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Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 episode 1 is out now on Apple TV — and there's only one question on everyone's minds after its release: what on earth is Titan X?
Initially teased in Monarch season 2's first trailer last September, the identity of the Monsterverse's newest kaiju is predictably being kept under wraps. After all, the mystery surrounding Titan X is going to be one of this season's main narrative fulcrums, so the Apple TV Original isn't going to reveal all in its season 2 premiere.
Nevertheless, fans already have a big theory about what Titan X is. Meanwhile, some even believe it'll set up events to come in the next Godzilla and Kong-starring film, which is currently titled Godzilla x Kong: Supernova. Full spoilers immediately follow for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2's opening episode. Potentially big spoilers for Titan X are also discussed from this point on.
Is Titan X going to be Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2's take on Biollante?
This season's inaugural teaser may have, well, teased Titan X's appearance in the Monsterverse. It was Monarch season 2's official trailer, though, that not only indicated it'll be this season's primary antagonist, but also sparked a major fan theory that Titan X will eventually be revealed as Biollante.
If your initial reaction to that was "...who?", you're not alone. Biollante isn't as famous — in the western world, anyway — as other kaiju associated with Godzilla. That doesn't mean it hasn't played a vital role in previous Godzilla tales, though, and it's for that reason that some believe Monarch season 2 will lay the foundations of Supernova's plot.
But, first, a history lesson. Making its debut in 1989's Godzilla vs Biollante, this plant-derived titan was created in-universe by Doctor Genichiro Shiragami. Initially, Shiragami spliced the DNA of his deceased daughter Erika with that of a rosebush, but he later crossed that human-plant hybrid with Godzilla's DNA. That fusion resulted in the birth of a mutated and sentient rose that evolves into the gigantic monster known as Biollante.
It would be remiss of me to point out there's no guarantee that Titan X is the Monsterverse's take on Biollante. For one, Biollante has never showcased its ability to swim in prior Godzilla films, but Titan X appears to be a natural in water-based environments.
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Furthermore, Titan X doesn't bear much resemblance to the design of Biollante in its big-screen appearances. Okay, the pair possess horns and have giant tendrils that they can flail about, but those are the only commonalities that they appear to share.
All of that said, some viewers are still convinced that Titan X is the Monsterverse's take on Biollante. Indeed, Reddit threads on r/monsterverse, r/television, and r/godzilla contain numerous comments from diehard 'Zilla fans suggesting this'll be the case, especially in light of the aforementioned physical features.
Others aren't so convinced and name-dropped other more appropriate, ocean-dwelling kaiju like Gezora as more likely candidates. A titan like Gezora would make more sense, too, when you factor in the giant squid-like cave paintings that Keiko, Bill, and Lee come across on one of their monster-hunting adventures as part of this season's 1950s-set storyline.
There's reason to believe, though, that Titan X and Biollante are one and the same. And, while there are plenty of questions about Titan X — 'where did it originate in the Monsterverse?', 'why was it trapped in Axis Mundi?', and 'why do some people worship it?' to name just three — the prospect of it being Biollante means we might be one step closer to working out Godzilla x Kong: Supernova's villain.
How Biollante's appearance in Monarch season 2 could set up Godzilla x Kong: Supernova
Before we plough on, it's worth saying that Supernova's Big Bad hasn't been publicly unveiled yet. However, given this film's subtitle relates to the extremely bright and massive explosions that huge stars undergo during their final evolution, fans believe the cosmic titan known as SpaceGodzilla will be its antagonist-in-chief.
Okay, but what's Biollante got to do with SpaceGodzilla? During the Heisei run of the Godzilla film franchise, it was theorized that some of Biollante's spores, which contain Godzilla's DNA and were blasted into space, are the embryonic cells from which SpaceGodzilla is born. Yep, it sounds ludicrous, but just go with it.
If Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' second season ends with Godzilla and Kong defeating Titan X, and if Titan X is revealed to be Biollante at some point during the Apple TV show's latest 10-part installment, it's possible that some of Biollante's spores could leave Earth's atmosphere and lead to SpaceGodzilla's creation. That would allow it to directly lead into the events of Supernova, one of next year's new movies that's currently slated to arrive in theaters on March 26, 2027.
I guess we'll find out more as new episodes of Monarch season 2 drop on one of the world's best streaming services. Here's hoping we aren't made to wait until its final few chapters to see if any or all of the above is true.
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As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
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