History Heartwarming / GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3

--->'''Gamora''': You must be a really loyal pet if they're willing to do all this for you?

--->'''Gamora'': You must be a really loyal pet if they're willing to do all this for you?

** Peter in particular is the most determined to save Rocket (partially due to [[ItsAllMyFault feeling responsible]] for him being in his critical state). They also seem closer, Peter even calling him his best friend (with [[GreenEyedMonster Drax]] insisting that Rocket is Peter’s ''second''-best friend), Rocket's sad reaction to Peter leaving, and Peter gifting Rocket the Zune. It's a nice contrast from the nearly antagonistic dynamic they had in their previous appearances.

** There's also the shot of Thor, Rocket and Groot arriving in Wakanda from ''Infinity War''. It's nice to see that even Thor's very short time as a guardian is acknowledged, however little we might have seen of it; as is the cathartic moment from that film when audiences erupted into cheers seeing Thor arrive with a raccoon and a tree to do battle against the gravest threat to the universe up to that point, out of the goodness of their hearts.

* After [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy so]] [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 many]] [[Film/AvengersInfinityWar universe-saving]] [[Film/AvengersEndgame escapades]] what cataclysmic adventure do the Guardians have this time for their GrandFinale? Saving the life of their friend.

* The last scene in the movie is Peter just...sitting at the table, sharing breakfast with his grandpa and talking like a normal family. This is presumably ''after'' Peter's talked about his life as Star-Lord.

[[caption-width-right:1000:''"My beloved raccoon...this story has been yours all along. You just didn't know it."'']]

** "Dog Days Are Over" is a song about fleeing the source of your trauma and risking it all to do so, and all the hardship and joy that implies. It drives home that after everything that happened to them — abusive childhoods, loved ones dying, their squabbles with each other, threats to the universe itself – [[EarnYourHappyEnding ''the Guardians made it'']] and are making the galaxy a better place where less people will have to experience what they did. That's arguably [[CentralTheme the message of the Guardians' saga as a whole]]: no matter what the universe throws your way, ''you can make it out the other side'', break the cycle of pain, find the love and purpose you deserve, and help others to do the same.

** There's also the shot of Thor, Rocket and Groot from Infinity War. It's nice to see that even Thor's very short time as a guardian is acknowledged, however little we might have seen of it.

** Another person thanked in the list is Creator/BobcatGoldthwait--one of James Gunn's biggest supporters during his firing (to the point where he'd threaten to outright quit playing [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Pain]] if Gunn wasn't rehired).

** Any scenes showing Groot being at Rocket’s side while he was unconscious. Showing beside Peter, Groot cares for Rocket a lot and would never leave his side.

** Another person thanked in the list is Creator/BobcatGoldthwait--one of James Gunn's biggest supporters during his firing (to the point where he'd threaten to outright quit playing ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Pain]]'' if Gunn wasn't rehired).

* Rocket ''leading'' the charge to rescue ''every single last'' innocent animal tortured in the cages of The High Evolutionary's exploding charnel house of cruelty. And not just the "cute and fluffy ones"; the mutants and cyborgs irreperably deformed by the madman's experiments and even ''the giant fanged and tentacled monstrosities'' are all '''also''' rescued and given a chance to be free and ''live.'' It is this moment that cements ''sincerity'' of this film's [[AnAesop that *all* life is precious, and should be treated with equal love and respect.]]

** Later at the ending, a pair of kits are sitting next to Rocket in Knowhere's plaza.

* Creator/JamesGunn released two final photos of the Guardians (including [[https://static1.moviewebimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/james-gunn-g3cast.jpg this one]] with him in it to celebrate the finale of his contribution to Marvel. It's a reminder of the hard work that went into making these films and whatever your thoughts on the films individually, the cast and crew can be proud that they made ''one hell'' of a trilogy.

* After [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy so]] [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 many]] [[Film/AvengersInfinityWar universe-saving]] [[Film/AvengersEndgame adventures]] what cataclysmic adventure do the Guardians have this time for their GrandFinale? Saving the life of their friend.

* Floor and Teefs waving joyfully to Rocket from behind Lylla, showing that they are all in a ''much'' better place after what happened to them and ''infinitely'' happier and '''''free,''''' enjoying the sky together.