passed on the surface while Kurt Russell's Lee Shaw, Cate, and May were stuck in the underground world. In addition to moving the story forward to 2017, the show made the surprise move of putting the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters characters on Skull Island,...

Warning: Spoilers for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 has a positive outlook for renewal due to the warm reception and overall success of season 1. Several burning questions remain unanswered, such as what happened to Bill Randa after 1962 and what Apex is doing on Skull Island. Lee Shaw's fate is uncertain, as his body was not shown, leaving the possibility for his survival and whereabouts to be explored in future seasons.

In addition to filling some important gaps and clearing up some lingering mysteries, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters raised some burning questions of its own. Presumably, the loose ends it created will serve as ground for additional seasons to cover. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 has yet to be confirmed, but season 1's warm reception and overall success give its renewal a positive outlook.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters completed its main narrative, allowing its core...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1 finale!

Anna Sawai, star of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, discusses how her own experience with Japan's 2011 earthquake helped her connect to her character's trauma. Cate's trauma in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a major driver for the plot, leading her to uncover the truth about her family's history with Monarch. While it is unclear how Cate's trauma will develop in season 2, her new friends may be helping her heal as she was able to see Godzilla without flashing back in the finale.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters star Anna Sawai has opened up about her own experiences with a real-life disaster, and how she used it to connect to Cate in the Monsterverse series. In the show, Cate Randa has traumatic flashbacks to the events of 2014's Godzilla, where the titular Titan fought MUTOs in San Francisco. This resulted in her losing...

Warning: Spoilers for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 10

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 10 reveals that Apex had a base on Skull Island, explaining their extensive knowledge of the Hollow Earth. The season finale also shows that both Apex and Monarch have outposts on Skull Island, debunking the assumption that only Monarch had a base there. The show leaves open the mystery of how Walter Simmons acquired Ghidorah's head, potentially hinting at a relationship between Apex and Jonah that can be explored in season 2.

The shocking Skull Island twist in the Monarch Legacy of Monsters season 1 finale cleared up two Monsterverse mysteries left unsolved by Godzilla vs. Kong. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 7 created an unexpected bridge between the show and the 2021 crossover when it brought Apex into the picture. With the season finale, the show significantly expanded the role of Mechagodzilla's creators in the narrative with a surprising development.

Warning: Spoilers for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 10

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 will explore a new period in the Monsterverse timeline, moving the story to 2017 after a time jump in the season 1 finale. Keiko and Hiroshi Randa are now part of the show's principal characters, and they have found an unlikely ally in Apex. The show may address Monarch's growing public scrutiny and the risk of more Titans rising to the surface due to Hollow Earth rifts in season 2.

A time jump in the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1 finale moved the story to 2017, setting up a new period in the Monsterverse timeline for season 2 to explore. Events across multiple years were showcased in the series, with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters telling stories set in 1952, 1959, 1962, 1982, and more. But while its approach to its legacy heroes was to run through years of Monarch history, it stuck primarily to 2015 with its modern-day characters.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters Season 1 Finale

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters co-creators Chris Black and Matt Fraction explain the show's surprising ending and cameo. Serving as the latest installment of Legendary's Monsterverse, the Apple TV Plus series chronicles the history of Monarch and the ways in which the organization weaves itself into the lives of characters like Cate (Anna Sawai), Lee Shaw (Kurt and Wyatt Russell), May (Kiersey Clemons), and Kentaro (Ren Watabe). After an action-packed few episodes, the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters finale jumps forward two years in time and concludes with a surprise appearance from Kong himself.

Now, as audiences await news on the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 renewal, Black and Fraction discuss the season 1 ending during a recent interview with ComicBook.com. While careful not to reveal their plans for the show's future, it sounds like Kong could certainly be a part of a potential follow-up season.

This article contains spoilers for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1.

The history of the MonsterVerse stands revealed in the Apple TV+ original series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Set in the aftermath of Godzilla’s cataclysmic emergence in San Francisco, as chronicled in 2014’s Godzilla, a young woman named Cate Randa (Anna Sawai) travels to Japan after her father’s apparent death only to learn her family is part of a global conspiracy involving Titans like Godzilla. Teaming up with Kentaro Randa (Ren Watanabe), the half-brother she never knew she had, Cate travels the world with her father’s old associate Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell in flashback) to learn more about Monarch, the clandestine organization overseen by her adoptive grandfather Bill Randa (Anders Holm).

Here is how the first season finale of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters leaves its characters, what earth-shattering revelations are made, which characters don’t...

Warning: Spoilers for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 10

Keiko Randa is still alive in the Monsterverse, having survived the Hollow Earth and not experiencing any aging. The underground world explored in the finale is called Axis Mundi, serving as a bridge between the surface and the Hollow Earth. Godzilla defeated the Ion Dragon in a battle, but its fate is unclear, and Lee Shaw's death was also not confirmed, leaving room for both to have survived.

The Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1 finale had no shortage of major twists, including a surprising cameo from Kong himself. Wrapping up its ten-episode story, the season finale of Apple TV+'s Monsterverse spinoff featured appearances from a total of three Monsterverse Titans. In addition to the final scene that showed off Kong, the episode featured a thrilling showdown between Godzilla and the Monsterverse's Ion Dragon.

The battle between Godzilla and the...

The following contains spoilers from the season finale of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, now streaming on Apple TV+.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters closed out its season with a series of twists that were, fittingly, titanic in size.

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Not long into her very unplanned trip to Hollow Earth, Cate unexpectedly met her grandmother, Keiko. Keiko in turn learned that Cate was not there as part of any Monarch rescue mission.

This post contains spoilers for "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" season 1.

"Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" wrapped up its first season this week with a surprisingly satisfying finale that wove together disparate threads the show has been untangling all season. The sci-fi series' overlong debut season still managed to keep plenty of viewers intrigued with a myriad of monsters, an endless stream of mysteries, and two Russells for the price of one, but its final two episodes are the best "Monarch" has been yet.

There's no bloat in the season's big payoff episode, which sees Lee Shaw and his team of assorted and sundry amateur sleuths enter the Titan realm (Aka the Hollow Earth) after an attempt to seal it off went wrong. Along the way, they finally figure out what happened to Shaw's friend and colleague Kei (Mari Yamamoto) all those years ago. Part emotional reunion, part thrilling, monster-filled adventure, the...

For a Godzilla franchise that has basically established itself as a modernized, Americanized version of Toho Studio’s iconic Kaiju movies, Legendary’s Monsterverse is surprisingly inventive when it comes to the creation of gigantic monstrosities. Aside from the four primary iconic monsters of Godzilla lore, namely Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, and Mechagodzilla, a major chunk of Monsterverse creatures are original additions. In addition to enriching the established Godzilla mythos, the monsters of Legendary’s shared universe, known as ‘Titans’, stand out on their own thanks to their cool, creative designs, which are a perfect amalgamation of natural world inspirations and inventive visual traits.

Legendary’s latest small-screen venture, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, has swung surprisingly hard, both narrative-wise and using a substantial budget to offer a monster spectacle of cinematic quality. The nuclear-powered Titans are integrated into the stories in a much better way than they were in the movies,...

Kiersey Clemons and Anna Sawai in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ episode 10 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 10, the season finale, picks up just seconds after the end of episode nine. Keiko (Mari Yamamoto) has just saved Cate (Anna Sawai) from being attacked by a Titan, and it’s obvious Cate’s more shocked about seeing her grandmother than she is about almost being eaten.

Cate’s upset that May’s not with her and doesn’t respond when Keiko asks if she came with Bill Randa or Lee Shaw. Keiko has no idea that time has passed or that she’s talking to her granddaughter.

Keiko reveals she set up a beacon and thinks that her rescue signal is what brought Cate into this world that she’s named Axis Mundi (the pole between Heaven and Earth). Cate knows nothing about the signal, and...

Although almost every Kaiju movie fan would prefer the tedious human drama to be as lessened as possible so as to not meddle with the monster spectacles, it is an undeniable fact that a well-crafted human institution makes Kaiju stories more interesting. Aside from the fact that Godzilla movies are inherently symbolic of nature’s retribution against humanity for their folly, human actions give viewers a third-person perspective into the world of monsters. Legendary’s Monsterverse adhered to this perspective by introducing Monarch as a secretive Titan research organization, positing it as a mediator between humans and Titans, aiming to pave the way for co-existence.

On the exact opposite side of the spectrum exists Apex Cybernetics, a seemingly rival conglomerate that was introduced in Godzilla vs. Kong and whose origins can be traced back to the recently concluded Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Motivated by a different goal to that of Monarch,...

We have always talked about how well Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has broadened the scope of modern monster epics by assimilating interesting human storylines with creature spectacle, but even we didn’t expect the engrossing emotional output the resultant treatment will provide as the season finale of the series managed to present. There were a number of well-connected story arcs in the series, the major one being the three-generation-spanning, Titan tracking tale, with both the Randa family and Lee Shaw at the center of the entirety. Aside from the core storyline, the emergence of Titans during the past and present timeline showcased differing coping mechanisms undertaken by humanity, ranging between willingness to co-exist to destructive reactions stemming from egocentric ideologies. Both of these narrative strands are tied up in the final episode of the first season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, titled ‘Beyond Logic’, in a spectacular fashion, leaving enough...

Will Apple TV+’s monster mash continue?

The first, 10-episode season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (aka “the Godzilla series”) comes to a close this Friday, with the release of a rather epic finale. (You’ll cry, you’ll be on the edge of your seat, you’ll cheer.)

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Official Season 2 renewal news,...

by Sophia Ng

“You sound like one of those guys,” he spits, “Men who get girls pregnant then say ‘Oh, I understand', and sign the form like it's none of their business.” Aki says nothing to that, silently taking a gulp of water. “But I'm the one who bears the risk whether it's childbirth or an abortion.”

Click on the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix

In a literal reversal of roles, the 2022 comedy-drama “He's Expecting (Hiyama Kentaro ō Ninshin)”, directed by Yuko Hakota and Takeo Kikuchi, sees Hiyama Kentaro, a 33 year old cisgender man having an emotional outburst, lashing out at his female partner's apparent failure to empathize with his predicament—being pregnant and the eventual trauma his body would be put through regardless of whether or not they keep the child. Currently on Netflix, this limited series based loosely on Eri Sakai's manga 2012 series, “Hiyama Kentaro no Ninshin...

The following recap, by the very definition of the word recap, contains spoilers from Episode 9 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, now streaming on Apple TV+.

We now know why Monarch: Legacy of Monsters‘ Colonel Lee Shaw looks pretty spry for a 90something guy.

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Warning: Spoilers for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 9.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters fills in story gaps and introduces compelling new characters to the MonsterVerse. The first episode reveals that the supposedly dead father of the Randa family, Hiroshi, is alive and abandoned his families to save the world. In episode 9, Hiroshi and his son Kentaro are reunited in an emotional moment, while believing that another family member, Cate, has died.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters enriches the world of the MonsterVerse by filling in story gaps between the blockbuster films and adding a range of compelling new characters. The 10-episode series details the origins of the Monarch organization through the story of the Randa family, with three generations represented in the series. In the first episode, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters explores the cost of that family’s secrets, with Cate Randa discovering she has a secret half-brother in Kentaro Randa after...

Wyatt Russell in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ episode 9 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode eight ended with a gut-wrenching cliffhanger that saw Cate, May, and Lee tumbling through a rift. Episode nine, the season’s penultimate, keeps us hanging about their fate and instead opens with a flashback to a Monarch test site in Kansas, 1962, and a young Hiroshi being babysat by Lee Shaw (Wyatt Russell) and Bill Randa (Anders Holm).

Scratch that…it’s actually Bill who’s pulled babysitting duty for the day as Lee is about to make history by traveling into a rift via a specially constructed ship. Before leaving, Lee loans Hiroshi his pocketknife to hold onto until he returns.

Bill and Lee have grown close to Hiroshi, and Lee compliments Bill on the job he’s doing raising the boy. Lee thinks Keiko would be proud.

General Puckett...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 8!

Lee Shaw's age in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will be addressed in the final episodes, implying its importance to the overall plot. Lee's youthful appearance may be connected to his knowledge and interaction with the Hollow Earth. Falling into the Hollow Earth portal at the end of episode 8 means Lee's age could be addressed in the location.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will be addressing Lee Shaw's age at some point during its final episodes, explaining why the topic keeps getting brought up. Kurt Russell's retired colonel is supposedly in his 80s, but other characters in the show continuously bring up how young he looks for his age. Conversations containing this information indicate it's somehow important to the larger story of the series.

Now, TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich claims the topic of Lee's age will be brought up when Monarch: Legacy of Monsters...

The following contains spoilers from Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Episode 8, now streaming on Apple TV+.

With its antepenultimate Season 1 episode, Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters brushed up against a major piece of Monsterverse movie mythology, as in the Hollow Earth theory — and may have even sent a few heroes down to that topsy-turvy realm!

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Episode 8 (of 10), titled “Birthright,” revealed to Cate that Colonel Lee Shaw,...

Time might heal wounds of the past, but it is up to us to decide whether to let the hurt dictate our actions, misguide us, or to move beyond it and use it as a positive influence. The death of his Monarch colleague and old flame, Dr. Keiko Miura had affected Shaw’s perspective towards the entire Titan tracking ordeal of the shadowy organization, and as the last episode has shown, he is ready to take drastic measures to atone for her loss. Previously, the renegade team of Monarch operatives led by Shaw and Duvall seized Monarch’s Alaskan outpost, and the team destroyed the Titan Frost Vark and a Hollow Earth gateway by detonating charges around them. Shaw’s seemingly villainous turn was an unpredictable development, but the eighth episode, Birthright, adds much more emotional heft, which in some ways explains his actions in a new light.

On the other hand,...

Wyatt Russell in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ episode 8 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

After a brief visit back in time to a discussion between Bill Randa (Anders Holm) and Keiko Miura (Mari Yamamoto), Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode eight catches up with Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell) and Duvall (Elisa Lasowski) in 2015 as they head to a target in Kazakhstan.

But don’t get comfortable in the more modern era, as the first half of this episode recap is going to concentrate on the events of 1955.

Lee (Wyatt Russell), Keiko, and Bill meet with Lt. Hatch in Washington DC. He’s unimpressed with their latest work on gamma rays and thinks they’re wasting money on a ridiculous project. If a Godzilla-type monster shows its face, the U.S. will take care of him with a nuke. Hatch wonders why, after two years of throwing money into Monarch, there...