In addition to detailing the founding of the Monarch organization, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has introduced a new generation of leading characters who could play a big part in the MonsterVerse’s future. Early in the season, Anna Sawai’s Cate Randa and Ren Watabe’s Kentaro Randa discover not only that they are half-siblings, but also that they are a part of an important line of scientists and Titan researchers. Their grandparents, Bill and Keiko Randa, were huge players in the early days of Monarch, giving the group its first real insights into the lives of Godzilla and other Titans.
Although Monarch: Legacy of Monsters largely focuses on Cate and Kentaro’s journey to find their father Hiroshi, their contact with Monarch in general sets up exciting opportunities. In Anna Sawai’s interview with Screen Rant about Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the actor discussed the potential for Cate to officially join Monarch down the line. Although Cate never met her grandmother, Sawai details the importance of that lineage:
Anna Sawai: I don’t know how much I can share, but we definitely see the progression and how she evolves as a human being. When we first meet her, she has no knowledge [of] the past, but after meeting Kentaro, May, and Shaw, she becomes aware of the legacy that her grandma Keiko has created. She sees that she is her grandmother’s granddaughter; she feels it in her blood. She’s channeling it. So, I hope that we see a little bit of desire to continue this legacy, but I guess we’ll have to wait and find out.
How Cate Could Shape The Future of Monarch
With characters like Joe Tippett’s Tim, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters explores Monarch’s biggest problem which, in short, is that the organization’s priorities have seemingly shifted over the decades since its inception. As ‘her grandmother’s granddaughter’, Cate could help shepherd the group back into an effective scientific force; Cate’s grandmother was a dedicated researcher who aimed not only to defend humanity, but also to keep the Titans alive. By following in Keiko’s footsteps, Cate could be a force for good in the organization.
Of everyone in the Randa family tree, however, Cate is the only one to have experienced an event like G-Day. It was a formative experience for her and could play into her future with Monarch in an unexpected way. Where Keiko’s goal was to document and research Titans like Godzilla, Cate’s own experience could lead her to focus on containment and other methods of keeping cities safe. This could make Cate a fascinating addition to Monarch in an official capacity, as she may have to struggle with balancing her scientific legacy and her own traumatic experience.
Cate may also not be the only Randa to join Monarch in a potential Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2. Kentaro Randa is on a similar path to hers, and has the same legacy to grapple with. If both characters were to join the group, their personalities and sibling dynamic could make for compelling conflict around how Monarch can best help people and Titan alike; with the pair becoming closer with each episode of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, it would be rewarding to see them continue their relationship after the season.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
The Legendary MonsterVerse continues with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, a sci-fi action series created for Apple TV+. Set after the events of Godzilla vs. Kong, the series follows two siblings retracing their father’s footsteps to uncover the truth behind their family legacy. What they find sets up a story over three decades and explores the foundations of the mysterious company.
