Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 modified how I take into consideration Avengers: Endgame

When you’re nonetheless on the fence about watching Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in theaters or ready for its Disney Plus launch, I’ll inform you proper now that James Gunn’s remaining Guardians journey is totally price seeing proper now. It’s a heartbreaking story that’s very nicely achieved, exhibiting that Marvel can nonetheless make nice MCU films. And if you see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, you would possibly make the identical connection to Rocket in Avengers: Endgame that I did.

My future Endgame rewatches won’t ever be the identical after Guardians Vol. 3, and I’ll clarify why beneath. Huge spoilers from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will observe.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a narrative about Rocket Raccoon. It explores the character’s previous that he was by no means prepared to share together with his household (the Guardians) and buddies (the opposite Avengers).

The very first thing I considered after watching Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was the Avengers. In spite of everything, Rocket had spent 5 years with Nebula (Karen Gillan), serving to the Avengers set some order on Earth and in house. So sure, Rocket is certainly one of the best particular person to steer the Guardians after Vol. 3. Particularly if Nebula doesn’t need the function, Rocket has the expertise to do it.

However that’s not the one cause I considered Rocket in Endgame after seeing Vol 3.

Rocket serving to Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame

Rocket isn’t afraid to enter motion, irrespective of how harmful issues is likely to be. We’ve seen as a lot within the earlier Guardians and Avengers films and in Infinity Conflict and Endgame.

However in Endgame, we noticed one other fascinating element of Rocket that made loads of sense. Rocket was at all times there serving to Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Good Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) with the scientific a part of the Time Heist plan.

Stark could have invented the time machine, which is known as a reality-hopping machine, however Rocket and Hulk helped him construct it. Not solely that, however the trio additionally labored on one other crucial piece of Stark tech: The Infinity Nano Gauntlet. Hulk used the nanotech glove to convey everybody again, after which Tony wiped Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his armies from existence with it.

Rocket serving to alongside the way in which made sense, contemplating what we had seen earlier than from the character in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Vol. 2. Rocket’s at all times tinkering with units. He’s constructing weapons, arising with escape plans, and repairing stuff. Since he’s had entry to tech superior to Stark, it is smart that he’s one of many Avengers concerned in constructing the Time Heist machine.

You gained’t assume a lot about it. Till you watch Vol. 3.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s pivotal element about Rocket’s mind

When you see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, you notice Rocket is without doubt one of the smartest dwelling being within the universe. When the Excessive Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) created Rocket, he wasn’t anticipating the raccoon to develop a thoughts that would think about issues he by no means noticed or skilled.

But one of many movie’s flashbacks exhibits Rocket fixing a genetic manipulation machine so it may ship the rage-free humanimals The Excessive Evolutionary needed. Rocket was nonetheless a baby, and he had by no means seen the machine. Nor did he know what it did. And he couldn’t even speak correctly.

This mind improvement enraged the Excessive Evolutionary, as he couldn’t work out how Rocket had been in a position to see a design flaw and give you an answer — how Rocket turned out to be smarter than his creator. Rocket’s mind is why the Excessive Evolutionary needed to seize Rocket in Guardians Vol. 3. He craved to duplicate the identical talents for a brand new species he was growing.

That has large implications for the way I understand Rocket going ahead. He’s the form of character who can have a look at a chunk of tech and instantly perceive the way it works. Restore it if he has to. Enhance it if it wants upgrades. That’s the place the mind-blowing Endgame revelation is available in.

The Avengers couldn’t succeed of their plan to beat Thanos with out Rocket. Not as a result of Rocket is a tremendous fighter. Or that he babysat Thor (Chris Hemsworth) alongside the way in which. However as a result of he was a part of the group that constructed the Time Heist machine and Stark’s Infinity Gauntlet. These machines labored as a result of Rocket would have instantly noticed any issues with them. And he’d have repaired them.

In hindsight, it’s no shock that Rocket’s the one to say the Infinity Gauntlet is prepared to be used in Endgame. He is aware of that the tech works (see the clip above).

Whereas I complained earlier that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 basically minimizes the occasions in Infinity Conflict and Endgame, the film fully modified Endgame for me. I’ll by no means rewatch the movie once more with out appreciating how essential Rocket is to the Avengers.