After a thrilling cliffhanger on Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the series continues to deliver powerful moment after powerful moment. In “Axis Mundi,” our characters might not necessarily explore the connection between Heaven and our world, but it does bring more insight into the Hollow Earth, the place where the titans originate from.
The past sequences show how Bill and Shaw carried on after losing Keiko. More importantly, it shows the psychological effect of loss for a young Hiroshi Randa. It informs his renegade type attitude in the present and the love/hate relationship he has with Monarch, not to mention his father issues that become generational within the Randa family. All of this combined pave the way for Hiroshi’s disillusionment during the emotional reunion with Shaw.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters also shows Shaw’s own experiences within the Hollow Earth. It’s told in a series of cut scenes that feel purposely vague and hazy to keep up the aura of mystery surrounding the kingdom deep inside our planet. We speed through his return back, which is disappointing and unsatisfying since there aren’t too many details. Though we receive many answers to lingering questions, this entire Hollow Earth encounter is inconsistent with what happened in the films considering this is a shared universe.
The subplot with May, Cate, and older Shaw paints a clearer picture of the Hollow Earth. The combination of CGI along with more practical effects such as lighting and fog creates an exotic and eerie land that is filled with danger. It’s not only the titans you have to worry about. The setting hits the perfect balance of familiar and unknown.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters does a good job connecting the past and the present in the episode. There are parallels between the two eras as both groups are motivated to find their missing friends. To further emphasize the link, it’s enjoyable how the past helps foreshadow the current events leading to an impactful reveal as we head into the finale.
As moving as the final scene is, the most riveting is the one between Hiroshi and Kentaro. Finally, after almost an entire season, we have the messy meeting between estranged father and child. Ren Watabe conveys the frustration and disappointment of a son cast aside. There is no holding back, and for his part, Takehiro Hira matches the intensity as Hiroshi becomes overwhelmed by the regret and the thought of losing one of his kids.
“Axis Mundi” develops a well-connected story spanning eras that packs heavy emotional punches.
New episodes of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters are released Fridays on Apple TV+.
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