Reading through speculation about what the **Monsterverse’s new kaiju Titan X aka Le Gran Dios de la Mar may be (such as the article linked above), it sounds increasingly as though she may be a new protective mother figure, impacted or possibly even responding to the effects of global heating on the oceans.
If so, this season’s Titan threat may put Monarch: Legacy of Monsters in a unique position among current major science fiction streaming shows in directly taking on a Climate Change/Emergency scenario with no gloss of allegory.
It is nonetheless absolutely in keeping with the long tradition of the broader franchise in critiquing the consequences of human actions on the planet.
The 70+ year Godzilla franchise is unique in embedding the impact of humanity on the Earth’s environment from its outset.
The narrative of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as later nuclear weapons testing and nuclear power plants, calling up kaiju, literally “strange creature”, is a constant within the franchise.
In addition to atomic/nuclear radiation, films such as Godzilla vs Hedorah (1971), with its smog monster, and the more recent Monsterverse film Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), which ends with Godzilla leading an ecological recovery, the franchise continues to underscore its deep theme that humanity shares the Earth and will bear the consequences for its actions.
Hmm. If they are going that route, I don’t really see anything that is pointing to that yet. It does have a very strong need to protect the little ones riding it, but I’m not sure where the climate change piece is coming from.
It’s a stretch at this point, but that’s part of the fun of spitballing based on what we have so far…
The article notes that Billy Randa found, in the cave, what appeared to be a migratory route through the oceans.
That’s what set him off on his archival research hunt when he left Keiko and Lee in the fishing village. However, since he abandoned that search and returned to get them, it’s not clear whether Billy ever followed through on pursuing that lead.
Changes in ocean temperatures and currents due to climate change are well known and would be something to impact Titan X aka Le Gran Dios de la Mar aka Co-cai and her offspring.
While it’s speculation at this point, having Co-cai be a threat, despite being a positive influence for fishing communities in the past, would be entirely consistent with the franchise’s previous themes around humanity’s impact on the Earth.
The other thing is that many had expected this season to feature Mothra due to it being her 65th anniversary. EP Tony Tunnell has said she won’t be appearing though, and the timing wouldn’t really work with Mothra’s later movie appearance in this continuity. So, perhaps Co-cai may be fulfilling a ecological protector narrative arc originally planned for Mothra.
