Have you ever sat down to watch Godzilla throwing hands with various MUTOs or the occasional three-headed dragon from outer space and found yourself wondering how such massive beasts managed to remain hidden from prying, human-sized eyes for so long in this universe? You probably shouldn’t have, but the sequels to 2014’s “Godzilla” decided to provide an explanation anyway. The secret, as established in “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” had to do with an extensive series of tunnels and passageways deep underground that proved the crackpot conspiracy theory of a “hollow earth” correct. This was a reveal befitting the fantastical and admittedly absurd tone that “King of the Monsters,” “Kong: Skull Island,” and “Godzilla vs Kong” (and now “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”) have largely embraced in recent years. But it’s somewhat unexpected to see a series as grounded as “Monarch” begin to connect those dots, as well.
It’s to the show’s credit that it’s been able to convincingly bridge the gap between the darker and more ultra-serious approach of Gareth Edwards’ “Godzilla” and the heightened reality of “Godzilla vs Kong,” but this latest development may be it’s most intriguing and surprising one yet. Our main trio of protagonists — Anna Sawai’s Cate, Ren Watabe Kentaro, and Kiersey Clemons’ May — followed the breadcrumbs left by the missing Hiroshi Randa (Takehiro Hira) all the way to Lee’s doorstep in Kazakhstan, the same location where Keiko tragically plunged to her death way back in the premiere. Thankfully, Lee tells Cate exactly what he’s been up to and admits that he’s actually seen the labyrinthine “realm” that Godzilla and other Titans call home.
It’s a difficult claim to believe, but the final moments of the episode point to even more zaniness to come.