What are people's thoughts on Monarch?

Monarch should have been about how this secret government wing is saving the world or slowly ruining it with its obsession with controlling these kaijus. Instead, it's a family drama about people who all hate each other, and we are supposed to care because...? Shaw (past & future) is carrying this show hard because he is the only likable person here. Also, while I understand the kaijus aren't the main characters, the way the show presents them feels underwhelming. Putting King Kong on the poster just for the guy to show for like 3 mins max this season feels like a bait & switch move.

It’s pretty bad but I’m still there every week hoping for monster action!

I really enjoyed the first season, mostly for the storyline in the past. Especially when the titan stuff is happening, past or present, it's a blast. But, they really don't seem to know what to do with the three younger characters. Anna Sawai is the lead, but for some reason they've written the character as the most useless of the whole cast. In second season, she is actively doing stupid things that get people killed. I'm not full caught up on the second season, but I'm starting to lose interest.

I watch for 2 reasons. 1. Godzilla 2. Anna Sawai Other than that, the editing is awful. Show constantly builds drama/tension and cuts away within minutes to sub-plot. It's a tough watch. but Anna Sawai makes it worth the watch.

Anna Sawai is gorgeous. That's my thought

Stopped watching after the 4th or 5th episode of the first season. Great potential, but nah.

I think it’s boring and the effects budget went down from last year. That said the story is more cohesive than most of the movies.

It's backgrounds noise for me, every episode usually has a solid 5 total minutes where I actually pay attention. It could have been WAY better and cooler, but then made it dumb and family and c***.

As son of the Blue Morpho he is probably top tier villain in the Guild of Calamitous Intent. And he has a baboons heart.

Wasted potential. I like the idea of a series based on the POV of Monarch, but the human drama just drags it down. It's hard to give a shit about everyone, when almost everyone has committed some infidelity in one form or the other. Also the amateurish directing is doing no one any favors, especially comparing Takehiro and Anne in this show to them in Shogun.

it needs some focus. there's like three different TV shows in there, that individually could all be decent. but being mashed together into one show isn't helping any of them.

Have/had a lot of issues with it... but it's kinda growing on me.

There's a very funny subplot going on this season about a family being seemingly genetically predisposed to infidelity.

they are really juicing the godzilla story

I enjoy the episodes I watch, but its never like appointment TV. I'll forget its on, and then its like "oh, i'm 3 episodes behind"

I feel like I could write a thesis on the show. I find it so fascinating. It has amazing production quality and sound. The acting ranges from competent to great. And yet, every episode feels like a complete train wreck. It's like each script is written by a different person who didn't even consult what the person last week wrote. I keep watching it because I like kaiju and Anna Sawai.

I stopped watching 4-5 eps into the new season.

No matter how hard they push it, I'm not going to a stop hating a bunch of cheaters.

Didn’t like season 1. I thought the characters were too whiny. Kept hoping the monsters and writing would make up for the characters but not for me unfortunately.

zzzz....zzzzz....zzzz... MONSTERS!!!!! ALL RIGHT YEAH!!!...zzzz zzzzz... zzzz

I quite enjoyed the first season. Sure the writing was a bit lackluster and I wouldn't necessarily depict it as high art. But it was a fun adventure nonetheless. Haven't had a chance to lock in on season 2 yet, but expect more or less the same.

I enjoy it but the second half of season 2 and the writing choices for the kids are driving me crazy. I will continue watching it but I do think it’s stumbling pretty hard right now.

Its a godzilla show without godzilla about a family that hates everyone, its a waste for the potential it had.

I liked first season but second one is so bad I couldnt watch it

The Russell’s were the only reason to keep watching it, I got to the second episode in season 2 and not even Wyatt Russell could save the show, so I dropped it.

I'm really enjoying it for fleshing out the world and lore of the Monsterverse. I agree it's not going to win any awards, but it's fun.

I loved season one but haven't started season two yet.

I really enjoy it. Really like the cast and the original monsters are good. I'll admit I liked the period story more - kind of wish that that was what the show was (that trio going on adventures) and season 2 is a bit worse than season 1. But, overall, I'm having a good time. Overall, I think the characters and story are better than most of the Monsterverse movies (except maybe Skull Island). I wonder if that's thanks to the involvement of Matt Fraction, really like him as a comic writer. On the Monsterverse and Godzilla sublistnooks, there's a lot of complaints about the lack of monsters and lack of effects scenes. Honestly, there's plenty and it's about what I'd expect for a TV show. Those scenes are there when they serve the story but, otherwise, it's really focused on the character stories. Godzilla fans have a reputation for not watching the movies, just skipping to the monster battles etc. With the weird reaction to this show, those fans are definitely not beating those allegations any time soon.

I get that all the Godzilla movies had this human drama subplot but this one is getting to be a bit much. I'll keep watching though! [I'm waiting for something like this to happen with Cate and Titan X](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ClddoGLJ4)

I absolutely love everything about Monarch except for the three main protagonists. They are the absolute worst.

It's okay. I started watching S1 right before S2 started so continued out of inertia. Probably won't be back if there's a season 3. The best part of the show is the stuff in the past. The only modern characters I care about are Shaw and Tim. It seems to meander a lot, with too much current family drama and not enough of everything else.

I like it S2 is a big step up from 1 but I did still enjoy s1

Watched S1. Great 1st episode. And it was downhill from there with some bright spots mixed throughout. I'm not watching S2 unless I hear it's an improvement over S1.

I didn't even make it through the first season, what a snoozefest

It's the kind of bad that some like. I am not among them.

Weak plot, even weaker writing and exceptionally bad acting by most of the actors, but still I tune in every week hoping to see a glimpse of Big Monkey or Gojira ha ha!

I jumped after watching three episodes this season. One of the worst writing I've ever seen in a big budget show

A lot of potential, fun lore, I enjoy the Russell’s in the show, the cgi is top tier. But holy moly the rest is hard to get through. The character dynamics don’t seem to track from scene to scene, they don’t react realistically to anything that happens to them, and the globe traversal gives late-stage Game of Thrones a run for its money. The 1950s storyline feels like it’s done by a completely different team.

What about THE Monarch?

Boring asf I gave it another chance this season but I checked out around episode 3-4. I skimmed through the following episodes and it's still just 90% talking and drama.

I have tried three times. It’s boring.

It’s pretty terrible but I still watched it ?

I've been watching since the start and S2 is starting to get to me. The most recent episode particularly, after a very well known Australian character actor showed up as the American Secretary of Defense with one of the worst American accents I've heard in a long time. My horror is probably exacerbated by the fact only a few days prior I'd finished seeing the same actor in a goldfields-ish era Australian filmed series with a better (but still ropey) English accent. Agree that the Russell boys are the best thing about the show. Really liking how that storyline is panning out. I just feel Keiko is holding something back. Probably the segue into S3.

Decent show...not for the masses. No likable characters except for Kurt Russel and Keiko character. Kurt Russel role reminds me of his Snake Plissken character.

Not great and I usually fast forward through the boring parts to see monsters. The characters overall are not very likable

The acting is honestly atrocious, the russels and the cate actor are the only ones worth a damn, hell I could probsbly outperform the rest.

The only rational character is Tim back at the control centre and no one listens to him.

I dont think Godzilla/Kong is the kind of franchise that benefits from expanded lore in a tv show like others like Star Wars or Marvel can. I just want to see big lizard fight giant monke

Like every American Godzilla movie after the Broderick one, it suffers from terrible human plots that bring the whole thing down.

I'll buck the trend. Me and a buddy really like the show. The characters are interesting and the timelines in the first season are both interesting. I like the approach to it from the scientific pov instead of the saving the world military thing of the movies. The second season has been fun other than one part that really had us scratching our heads. The monsters look great for tv as well. Love the settings and lore. I will say it's better binged than week to week because there are slower episodes but they feel better paced when you're not waiting a whole week for the next one. It's not the best written show always but I enjoy it and the cast is really good

I liked the first season but haven't seen any of S2.  I honestly forget Apple TV, or whatever they call it even exists and they haven't done an amazing job of promoting it. 

I've dozed off a few times and find the drama incredibly boring. A high quality show about giant monsters shouldn't do that.

Liked season, f****** enjoying season 2.

I’m confused on why kids are in charge or taken seriously at all tbh. Also not sure why cheating was the family trait they focused on… I watch for Pop/Son Russel and the Tim character!

I think it's honestly a lot better than it should be. It's a fairly solid slightly ridiculous sci fi with the occasional appearance from Godzilla. It might not be groundbreaking but it's fun.

Its fun, monsters allways a good time :)