Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 changes how MCU fans watch the whole trilogy, but one line from the original film gets some completely new context. While the third film puts a highlight on the strong bond between the Guardians, Rocket Raccoon is very much the main character. One of the more mysterious Guardians members, the end of the trilogy finally details Rocket’s devastating backstory.

Rocket was experimented on in his youth by the High Evolutionary as the geneticist aimed to create his ideal civilization called Counter-Earth. Though Rocket proved more useful to the High Evolutionary than his other experiments, the villain still planned on disposing of him. Rocket manages to escape, but he’s forced to come face to face with his former captor in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3’s Ending Sees The Team Rescue Everyone From The High Evolutionary’s Lair (Including The Animals)

The High Evolutionary Experimented On A Wide Range Of Beings

Because of the confusion amid chaos, the Guardians find themselves split up during their infiltration of Counter-Earth. Nebula, Drax, and Mantis board the High Evolutionary’s ship to save Star-Lord and Groot, only to realize that the pair already escaped. Perhaps it was fate for them to get stuck on the ship, as the Guardians would’ve never discovered the High Evolutionary’s experimental children.

The High Evolutionary’s next batch of test subjects are revealed to be genetically modified humanoid children, and the Guardians don’t feel right leaving without saving them. Knowing that there were also animal experiments aboard the ship, Rocket goes back to save them as well. By the end of the film, no innocent being was left behind.

Rocket’s Comments In The Original Guardians Of The Galaxy Change How Him Rescuing The Raccoons In The Third Movie Looks

Rocket Genuinely Meant What He Said In The First Film

Of course, the group of animals that Rocket feels a particular emotional connection to are the raccoons that he saves. Everyone is aware that Rocket was created from a raccoon, but he was sensitive to the comparison in the original Guardians of the Galaxy. When Peter calls him a raccoon while they’re getting arrested, Rocket shows genuine confusion.

Rocket replies that “ain’t no thing like me except me,” which seemed like him being in denial at the time. It seemed like he didn’t want to accept that he was an experiment, but the backstory that we saw in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 may be reason to believe that Rocket doesn’t actually know that he’s a raccoon.

Rocket’s Decision To Save The Raccoons In Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Hits Even Harder If He Hasn’t Seen Other Raccoons Before

Rocket Was Never Taught About His Origins

Rocket was one of the High Evolutionary’s most important experiments, but it didn’t mean that the villain treated him well. The High Evolutionary did not explain to Rocket what he was or where he came from, so it makes sense for Rocket to believe that he was truly the only one of his kind in his youth.

The moment where he saves the raccoons at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 feels a lot more emotional if it were Rocket’s first time seeing other creatures like himself. It’s somewhat tragic for Rocket to finally learn about raccoons and get a glimpse of what he once was, but it’s made heartwarming by the fact that he saved them from the High Evolutionary’s wrath.