Line #13 Heartwarming/CreedII


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2	* Look in the background when Donnie and Rocky are having dinner together; you see a fish tank containing Cuff and Link, [[TheBusCameBack the baby turtles Rocky was caring for in]] [[Film/{{Rocky}} the first film]]. [[https://www.instagram.com/p/BiZ5d6oDfaF/ Sylvester Stallone confirmed on Instagram]] that they're the same turtles. He adopted them after filming and has kept them as his own personal pets for the last 44 years. Given the lifespan of their breeds, there's a good chance they'll outlive Stallone!
3	* Early in the film when Rocky sees Drago's come to see him at his restaurant, his reaction's a surprised, but low "Hey you." Even with their bad history, Rocky all those years later holds no real ill-will toward him. Even with Drago taking offense to no pictures being displayed of their fight, Rocky [[NothingPersonal didn't do so to personally spite him]]: he's not proud of that time and doesn't wish to be reminded of it.
4	* Adonis telling Bianca that no matter what happens they are in it together.
5	-->'''Adonis''': This won't be the end of me or you... because we’re a team.
6	** Bianca stands by her husband during the epic rematch by singing "I Will Go to War", as Adonis walks to the ring.
7	* Ivan throwing in the towel for Viktor. It is the first (and only) selfless action that he takes in the entire franchise, and the way he comforts his son is gut-wrenching. It is also a reflection of the first Rocky's ending, where the real victory was the love between Adrian & Rocky fully realized.
8	** And it's implied that Ivan threw in the towel knowing one thing: that his son would [[{{Determinator}} never quit]] because he wants to make his father proud, and as his father, Ivan was not going to let history repeat itself ''with his own son''.
9	** A quick shot at the end shows Viktor back to training by running around the city again... This time with his father running alongside him, which brings a smile to his face.
10	* Viktor [[CallingTheOldManOut blowing his top]] at the fancy dinner party is mostly due to the past disrespect shown to ''his father'', not him. Far from being DumbMuscle, Viktor is well aware that while Rocky beat his father, it was his own country, his own people, his own ''mother'' who abandoned both of them. It's pretty clear this isn't a son who thinks his father is weak or a failure, but one who's fiercely loyal to Ivan and ''outraged'' those same people would dare feign pride with him after 30 years of treating him as a pariah.
11	-->'''Viktor''': She left you! They all did! Abandoned you! Shamed you!
12	** Bordering on a TearJerker is Ivan's half-tearful "[[MyGreatestFailure I lost!]] I lost, but you won't." in response. One could easily see Ivan as using his son to right his own wrongs, but it's equally likely he pushed his son so hard because he is determined that while he may have to live with the stain of failure, his own son won't, and will have his own future of greatness instead.
13	** Despite his son blowing his top in front of politicians bankrolling their fight and their future, Ivan heads back after talking to his son, clearly to make nice and likely debase himself further [[PapaWolf to secure his son's future]].
14	* Rocky takes Adonis to a certain place in the desert to train for his rematch with Viktor. Rocky mentioned he knew someone who did exactly this and was inspired by it for Adonis. Who was the friend? As revealed in a deleted scene, Spider Rico. While it was sad that he mentioned this during his eulogy to his friend, it's heartwarming that Rocky is honoring his late friend.
15	* Rocky wearing a Mighty Mick's Boxing shirt during Donnie's training.
16	* Rocky going to Vancouver to visit his son and meet his grandson.
17	-->'''Rocky:''' You look just like [your father's] mother.
18	** While Rocky seemed to fear that his son has moved on and is doing fine without him, Robert's first instinct upon seeing him is to invite him into his home and embrace him.
19	* Adonis finally visiting his father's grave, and introducing Apollo to his granddaughter.
20	* A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04P5tOOc0ss deleted scene]] shows Adonis approaching Viktor after their climactic fight, and assuring him that this fight doesn't have to define either of them. A quiet moment of humanity and sportsmanship that implies a mutual respect between the two.
21	** Right before Rocky leaves, he looks at Ivan one more time and both nod at each other. It became clear that their feud has come to an end.

Context Heartwarming / CreedII