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Warning: includes spoilers.
It’s the final chapter for one of the many sagas in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the last installment of the trilogy under James Gunn’s direction, and it may be the last time we’ll see some of the most beloved characters in the MCU. The ragtag group of superheroes—which includes two celestial hybrids, a cyborg, a genetically enhanced animal, and three extraterrestrial species—will surely be missed.
When Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was teased, James Gunn promised it will be an emotional ride, and he delivered. It’s a departure from the tone of the first two movies, which had its tear-jerking deaths, sure, but made up with a lot of charm and comedy. This installment of Guardians of the Galaxy still has plenty of laughs, but I suggest being prepared for the tragic backstory of Rocket, who’s always concealed a lot of literal and psychological scars. The anthropomorphic character is the emotional anchor of James Gunn’s final movie with the MCU (before he takes the helm at DCEU). And if you’re the type of person to be moved by sad animal videos, you’re not leaving the theater without having shed a few fat tears.
However, they’re not all sad. You’ll cry happy tears, too, especially at how Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 decided to complete the story arcs of the characters. As a group who’s survived Thanos, they’ve gelled into a reliable—though at times bickering—team of saviors who consider each other family. Their relationships and the incredible amount of growth shown by every single member of the team wouldn’t be possible without the intergalactic threats they’ve faced individually and together.
Rocket Serves as the Emotional Anchor of GOTG Vol. 3
This movie takes a similar route: one member of the team is in trouble, and they must all come together to save them. Rocket is the unlucky one who becomes badly injured when Adam Warlock attacks their home base Knowhere. The distraught Guardians try to save their teammate only to discover a kill switch they need to override first. And so their quest to find this code lands them on the ship of the High Evolutionary, a mad scientist who genetically enhances creatures and entire colonies.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because our Earth has had its fair share of mad eugenicists who tried to manufacture a superior race. The High Evolutionary, who produced a planet called Counter Earth, considers Rocket to be the only successful being he’s made due to his superior intelligence. But as a villain who liked to play god, he is also terrified of a creation that was smarter than he was—and plots to kill him.
As Rocket teeters on the edge of death, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 launches a series of flashbacks that enriches the character’s backstory. These scenes depict a young kit forming meaningful bonds with other genetically enhanced animals, but they are tragically killed in their attempt to escape the lab. The trauma of losing his friends is why Rocket is as cynical and guarded as he is in the events of Vol. 1. And so the biggest change in his character shows in this movie. Being in a coma put his life in the hands of others whom he would never have trusted had he not become a part of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
This character development hinges on the others’ personal growth as well. We have Peter Quill, who, for a change, is able to set aside his complicated feelings for Gamora so he could focus on saving his friend. The original Star-Lord lacked this level of maturity and would have let his self-interests derail their mission. Nebula, who was once Thanos’ loyal servant, has taken the leadership role among the Guardians. She’s developed a lot of empathy for an alien-cyborg hybrid and genuinely cares about what happens to Rocket.
The others have shown a great deal of growth, too. Mantis has become more assertive, and Drax the Destroyer, whose primary purpose for joining the Guardians was to exact revenge, uses his brute strength to protect others instead. Groot is…well, Groot. The tree-like being, famous for his limited vocabulary, is Rocket’s oldest friend and probably the most affected.
In the end, Rocket is saved because of the trust the Guardians of the Galaxy have solidified among each other. The only potential crack in their bond is this version of Gamora, who isn’t from their timeline. But even she acknowledges that the group’s relationship must be so strong for them to go through all the trouble of saving their friend.
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GOTG Vol. 3 Is a Story About Searching For Your Place In the Galaxy
Because this is the last we’ll see of this unit, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 tries to give each character a neat ending. Most of the characters acted out of self-interest when we met them but eventually banded together against common enemies, from Thanos to the High Evolutionary.
However, there is a more important message than forming meaningful relationships. It’s that family should make you feel comfortable in finding your own purpose outside of that unit. In Vol. 1, they all needed to find each other first to realign their stars before they can set out on their own. And if they do decide to branch out, they will always have each other to return to.
If that sounds overly sentimental, it’s a Disney movie, after all, and the message stands. Even with the Ravagers, Star-Lord felt outcasted but found his way when he connected with Gamora, Rocket, Groot, and Drax. The bonds they formed made him feel ready to acknowledge the other half of his being—his humanness—to feel complete, and he decides to live on Earth.
And while the Ravagers lost Quill, they gained Gamora. We don’t know much about this version of her, but after being plucked by Thanos on her home planet, Gamora has always been looking for people to trust. That group just happened to be the gang of space pirates in her timeline. She and Nebula may have gone their separate ways, and Nebula has found her purpose in building the society in Knowhere.
Drax the Destroyer finally learned how to dance—with dozens of kids that they saved from Counter Earth, who also reminded him of the child he lost. Mantis is also finding her place in the universe after realizing she’s always answered to masters like Ego. She doesn’t know yet what it is she hopes to find, but with four monstrous Abelisks in tow, I think she’ll be fine.
As for Rocket, he rightfully stepped up to the leadership position that Star-Lord left open. The credit scene shows the clever raccoon as the new captain of the Guardians of the Galaxy, with Groot as his still-sprouting sidekick. He’s recruited new members into the team, including Kraglin, the former Ravager, and Adam Warlock.
All in all, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 tied up loose ends pretty nicely, even though it said goodbye to some of the best characters in the MCU. It’s the best Marvel movie I’ve seen in a long while that relied a little less on formula and more on the character development it’s been building since Vol. 1.
