Fans ofGuardians of the Galaxycan thankGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3for giving a worthwhile conclusion to the much-acclaimed James Gunn trilogy of films, withGuardians 3not only introducing the much-awaited origins of Rocket Raccoon but also using it as a means of giving the Guardians a meaningful exit after years of adventuring.
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While thisGuardians of the Galaxyentry follows the usual standalone MCU team setup with a dash of chaotic teamwork and the occasional banter, this conclusion to the trilogy also put the spotlight on the personal stories of each major character. However, just how didGuardians 3close each Guardian’s personal arcs?
7Rocket Raccoon Comes To Terms With His Identity
Ever the lone wolf,Rocketalways preferred tackling problems head-on without the weight of company. However,Guardians 3reveals that Rocket’s hesitation to make close friends stemmed from the deaths of his only friends in the past at the hands of the High Evolutionary, a geneticist who wants to “create” the “perfect” beings even if it meant experiments like Rocket as “expendable.” When an attempt to escape will have the High Evolutionary kill Rocket’s only friends, he himself escapes his clutches and becomes a fugitive.
Rocket’s arc inGuardians 3comes full circle as he rescues animals that are about to suffer the same fate as his friends. Chief among these creatures were raccoons, who Rocket realizes look exactly like him. In an epic face-off with the High Evolutionary, Rocket finally calls himself by his comics' moniker - Rocket Racoon. His inventiveness and compassion had Quill entrust Rocket withleadership of the Guardians of the Galaxy, something that Rocket accepts. The key lesson Rocket demonstrates in the film is that, one can’t achieve their full potential if they don’t come to terms with their past.
6Star-Lord Returns To His Roots
When the theft of the Power Stone had inadvertently formed the Guardians of the Galaxy in the events of the firstGuardiansfilm,Star-Lordfinds himself with his own version of a family. It’s this conflict on how to “define” family that became the core of hischaracter arc throughoutGuardians of the Galaxy- something seemingly closed when he rejects his heritage as half-Celestial and acknowledges his adoptive father Yondu as well as the Guardians as his new family inGuardians 2.
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However, losing Gamora inInfinity Warseems to tap into a more primal desire on Quill’s part: belongingness. Throughout the events ofGuardians 3, Quill’s insistence on having past Gamora “remembering” their past and wanting to save Rocket aren’t simply acts of love and friendship, respectively, but rather wanting to keep a family together. His arc is put to a close when he finally decides to go back to Earth to be with his grandfather. Quill’s key lesson in the film is to acknowledge one’s roots, as one can’t define what their versions of “love,” “family,” and “friendships” are without them.
5Gamora Manages To Protect Her Peace
Quill trying to getGamora, the past Gamora who is now a Ravager space mercenary, to “remember” her alternate counterpart’s feelings for him became a rather embarrassing running gag throughout the events of the recentGuardians of the Galaxyfilm. It was all the more frustrating on Gamora’s part that a temporary stay with the Guardians on a mission became an extended lease due to their detours in trying to save Rocket.
This iteration ofGamora acquires her character momentafter explaining to Quill that she won’t ever become “his Gamora,” as she’s never experienced what she’s had with him. She gets her arc finally closed after acknowledging that Quill’s strong feelings for her may have meant what they had back then was special, but forcing it on her now won’t make it return. The key lesson Gamora demonstrates here is to protecting one’s peace - where one has to learn how to stand their ground without succumbing to someone else’s persistence of an ideal or opinion.
4Nebula Finds A New Home With Other Experiments
Since the events ofGuardians of the Galaxy,Nebulahas been persistent on capturing the Guardians - particularly her sister Gamora - to earn the approval of their adoptive father, Thanos. Since their awkward team-up inGuardians 2, Nebula and Gamora reconcile their feelings with each other, eventually leading to Nebula’s membership as a Guardian after the events ofEndgame. Unfortunately, Nebula maintains her aura of irritability, often snapping at the other Guardians for their usual comedic stunts.
However, Nebula’s character moments stem from her growing closeness (with a degree of grumpiness) to the Guardians. She defended Quill from Gamora’s outburst, stating she’s just as determined as he isto save Rocket as Nebula’s new arm was courtesy of his genius. She also became open enough to be in an emotional confrontation with Mantis. Nebula closes her character arc by deciding to lead the newly-repopulated Knowhere, which became the refuge of children and other experiments rescued from the High Evolutionary’s ship. The key lesson for Nebula here are that leaders don’t just need skill but also heart to lead - something she may have acquired when she realized the refugees were also experimented upon like her.
3Drax Becomes A Different Form Of Father
After joining the Guardians in the first film with a quest for avenging his wife and daughter’s death at the hands ofRonan the Accuser,Draxbecomes a permanent member of the space-faring peace-keeping band of mercenaries. He’s become somewhat the comedic center of the group, offering jokes and banter with the more serious rest of the gang.
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However, Drax has a soft spot that is evident in the presence of Mantis who, throughout the events ofGuardians 2andGuardians 3, became somewhat of a younger sister figure or daughter figure to Drax. The Destroyer’s character moment arrives when he manages to calm down a group of panicking children aboard the High Evolutionary’s ship, proving that years spent avenging his family doesn’t remove his fatherhood. In poetic fashion, Drax closes his character arc when Nebula insists he stay with her in Knowhere instead of accompanying Mantis, reasoning that the rescued children need a father. The key lesson taught by Drax in the film is how tragedy can’t ever define a person, like in how the death of Drax’s family doesn’t embellish his devotion to them.
2Mantis Becomes Her Own Person
When Ego brings his son Quill and the rest of the Guardians to his whole planet,Mantiswas introduced as his naive yet dutiful assistant. Despite possessing incredible empathic capabilities, her lack of social interactions has impaired her ability to recognize social cues.Mantis’s innocence has the Guardians become protective of herwhile also unintentionally dismissive of her opinions - qualities demonstrate throughoutGuardians 2andGuardians 3.
However, it’s her role as mediator between the Guardians that became front and center in the threequel. Mantis gets her character moment when she reveals a much deeper understanding of the rest of the Guardians, as demonstrated when she stood up for Drax against Nebula’s insults. Mantis quits the Guardians at the end of the film, stating a life serving Ego and then being dragged to defend the galaxy took away her opportunity to decide for herself. The key lesson Mantis shows is that of independence, as shown when she finally takes a more dominant stance while she exits the film with her new Abilisk pets.
1Groot Opens Up To The Audience
Despite his constant one-liner “I am Groot,” the honesty ofGrootin his actions make his character arc of personal discovery quite relatable to viewers. Starting as the loyal but reserved Groot in the firstGuardiansfilm, audiences become personally involved in Groot’s story as he’s “revived” as a sapling - seeing him become the adorable yet obedient Young Groot inGuardians 2, the rebellious Pre-Teen Groot in theChristmas Special, and having fully transitioned to the beefier Teen Groot inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Compared to the other characters, Groot’s character arc is more subtle compared to the others’, this time around connected more on past Gamora’s lack of understanding of Groot’s statements whenever he says “I am Groot.” This is solved in the end, when Groot has finally given Gamora the gift of understanding him, signifying a new bond. More importantly, Groot switches things up by saying, “I love you guys.” As confirmed by James Gunn,thisGuardiansEaster Eggisn’t Groot learning other words, but giving audiences the means to understand him. In that case, the lesson Groot teaches may be related to fully opening up to trusted people - in that, it’s not wrong to open up to friends and loved ones.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3was released on June 19, 2025.
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