The MonsterVerse needs to provide justice for Rodan in Godzilla 3. Of the three new Toho kaiju introduced in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Rodan was easily the most underwhelming. Of course, the movie’s depiction of the flying monster was accurate, but he could have been handled better. The same can’t be said for King Ghidorah or Mothra.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters delivered what was arguably the best version of Ghidorah that’s ever been on the big screen. The movie made Ghidorah a truly menacing villain that gave Godzilla one of his most challenging battles. The three-headed dragon was also more interesting, due to in large part to how the movie approached his alien origin. Not only did King of the Monsters keep his extraterrestrial backstory but the film also made it a central element of his character, which helped shaped the story. Since Ghidorah was an alien, he was unique to all the Titans in that he cared nothing about defending the natural order of the Earth.
Mothra is another Titan the MonsterVerse got right. Though many have expected the Twin Fairies, who are often regarded as one of the silliest aspects of the Godzilla movies, to be excluded from the film, King of the Monsters found a way to make them work, and once again they were key to Mothra’s backstory. True to previous versions of the creature, Mothra was a benevolent Titan with an important relationship with humanity and the planet itself. The MonsterVerse even incorporated Mothra’s immortal nature from the classic Godzilla movies, and the idea that she can always be reborn after death. Both Mothra and Ghidorah were properly adapted; the only monster who fell a bit short of expectations was Rodan.
Godzilla 3 Should Give Rodan A Victory
Before the movie’s release, Godzilla: King of the Monsters director sold Rodan as a “winged A-bomb” whose power is comparable to Godzilla’s. The movie’s air battle sequence with Rodan and the military jets certainly did a good job of showcasing his intelligence and potential for destruction, but he was less impressive in the movie’s other action scenes. Though it was necessary for the story, Rodan lost to Ghidorah. Despite his bravery in facing off against a much larger enemy, Rodan fared poorly against Ghidorah, who quickly overpowered him. That’s a shame, considering that Rodan contributed a great deal to Ghidorah’s fall in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster and Invasion of Astro Monster. In the King of the Monsters’ final battle, Rodan put up a good fight against Mothra, but was taken by surprise by Mothra’s stinger. Though Mothra isn’t a predator built for fighting powerful Titans like Godzilla and Ghidorah, she still managed to take down Rodan.
Rodan finished the movie with two losses and not a single victory. To properly show that he truly is a force to be reckoned with, the MonsterVerse needs to redeem Rodan in his next appearance. Godzilla vs. Kong may not have room for him, but he could show up in Godzilla 3. As for what his role could be, the MonsterVerse needs to carefully avoid a situation where Rodan is utilized as a temporary stand-in for Godzilla, where he holds off a villain just long enough for the alpha predator to show up and take over. He also shouldn’t be killed off in order to play up another monster’s prowess. What Godzilla 3 should do with Rodan is give him a much-needed win over a fellow Titan. It’s possible that in Godzilla 3, the King of the Monsters will be going up against multiple adversaries at once. Rodan could swoop in and defeat one on his own with his speed, wings, and sheer ruthlessness in battle.
Rodan Needs A Team-Up With Godzilla
After falling to Ghidorah, Rodan spent the rest of the movie as a secondary antagonist. He didn’t even get to meet Godzilla until the final minute of the movie. King of the Monsters’ decision to go in this direction denied audiences a chance to see Toho’s most iconic giant monster team-up on the big screen. Godzilla has fought beside both Mothra and Anguirus in the past, but it’s his adventures with Rodan that are the most memorable. After all, he has fought alongside Rodan on more occasions than he has with the other two.
Mothra was just a larva when the three kaiju went up against Ghidorah in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. It was Godzilla and Rodan whose teamwork forced the villain to flee. The two made such a great duo that they were reunited for a rematch with Ghidorah on Planet X in Invasion of Astro Monster. Together, they triumphed over their enemy in two separate battles in the film. In Destroy All Monsters, Rodan played an active role in securing Ghidorah’s defeat. He also sacrificed himself to help Godzilla beat Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.
This is exactly the sort of relationship that needs representation in the MonsterVerse. As Godzilla’s most reliable ally in Toho’s movies, Rodan should be fighting alongside the King of the Monsters in Godzilla 3, especially if the movie has more than one villain. With Rodan striking from above and Godzilla dominating on the ground, it would take a number of Titans to stand against them.
Rodan's MonsterVerse Story Isn't Over
Fortunately, it’s not too late for Rodan to get this treatment in the MonsterVerse. Unlike Toho's other two kaiju in King of the Monsters, Rodan is still alive. Mothra died saving Godzilla, and Ghidorah was obliterated by Godzilla’s atomic pulses. Rodan, on the other hand, survived to become one of the alpha's new minions. Admittedly, the MonsterVerse has provided the tools to bring Ghidorah and Mothra back to life in either Godzilla vs. Kong or Godzilla 3, but in the case of Rodan, finding a place for him in the story will take much less effort.
As a Titan who is now under Godzilla’s control, he could be summoned at any time in the future when the alpha needs assistance. By leaving the door wide-open for a return and setting up a team-up with Godzilla, King of the Monsters – either intentionally or otherwise – made it possible for future Godzilla movies to do with Rodan what it didn’t. Godzilla 3 can be the movie that gives Rodan the justice he deserves.
