Warning: Spoilers for Skull Island season 1, episode 8
Skull Island season 1 culminated in a dramatic finish that saw Kong take on a new MonsterVerse Titan. Consisting of eight episodes, the new Netflix anime serves as the first TV show to have an official place in the Legendary’s MonsterVerse. Following the exploits of Kong sometime before the events of Godzilla vs. Kong, the show provides a closer look at the ecology of Skull Island while also thrusting a new cast of characters into harm’s way.
Over the course of its story, Charlie, Annie, and the assorted Skull Island characters have gradually familiarized themselves with the monstrous wildlife found on Kong’s island. While their primary goal, of course, is to get off the island, certain distractions have stood in their way. Arguably their biggest problem is the mysterious sea creature that sunk Cap’s ship in the beginning of the series. Endeavoring to end the threat it posed to their safety for good, the characters enacted a risky plan to get rid of it, roping Kong into their fight in the process. Here’s a breakdown of what transpired in the Skull Island season finale, and what it means for the characters’ futures.
The MonsterVerse Officially Introduces A New Squid Titan
After seven episodes of teasing him, Skull Island finally unveiled the squid monster that’s been terrorizing the main characters since the series premiere. A name for the creature was never given, but its sheer size makes it abundantly clear that the creature in question is a Titan like Kong himself. Based on the speculations of Charlie and the others, it seems the new Titan intended to dethrone Kong and become the new alpha of Skull Island, and has been since been trying to bait Kong into coming into the water. Thanks to Charlie and Annie’s scheme to steal the necklace stored at Kong’s temple, they were able to trick Kong into fighting the monster for them.
Its electrical and poisonous abilities, which help set it apart from the squid Titan in Kong: Skull Island, made it a fearsome opponent for Kong. Fighting it in the ocean made it all the more difficult to beat, but using objects as weapons – such as Cap’s ship – gave him the tools he needed to gain the upper hand. Kong eventually destroyed the Titan, saving Skull Island’s characters and avenging his fallen companion at the same time.
Charlie Is Captured By A Mysterious New Group
The squid Titan may be dead, but one Skull Island character has a completely different problem to worry about after the season 1 finale’s ending. A masked girl, resembling the same one he saw in episode 5, apprehended him. The mystery figure, ed by others dressed like her, promised he’d have to pay for “what he did to Kong.” The show doesn’t explain who they are, but the idea that they’re allied with Kong could be a sign that they’re of the Iwi tribe that worship Kong in the MonsterVerse. They died off before Godzilla vs. Kong, but could still be alive on Skull Island.
What they’ll do with Charlie wasn’t revealed in the episode, but if Kong was able to forgive Annie and Dog for stealing the necklace, there’s a good chance he’ll give Charlie a for his actions as well. Unfortunately for Charlie, his captors may decide for themselves what to do with him, rather than let Kong determine his fate.
Skull Island Ended On A Surprise Time Jump
Skull Island season 1’s final episode pulled a big twist by having Annie wake up two weeks later after getting knocked out by a blow to the head. Much to her shock, she was taken off Skull Island and to a city in an undisclosed part of the world. This leaves the impression that after the characters recovered from the tidal wave, Irene and Sam were able to call in help, either by sea or by air. This course of action was avoided earlier due to the presence of the squid and his long-reaching tentacles, but his defeat seemingly put a rescue on the table.
Skull Island’s Ending Doesn’t Explain What Happened To Mike
It’s important to keep in mind that the whole point of luring Kong into a fight with Skull Island’s villain was to clear a path for their escape so that Mike could be treated for his infection. However, Skull Island’s ending doesn’t reveal if the characters followed through with this plan. When he was last seen, he collapsed after saving Cap, causing the latter to pick him up and carry him off into the rain. Irene and Sam didn’t turn out to be the villains they were originally thought to be, so it’s hard to imagine them leaving without waiting for Mike and Cap to return.
If they did wait, they should have been able to get Annie and Mike back to civilization. Provided he was rescued as well, he too should be at the hospital receiving care off-screen. If not, Mike won’t have good chances of surviving his illness. Perhaps the only alternative to hospital care would be the new human group encountered by Charlie. They might know a herbal cure that can root out the infection.
Skull Island’s Season 2 Setup Explained
The time jump naturally raises a lot of questions, as several characters were in precarious positions when Annie lost consciousness. Unsurprisingly, the character at the forefront of Annie’s mind when she woke up was Dog. Irene’s avoidance of the subject when Annie asked him about his whereabouts implies he wasn’t rescued and could have been lost in the tidal wave. If that’s true, Annie already has an excellent reason to return to Skull Island.
Dog’s fate is only one of the loose ends left by the Skull Island finale’s time jump. Chief among them is what happened to Charlie; it’s unlikely that his capture was easily resolved off-screen, else it wouldn’t have happened in the first place. For that reason, going back to find Dog or Charlie (if not both) could be the goal of Skull Island’s protagonists in season 2. If Sam, Cap, and Mike made it off the island with Irene and Annie, they too could take part in what feels like an inevitable return trip.
Will Skull Island Season 2 Happen?
Skull Island ended the fight with the squid Titan, but overall, it lacked a sense of real closure. Mike is still in dire straits, Charlie is captured, and nothing was said about what happened to Dog. All things considered, it’s apparent that Skull Island isn’t meant to be a single-season story. There’s obviously an intention for the show to carry on for at least one more season, with more monster shenanigans taking place on Kong’s island. Whether Skull Island season 2 actually happens though, will likely be determined by its reception and viewership numbers on Netflix. If it becomes a sleeper hit on the streaming service, the show could easily get a proper continuation, with Legendary potentially exploring more options for expanding the MonsterVerse.