In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, we will explain the film’s ending.
Cast
- Peter Quill (Star-Lord) – Chris Pratt
- Gamora – Zoe Saldana
- Rocket – Bradley Cooper
- Nebula – Karen Gillan
- Drax – Dave Bautista
- Mantis – Pom Klementieff
- Groot – Vin Diesel
- Adam Warlock – Will Poulter
- Kraglin – Sean Gunn
- High Evolutionary – Chukwudi Iwuji
- Lylla – Linda Cardllin
The end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 explained
Recap
With the defeat of the High Evolutionary through good old fashioned Guardians of the Galaxy teamwork, the heroes flee Evolutionary’s sinking ship. At first, their primary purpose is to rescue the loads of captive children. But Rocket, embracing his raccoon roots, demands the Guardians also save the captive animals. Quill is the last to leave, gets stuck in the space between ships, starts to freeze to death, but Adam Warlock saves him. The Guardians have a serious conversation about their futures. Peter Quill comes to terms with Gamora not being the same woman he loved. He also decides to return to Earth to see if his grandfather is still alive. Gamora returns to the Ravagers and has with them what her previous incarnation had with the Guardians. Mantis heads off to find herself. Rocket, Nebula, and Drax remain on Knowhere to lead the newly increased population, with Rocket taking over from Peter as head of the Guardians.
Sometime in the future, we see a quick scene of Rocket’s Guardians—Groot, Cosmo, Adam Warlock, Kraglin, Phyla—off on a mission, doing classic Guardian things. Meanwhile, Peter discovers his grandfather is not only alive but remembers him. Thus starts a new chapter for an earthbound Star-Lord.
Meaning
Rescue Rangers
The entire Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy has been about misfits, found family, and redemption. In the original movie, this was limited to just the immediate handful of characters that bond and form the team—Quill, Gamora, Rocket, Drax, and Groot. In Vol. 2, we see how the values of this unlikely family have the power to save others. Nebula, Mantis, Yondu, Kraglin, all find themselves changed for the better thanks to their interactions with the Guardians. In Vol. 3, this scales even further. Instead of saving just a few people, their values have them building an entire population of cast offs from all over the universe.
The exact lifeforms High Evolutionary viewed as worthless, the Guardians cherish. Even a previous foe like Adam Warlock. By being kind to Adam, by offering him a path to redemption, he saves Peter when no one else could. Then goes on to be a key part of the Guardians themselves.
So there’s definitely a very lovely message that spans the entirety of James Gunn’s run with the Guardians.
End to begin
James Gunn has spent the last 9 years working on Guardians related movies. He’s played a significant consulting role on the MCU in general. Vol. 3 is his goodbye to the universe, as he’s now the co-chairmen and co-CEO of DC Studios. So when we see the main characters coming to terms with aspects of their past in order to begin new chapters of their lives—that feels a bit meta. But that’s probably what makes Vol. 3 so emotional. It echoes the complicated feelings its creator had while making it.
You could almost argue that High Evolutionary represents Disney.
Even though Gunn’s version of the Guardians is over, the characters aren’t finished. They’re set-up for new adventures.
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