‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Season 2 Receives First Reviews – Mixed Reactions Emerge

Apple TV’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters returns this Friday with its second season and initial reviews are beginning to surface, offering a glimpse into what fans can expect. While generally positive, the reception is more mixed than the critically acclaimed first season.

Season 2 Score on Rotten Tomatoes

As of February 24, 2026, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 holds a “Fresh” rating of 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 10 reviews. This is a decrease from the 87% “Certified Fresh” score achieved by Season 1, which was based on 87 reviews.

MonsterVerse Comparisons

Within the broader MonsterVerse franchise, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2’s score places it among other titles such as:

• Godzilla: King of the Monsters (42%)
• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (54%)
• Kong: Skull Island (75%)
• Godzilla vs. Kong (75%)
• Godzilla (76%)
• Skull Island (84%)

What Critics Are Saying

Reviews highlight a shift towards more cinematic, VFX-heavy action sequences, aligning the series more closely with the large-scale monster battles seen in films like Godzilla and King Kong. However, some critics point to weaknesses in character development and storytelling.

AV Club notes, “Only when it finally hones in on its new monster does the season manage to tell a surprisingly emotional story that leans into the human-Titan connection at the core of the films.”

Collider adds, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 mostly satisfies with a story that puts the Titans front and center — exactly where fans want to see them.”

JoBlo was similarly impressed, stating, “This season introduces a bunch of MUTOs that are cool to see on screen as showrunner Chris Black has figured out how to balance the cinematic franchise with the television one.”

However, not all reviews were positive. SlashFilm criticized the season, stating, “All the manufactured interpersonal conflicts, abrupt character turns, and frustratingly hidden motivations in the world are no substitute for a narrative that never manages to fully come together in a satisfying way.”

Region Free’s review was particularly harsh, claiming, “Monarch can’t help but find ways to disappoint… It is once more a series that can’t decide what kind of story it wants to tell, so it moves forward like an old car pumped full of bad gas.”

Slant Magazine observed, “Season two is even more mired in soapy family squabbles and love triangles than the first,” while ScreenAnarchy countered, “At its best when it’s just heroes and monsters who are dominating the screen, in magnificent fashion, making the series a sheer blast of joy for monster kids like me.”

Season 2 Plot Overview

Season 2 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters follows the fate of Monarch and the world as secrets are revealed on Skull Island and a new Titan, Titan X, emerges from the sea. The ten-episode season explores the ripple effects of the past and the blurring lines between family, friends, and foes, all while facing the threat of a titan event.

Cast and Crew

The series stars Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Joe Tippett, and Anders Holm. Guest stars include Takehiro Hira, Amber Midthunder, Curtiss Cook, Cliff Curtis, Dominique Tipper, and Camilo Jiménez Varón.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 premieres globally on Apple TV on Friday, February 27.