The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always had thematic qualities, with the Guardians of the Galaxy series’ main theme being friendship. The characters have extremely different backgrounds and shouldn’t work on paper but have ended up being the best example of friendship in the superhero genre.
With Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Nebula, and Mantis set to have another adventure in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, following their appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder, it’s worth looking into the times where the guardians proved they were a found family. Not to mention that their bond signifies how the MCU has handled such outrageous characters in such heartwarming fashion.
When Drax Claimed They Were Family
At the climax of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the team realized that Star-Lord was in danger of Ego. Nebula suggested they simply leave him, arguing that none of the Guardians were actually friends since they only yelled at each other.
To this, Drax interjected that she was right, but that arguing had always been their way of being a family. He also assured Gamora and Mantis that they would leave no one behind. It’s a particularly heartwarming moment for the fact that Drax’s claim put the Guardians’ entire relationship in context, as it became clear that this dysfunctional group indeed saw each other as family.
Making Fun Of Quill Over Thor's Presence In The Team
Thor’s interactions with Star-Lord brought some of the funniest Guardians moments, with their last scene in Avengers: Endgame following through as well. Teasing one another has always been a common trait shared amongst friends and the Guardians chose to pull Star-Lord’s leg.
After Thor joined the group, he and Star-Lord had a minor argument over who the leader was, leading Drax to suggest they fight one another to decide. The others then turned this up further by claiming the fight would be more entertaining if they used knives. It all ended with everyone sharing a laugh, with Thor still teasing Star-Lord just to mess with him.
Each Time They Did A Fight Formation
Being synchronized with one another to face any challenges is something that qualifies as “squad goals” and the Guardians have done this more times than one. In fact, they completed a formation during their first plan at the prison, following which they’ve always been synchronized.
This was best seen in Avengers: Infinity War, when the group was shown having gotten into fight formation the instant Thor was woken up. This also proved that, despite all their arguing, the group had a level of trust among each other that they would always have each other’s back.
Gamora's Rescue Of Drax
This is an underrated moment that showed Gamora’s care for her friends, as she saved Drax’s life. When the group was attacked by Ayesha’s forces in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, they crash-landed on a nearby planet, during which Drax was hanging by a line out of the ship.
Gamora realized Drax was in danger and arrived just in time to catch the rope the latter was strapped to, effectively rescuing him along with keeping a hold on Drax until the ship had landed. The scene showed how the Guardians place themselves in peril if their friends’ lives are on the line.
Drax's Consoling Of Rocket Over Groot's Death
Drax has never been an expressive person, making the few times he does show emotion standout moments. Moreover, Drax actually consoling someone seemed impossible until the climax of Guardians of the Galaxy, when he was there for Rocket.
The two had been at odds throughout the movie, only for Drax to place his hand on Rocket’s hand gently to console him over the loss of Groot. Not only did it show Drax’s humanity, but it also displayed the fact that he had grown to see Rocket as his genuine friend.
Sharing The Grief Of Tony's Death Together
The end of Avengers: Endgame brought the sad demise of Iron Man, with the Guardians attending his funeral before they left Earth. They were clearly outsiders in this scenario but shared the grief of Tony’s passing nonetheless and it was clear that this was due to them being united.
Since Nebula and Rocket knew Tony better, the other members of the group were also effectively there to support their friends over this difficult loss. It was more evidence that the Guardians do take things seriously when they need each other to overcome sad situations.
The Team Sharing The Power Of The Orb
There’s probably no better example of the bond between the Guardians than this one, where they saved the planet of Xandar. More than that, each member showed that they were willing to die together rather than let their friend perish alone.
Star-Lord barely held on to the Power Stone and would have died had it not been for the others sharing the force of the Orb, allowing him to channel its energy and control it. The best part of this moment arrived when the team accepted themselves as the Guardians of the Galaxy to vanquish Ronan.
Their Mutual Raising Of Baby Groot
Although they’re not related to Groot by blood, the Guardians are easily his caretakers. This makes them among the best parents in the MCU, with all of them raising Baby Groot together. What’s particularly heartwarming is the fact that they honored the original Groot by taking care of his offspring.
Every member has been shown having a parental moment with Groot, as Rocket acts like his father while the rest are effectively the fun uncles and aunts. This included instances such as them putting Groot to sleep and protecting him from any possible dangers.
The Team Singing Along To Star-Lord's Soundtrack
Despite their shared status as misfits, the Guardians are almost always seen arguing. In their first scene in Avengers: Infinity War, though, it was shown how the group is in normal situations, with the characters enjoying Star-Lord’s soundtrack.
The fact that Star-Lord got the likes of Gamora, Drax, and Rocket — all of whom had no knowledge of music — to relax and enjoy his music signified that the group had become extremely relaxed around each other. In any case, breaking out in song is something every friendship group needs to do.
Their Unity During Yondu's Funeral
The death of Yondu was particularly tragic due to his role as Star-Lord’s adoptive father, but the weight of the loss was eased for him by the presence of his friends. Here, the friends gathered together to honor Yondu as the Ravagers gave him their tribute.
The most touching aspect of this was the fact that Rocket finally stopped hiding his emotions around the others and wept openly, proving that the group made him feel safe to be vulnerable around them. In addition, the members faced their first big loss together and knew that their group was in it for the long haul.