To James Gunn with love: Thank you for making Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Dear James Gunn,

It has been exactly a month since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was released in theaters. The movie is your last directorial venture in the MCU, at least for now. As Marvel fans, we are heartbroken. But as someone who loves the DC Universe you are now in charge of, I am counting on you.

In these last 30 days, Marvel fans stormed the theaters — sometimes even dragging their uninterested friends along — to watch how the story of this ragtag group of galactic misfits ends. We went in expecting some sort of an emotional send-off, but we were not expecting to bawl our eyes out over three characters we’ve never met before — Rocket’s friends Lylla, Floor and Teefs — and get back the old-school MCU theme of found family.

In a world where we can forget to cherish the things that bring us joy, you made a movie that reminds us. There are so many moments in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 that are simply magic. There’s Rocket, Lylla, Teefs and Floor talking about their dreams, or the Guardians teaming up one last time for THAT tunnel fight scene, or the inevitable “The name’s Rocket, Rocket Raccoon.” Then there are the small moments: the original GoTG theme playing at the right moment, or Rocket refusing to leave the other caged animals behind, or the little nod between Nebula and Gamora at the end to show they will always be the sisters, whatever their differences.

Then there are the more subtle ones, like the one where we realize that the new Gamora isn’t lost just because she’s living in a new dimension; she has found her family as well, just not with the Guardians this time around, and that’s okay. My personal favorite is moment is when Groot says, “I love you, guys,” his first line that we understand. I like the theory that we’ve simply spent enough time with him now to understand him when he speaks.

No creative venture is without flaws. I’m sure the critics have already pulled the movie apart, and that analytical fans have found a plothole or two.

For myself, I appreciate that every single scene in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 — whether it’s was meant to make us laugh, cringe or cry — was obviously been crafted with care. Be it Nebula’s arc, Drax’s attempts to lie down on a couch or Gamora taking a moment to acknowledge Peter’s grief, the movie feels like a heartbreak and a warm hug at the same time.

It almost feels like you told a story not for the fans or the franchise, but solely for the characters that have lived in your head for 10 years now. Those are always the best-told stories, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for telling it.

Wishing you all the very best on the other sides of the comics divide.

— A grateful fan

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