By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues
Photo copyright Warnr Bros
So after last week’s borefest we jump right in with a return to the flashbacks. Keiko and Shaw are suddenly attracted to each other and it kind of left me thinking, did I miss something or wasn’t I paying attention. Anyway their plans are interrupted when Shaw is called to duty. Something is coming but they have to split up in order to ensure Shaw is there to attend the meeting so they get the funds for Monarch to continue. Shaw isn’t happy with this but agrees while Bill and Keiko fly off. I must not have been paying attention before but Shaw is suddenly a love sick puppy who it is clear wants to have babies with Keiko. That’s all good and fine given we know she ends up with Bill so it’s a nice change from daddy issues and sulky teenagers.
There they meet Doctor Suzuki who has designed a device to attract Titans. He believes they exist but has never seen one. He is delighted when Keiko confirms that they do and they have seen one. Of course it isn’t too long before Godzilla arrives proving he didn’t die in the nuclear explosion a couple of episodes ago. However Shaw turns up missing the vital meeting resulting in the military taking control of Monarch. Needless to say Keiko is no longer in the mood for making babies. Shaw is responsible for what Monarch is today.
In the present day, Shaw has now teamed up with Tim’s sidekick Mademoiselle and gathers up May, Cate and Kentaro. He reveals Monarch is splintered and there are others that want him to lead them to reveal the true nature of the Titans. Shaw knows Monarch is wrong and have refused to listen to him for all these years. Now they have a chance to put things right before it’s too late. Is it me or is Mademoiselle just stringing them along? Is Shaw still influenced by his love for Keiko that he will do anything to prove her right or is he so guilt ridden for allowing Monarch to be taken from them that he will do a deal with the devil regardless of the outcome? Or is there really a splinter group within Monarch?
The Randa kids find their dad in a valley using a variation of Doctor Suzuki’s device but it is not a happy reunion. He waves them away before driving off. Too late the ground cracks and crumbles as Godzilla rises from beneath the surface. Now this is an impressive sequence as our heroes are caught in the landslide. The big fella’s return is what we have wanted to see all along and it doesn’t disappoint. With all these new Titans appearing we know there is going to be a kick arse throw down.
I was so excited now we have answers and a concrete direction until….the gang breaks up again in yet another middle of nowhere location while Shaw leaves them to go help Godzilla. And that took away from the atmosphere generated by the episode so far. Talk about a mood hoover.
Is the viewer supposed to do a drinking game where instead of taking a shot every time we see or hear Titans mentioned, you take a shot when the gang break up for the dumbest of reasons and in the dumbest of locations. At this rate, I’m already wasted. Writers look at what you are doing and sort it but the only thing keeping me here right now is the monsters are gathering and I want to be there for it.
The Time Warriors and Beyond 