The 32nd movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” has a lot going on. It’s perhaps too much when you consider the animal abuse, children in cages, bizarre biomechanical monsters, a beheading, a peeling face, and one unconvincing f-bomb. Even if you go into the tardy trilogy finale of writer-director James Gunn with the best of intentions and are still interested in the MCU as it sputters along in Phase Five, it’s simple to lose sight of what’s happening or why.
We have a recap of all you need to know to comprehend “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” so that could help. Although a talking raccoon named Rocket and his bizarre origin are at its centre, it’s not rocket science because it’s a Marvel movie, of course. One could always just shut their minds off, relax, and take in the theme park ride (Martin Scorsese can rightly refer to this as such), and then never think about the movie again. Here is our opinion of the “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” ending for anyone who may still have concerns after leaving the theatre.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Ending Explained
In “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” Adam Warlock’s (Will Poulter) charging attack renders Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) incapacitated. Before they fly to Counter-Earth, the Guardians discover a kill switch that Rocket’s creator left on him. Their search for the off code to this switch causes them to touch down on the squishy meat satellite of Orgocorp.
Although Rocket is unconscious for the majority of the film, there are sporadic flashbacks that reveal his past as a genetically altered raccoon inserted at various points. When it comes to talking MCU animals, he is no longer the only player in town.
The High Evolutionary is the sort of quasi-perfectionist who destroys his earlier works, even annihilating an entire civilization, in addition to thinking he can improve nature and New York monuments. As the droning Dr. Moreau of the cosmic MCU, his idea of a paradise through “programmed evolutionary changes” entails the destruction of animals and Counter-Earth as it becomes obvious that this place’s back alleys are less than ideal. Rocket Raccoon, or 89-P13 as he refers to him, shows his ability to come up with a logical remedy to the design defect that was causing the High Evolutionary’s experimental lifeforms to behave violently as monstrosities, which is why he wants to harvest Rocket’s brain so desperately.
By the end of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” many characters have come to terms with their true selves, including Rocket Raccoon. Peter Quill is another, who, as Nebula notes, has been hiding from who he is ever since his mother passed away and he joined Yondu (Michael Rooker, who makes a brief appearance to teach Kraglin how to use the whistle-controlled arrow) as a space pirate.
Quill also spent a lot of time trying to change who the present Gamora (Zoe Saldana) is. He formerly had a close connection with a previous Gamora, but that one died in “Avengers: Infinity War,” thus this one has been taken from the past. She even mispronounces his name and refers to him as “Quinn.”
The theme of “Accept who you and others are” permeates additional secondary characters in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Even Cosmo the Spacedog has a subplot where she is mistakenly labelled a “bad dog” by Kraglin and she only wants to be accepted for the good telekinetic dog that she is. Since “Vol. 3” obviously tries to carve out the meaning and do more than just coast along on the leftover goodwill of earlier “Guardians” outings, it may be enough for some viewers to feel satisfied with James Gunn’s artistic intent on this front and the broad strokes of the plot/ending.
The fact that no significant characters die in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (apart from the High Evolutionary and Adam Warlock’s golden mother, Ayesha, played by Elizabeth Debicki), maybe the movie’s biggest surprise. Even the fact that the movie teases the deaths of many heroes before pulling back and revealing that each moment was a fake-out makes this shocking.
The Guardians were shown approaching the camera in the trailers while carrying Peter Quill’s body, which was actually an incredibly lifelike Chris Pratt doll. That scene from the film’s opening shows him to be simply inebriated.
Drax gets shot by Nathan Fillion’s bulbous guard at Orgocorp, who then kills him with a deadly shot to the back after leaving a hole in his chest. It’s staged to look like a dramatic moment, potentially one in which Mantis dies, while Drax plummets and cries out. Drax must be carried out by the other Guardians, and this was another scene shown in the Super Bowl trailer.
Drax is there and unharmed when the Guardians are conversing aboard their spacecraft. He’s changed into some new clothing quickly, but the movie never discusses how he recovered. With the same medical technology that allowed them to instantly heal the limbs Adam Warlock severed during his initial attack, it stands to reason that the team could have treated his wounds off-screen.