If you happen to’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 completely price seeing proper now. It’s a heartbreaking story that’s very nicely executed, exhibiting that Marvel can nonetheless make nice MCU films. And whenever 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 under. Large spoilers from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will comply with.
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 along with his household (the Guardians) and associates (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 area. So sure, Rocket is certainly one of the best individual to guide 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 motive 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 could be. We’ve seen as a lot within the earlier Guardians and Avengers films and in Infinity Battle and Endgame.
However in Endgame, we noticed one other attention-grabbing 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 important 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 best way 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, developing 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 received’t suppose 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 understand Rocket is likely one of the smartest residing being within the universe. When the Excessive Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) created Rocket, he wasn’t anticipating the raccoon to develop a thoughts that might think about issues he by no means noticed or skilled.
But one of many movie’s flashbacks reveals Rocket fixing a genetic manipulation machine so it might ship the rage-free humanimals The Excessive Evolutionary needed. Rocket was nonetheless a toddler, 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 growth 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 skills for a brand new species he was creating.
That has large implications for a way I understand Rocket going ahead. He’s the form of character who can have a look at a bit 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 an incredible fighter. Or that he babysat Thor (Chris Hemsworth) alongside the best way. However as a result of he was a part of the crew 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 essentially minimizes the occasions in Infinity Battle and Endgame, the film fully modified Endgame for me. I’ll by no means rewatch the movie once more with out appreciating how necessary Rocket is to the Avengers.
