Summary
“Departure” is nearly as action-packed as the show’s opener, with more CGI-heavy sequences involving your typical espionage storylines with the quirky addition of gigantic prehistoric creatures.
Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters skilfully weaves multiple timelines together to tell an overarching story set within the Godzilla universe, aka the MonsterVerse. In Season 1 Episode 2, “Departure,” viewers are shown more from these diverse timelines, as Lee Shaw’s character interconnects with both the 50s and 2015 narratives.
While some of the CGI-heavy action is starting to feel pretty standard from the genre, there is enough Hollywood spark to keep the story speeding forward.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 1 Episode 2 Recap
“Departure” opens in 1952 in the Philippines. Lieutenant Lee Shaw is assigned a new mission, to be the security escort for a Japanese scientist. Lee is shocked to discover that Dr Miura is a female. And Dr. Miura is Keiko from the previous episode.
This works as the introduction of Lee and Keiko to one another. Obviously, in seven years’ time, they are much closer, but things get off to a bumpy start. Keiko is investigating irregular radiation levels in the Philippines and Lee has been tasked with keeping her safe, although Keiko is quite the wild card herself, driving recklessly through the jungle.
Whilst running tests, Lee and Keiko are introduced to Billy Randa, wandering through the jungle. He is a cryptozoologist who studies mythical creatures. It would appear that they are all hunting for the same thing.
Why do Lee Shaw and Keiko fall out?
Billy talks about the local fairy tale of dragons in the area. Keiko proposes that Billy join their expedition, but Lee is fiercely opposed. Lee and Keiko argue over this stranger. Their argument ends with Lee being dismissed. He drives off in Keiko’s jeep, leaving them stranded in the jungle.
Meanwhile, in 2015, Kentaro visits his father’s office once more. Still angered by his dad’s lies, Kentaro proceeds to wreck the joint. This leads to the discovery of a locked filing cabinet and more mysterious files. These contain information about Lee Shaw, who is living in a retirement community in Tokyo in the present.
Cate decides to return home after discovering her father’s secrets. At the airport, she is accosted by Tim (Joe Tippett) from Monarch. Tim wants the files Cate has accessed. Cate runs from Tim but is soon captured by his assistant Duvall (Elisa Lasowski). Tim places a bag over Cate’s head and she immediately starts to panic. A tussle follows, leading to a car crash.
Fearing for her life, Cate rushes over to the local police station. She reports this attempted abduction, but the police don’t seem to be that interested. Paranoid, Cate flees once again. She heads to May’s apartment, yet Tim and Duvall have beaten her there. May and Cate escape together.
How does Lee Shaw know Hiroshi?
Kentaro returns from his father’s office, intrigued by this Lee Shaw character. His mother says that Hiroshi’s father died when he was 18 and Uncle Lee was his only remaining family. Their conversation is interrupted though by Tim and Duvall’s sudden appearance. They demand the files once more.
While his mother distracts the enemy, Kentaro escapes the building. He reunites with May and Cate, who are terrified by Monarch’s relentless pursuit. May suggests that they buy some fake passports and flee the country, but Kentaro wants to follow his latest lead. They head to Lee’s retirement home instead.
Cate, Kentaro, and May find a much older Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell) at this retirement community in Tokyo. He recognizes Hiroshi’s son, although he was unaware that Hiroshi had a daughter. Lee guides them outside, away from the cameras, so that they can talk in private.
Lee is updated on Hiroshi’s mysterious death and Bill Randa’s files. While they chat, May discovers a hidden camera in a nearby tree. Lee admits that this retirement home is his prison. He is tagged and monitored by Monarch at all times. Lee suggests that they get out of here pronto. To show he means business, Lee removes his ankle tag.
Back in 1952, Keiko and Billy get better acquainted. Billy discusses MUTOs (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms) and how he has been tracing strange light patterns in the sky in the Philippines. These patterns match with Keiko’s research. She has been tracking the radiation readings too.
What do Keiko and Billy find in the Philippines?
They follow their joint map, which leads them to a clearing. Here they find the shipwreck of the USS Lawton. This very ship was brought down at Pearl Harbor nine years ago. Somehow it has travelled over 5,000 miles to this jungle clearing. Billy admits that he was the only survivor of that attack. He was actually on this ship when it went down all those years ago.
How does Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 1 Episode 2 end?
Billy and Keiko explore inside the ship. They find strange organic material dripping down the ship’s walls and then a pile of dead bodies covered in this same goo. Freaked out by their discoveries, the scientists flee. As they are leaving, they are attacked by an unknown creature.
The creature claws at the ship. Billy is soon trapped under the wreckage. Keiko tries to free Billy, but she struggles to remove the metal structure that is pinning him down. Lee then reappears, just in time to save the day. Lee and Keiko work together to free Billy as the gigantic creature continues its attack.
The trio escapes and runs from the creature, which makes its presence known. It is revealed to be a giant winged beast, possibly Rodan. This is the dragon that the locals have been talking about for decades now.
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