Special thanks to Jeremy Williams for the submission!

*SPOILER WARNING*

Following a flawed albeit solid first episode, we are treated to a better episode character-wise. It’s a bit short on monster action for some. But steps it up in the character and plot department.

In my opinion this is where the main story should’ve started in episode 1. As it jumps back to 1952 where we get our real introduction to Shaw, Keiko, and Randa. The present-day stuff is fine as is. But I’m not a big fan of being introduced to the characters in the past where we see a major death before getting to know anyone. Just for it to jump back to their actual first meetings in the next episode. On the present day side of things we get more time with Kentaro and May. As well as the older Shaw played by Kurt Russell later on in the episode.

While it’s still fairly early on in the series, I feel it was a bit of a mistake to have such little focus of the story in the present on Monarch itself.  Since it’s an area the films have always fluctuated on. As in 2014, we aren’t given the best indication of the scope and size of Monarch as an organization. To me it felt fairly small at that point with what little was shown. Then in 2019 Monarch had such incredible resources that weren’t at all glimpsed in the first two films in the Monsterverse. And in 2021 Monarch played very little importance in Godzilla vs. Kong. Mostly due to reshoots and the reworking of the film before its release. So we weren’t ever given the best idea of present day Monarch.

My feelings on that being more solidified as we are further introduced to more and more characters in the organization as the series goes on that were never mentioned in any of the books, comics, or films to my knowledge. Not to mention ones that were in the comics and books that could’ve been used but weren’t. The new one featured in this episode is a French Monarch Employee named Duvall, played by Elisa Lasowksi. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if fans took her as a nod to Monique from the 1998 Godzilla the Series cartoon. As of now we don’t know if it’s intentional or not. But I certainly couldn’t help but be reminded of Monique when the character was on screen.

The stand-out moment of the episode for me has to be the introduction of Kurt Russell as the present-day Shaw. He brings a great energy and presence to the 2015 side of things. Sure, I may be biased in saying that as I’ve always been a huge fan of his. But he easily slides into his role here and steals all the scenes he is present in. Now being a lifelong and hardcore Godzilla fan I was always looking forward to the series. Especially as I’m a big fan of the Monsterverse as well. But I have to admit his casting is what got me even more hyped for the show.

Back to the plot side of things we spend a lot more time in the past, and I’m happy that it does. Though it’s a bit too much of a coincidence how Randa just bumps into Shaw and Keiko while they are out in the Philippines. But it does lead to an interesting sequence where we see the USS Lawton after it was first mentioned in Skull Island. Unfortunately, we aren’t given any explanation as to how it got to be stuck on land. We are however introduced to a new flying monster that wasn’t named in the episode.

I do again have to be the continuity stickler and say that while we don’t know when the photo of the Lawton that was shown in Skull Island was taken. It yet again shows a continued lack of cohesion between the show and movies. The ship Is shown to be missing huge chunks from it that aren’t present in the version seen here. Not to mention the photo shown in Skull Island shows that the Lawton appears to have washed ashore.

Back in the present, we see that Tim and Duvall are hot on Kentaro and Cate’s trail as they are trying to recover the files that the two discovered. Them being hunted leads them to seek out Shaw, who is living at a retirement facility located in Japan. Which turns out to be not what it seems on the surface. As for reasons unexplained Shaw is under surveillance and house arrest of sorts. We aren’t given too much info on the facility, but it’s shown to be run by Monarch. Would’ve been nice to get more info on it and the reason for its existence though.

Jumping back to the story in the past, I do appreciate that we get some shots from Randa’s point of view with his camera. Although its only used for a few shots. And sure it wasn’t really necessary but it does adds a nice touch. As it gives it some further connectivity to Skull Island.

All in all, I think the episode is a nice improvement over the first. Sure, we don’t get any Godzilla. But we do get better moments with the characters in both the past and present. But I will say the CG appears to take a hit in terms of quality when it comes to the new monster. Especially when compared to Godzilla and the others in the first episode. Though in all honesty it could just be me. Also, it was a bit odd that they introduced a monster like that in 1952. Yet we never get any hint as to what happened to it. Did they contain it like they would do with the other Titans shown in King of the Monsters? Or was it taken out by the military? It’s just an odd thing to leave hanging. Especially with how the story jumps around quite a bit in regards to the past.

One thing I forgot in my review of episode 1 was the fact that it was nice to see how the world dealt with and changed from the aftermath of G-Day. With the warning system, heavy weaponry present in Japan, as well as the use of shelters during the test of the Godzilla warning system. The weaponry in particular had me thinking of Destroy All Monsters. Another cool bit I forgot to mention was a photo of Keiko standing in one of Godzilla’s footprints, which could be a nod to multiple films in the franchise.