The editorial team of "After the Credits" bids farewell to the Guardians of the Galaxy series and pays tribute to it.

James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy has come to an end, much as we might wish otherwise. Gunn himself is moving on to build another comic book cinematic universe, leaving us to reflect on the team of colorful misfits who won over audiences' hearts.

The team at "After the Credits" ponders what the Guardians of the Galaxy will leave behind, and shares emotions and personal stories connected to this amazing series, where even a talking tree can bring a tear to the viewer's eye.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

– How Did Guardians of the Galaxy Influence the Superhero Genre?

Ivan Kilyakov believes that Gunn's signature style has yet to leave its mark on history:

Conceptually, Guardians of the Galaxy didn't particularly influence the genre — it can't compare in scale of influence to, say, Iron Man, of course. But James Gunn found his own authorial voice in these films — a mix of low-budget trash in the spirit of 1950s sci-fi, pop culture references (in the case of Guardians, Star Wars got the brunt of it, naturally), and the sentimentality of a fan who was allowed to remake his favorite childhood movies, but whose childhood is gone.

And that authorial voice of James Gunn will undoubtedly influence the superhero genre — after all, they gave him the entire DC universe for that very purpose.

Vitaly Gizatullin also appreciates Gunn's ability to blend genres and make truly entertaining cinema:

James Gunn created a talkative, noisy, fun, carefree film, without any hint of a serious face, unlike almost all top superhero films before Guardians came along.

The director constantly plays on the viewer's emotions, spinning a genre carousel like an adventure pulp novel — light, simple, and memorable, while not forgetting his cinephile preferences, stuffing the film with references to psychedelic pop sci-fi of the 70s and 80s, along with excellent musical numbers.

Evgenia Smykova supports the idea of the retrospective freshness of Guardians:

In 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy became a breath of fresh air in the already established trend that superhero movies must have deep meaning and meet societal demands. It was a project by a fan of sci-fi action films for geeks like him.

When watching any of the parts, it feels like you're watching 90s action movies with your dad again, something in the vein of Demolition Man, even Stallone is here.

Even in the general Avengers movies, the scenes with the Guardians were written by Gunn himself, which broke the narrative style, and again it was that same breath of joy and nostalgia in the most pompous crossover of all time.

Varvara Ulianenok values Gunn's audacity:

Guardians of the Galaxy added a certain mischievousness that was clearly lacking in the toothless MCU films before. Later, there would be many attempts to repeat this formula — by Taika Waititi, for example, who succeeded once and completely failed on the second try.

– What Will Guardians of the Galaxy Be Remembered For?

Vitaly Gizatullin is confident that Gunn's wit will forever remain with comic book movie enthusiasts, and he also believes in sequels:

Guardians of the Galaxy will be remembered for its satire of superheroes, its ironic and witty take on the genre (though sometimes with clear excesses), its whirlwind editing, well-paced action scenes, and well-written, memorable characters. The latter, by the way, after the trilogy's conclusion, desperately need solo projects. Audiences will definitely miss them.

Evgenia Smykova will remember the author's dreaminess:

For me, it's more a story of James Gunn's dream and wish fulfillment. I recall his post on the premiere day of the second part, where he talked about how the project was created and rejoiced that he managed to bring his fantasy to life, which resonated with almost the whole world.

Varvara Ulianenok believes that Guardians of the Galaxy is, first and foremost, about the characters, and that's what the film will be remembered for:

It's simple – great characters who grow beyond themselves and learn important life lessons always stay in the audience's memory. Probably. Maybe no one will particularly remember the motivation of the villain in the first Guardians of the Galaxy (who, by the way, was brilliantly played by Lee Pace), but everyone will remember the relationships between Star-Lord and Gamora, or Rocket and Groot.

Ellina Chernikova also sees the main value of the series in its characters:

Guardians of the Galaxy, among other things, perfectly answered the demands of the target audience and the generation as a whole – young guys and girls, slightly immature and with parents' issues, saw on the big screen aliens who suffer from the same problems. Star-Lord constantly jokes to not seem weak, Rocket and Gamora bare their teeth, Groot outwardly doesn't understand anything (but in reality understands better than others).

Gunn showed that superheroes can be not just "people from the people" like Spider-Man; they are also very similar to all of us: they like listening to music, they like to lie and embellish, they like beautiful things, and they also love money!

– Favorite Character from the Guardians of the Galaxy Team

Rocket, of course. They spoiled him a bit with an underdeveloped drama in the second film (though they made up for it in the finale), but overall a brilliant character. A dashing sarcastic squirrel with a machine gun – what could be better as a role model?! And you go ahead and love your emo boys, so to speak.

My favorite character is Rocket. The combination of something incredibly cute and sharp-tongued – I literally found my inner demon! Also, his reflection on what's happening is close to me.

Despite the fact that initially Nebula is a bitter antagonist, an assassin serving her tyrant father, it was she who captured my attention.

When watching films, you look for emotions that a well-written character arc can immerse you in. In this case, it's the transformation of a personality that turned Nebula into a full-fledged protagonist.

Entertainment cinema can't always boast characters who systematically go through life milestones to a state of self-sufficiency. And even the hackneyed motif of seeking a parent's approval unfolds slowly, plunging deep into the character's personal drama.

The unloved, multiply physically pained "evil stepsister" not only comes to realize her own problems but, going through a stage of emotional alienation, gets rid of unhealthy attachment in favor of constructive bonds, which in the trilogy leads to a soul-cleansing catharsis. To understand Nebula is to love Nebula!

The magnificent Dave Bautista as Drax. A brave, courageous warrior with a tragic history and a specific sense of humor. His peculiarity of taking every line literally serves as the main engine of comedic situations. Almost all episodes with him bring a smile. And his laugh is something else.

Yes, it will be cliché, but there is no one better than Rocket. A charming, soft, cheeky creature with a difficult fate behind him. And you can feel it from the first minute. It's so touching and at the same time funny that other characters call him a dog or a rabbit.

But if we're talking not only about the Guardians, we can't forget about Ronan the Accuser and the wonderful Lee Pace. Yes, what's there to hide, I love British villains.

I'll allow myself to be original and choose Ego – I think he fits wonderfully into the story of the second part and serves the plot purposes perfectly, while being a rather amusing character. And you can't help but love Kurt Russell, even when he plays not the most pleasant characters.

– Most Memorable Moment or Joke

I don't remember jokes at all, but the moment: Yondu's funeral. First, because his name reminds me of John Lennon's widow. Second, because there's some terribly pompous fireworks and Sylvester Stallone with sad eyes. Impossible not to cry.

The opening scene from the second part of Guardians of the Galaxy with dancing baby Groot during the battle with the alien monster under Electric Light Orchestra. I don't think they've come up with better title sequences yet.

In the first part, there is one small scene, maybe not even noticeable to everyone, when Rocket comes into the cell. He is without clothes, clutching his robe, hunched over, with scars from experiments – at that moment your heart clenches. And we realize that this is no longer just a one-night action flick, but a story of characters with a difficult fate.

My favorite joke from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is the moment when Quill says that in ultraviolet light, his ship is a masterpiece of abstractionism. Rocket obviously didn't know what abstractionism was, and Kandinsky was not close to him.

I absolutely love the beginning of the first part – it sets an interesting and right tone, and also prepares us to enjoy the magnificent soundtrack. Plus, the absolute majority of Drax's lines bring at least a smile, and at most – uproarious laughter.

Choosing just one moment in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy is like naming your favorite sibling in a large family. But I'll probably highlight the episode from the last part when Groot says "I love you guys," which symbolizes that we, the audience, have finally been accepted into the family. That level of tenderness simply doesn't exist in superhero cinema.

P. S.

Watching Guardians of the Galaxy is like going back to childhood and playing your favorite game with friends. James Gunn understands this well and generously grants us that chance.

Guardians of the Galaxy for me is a project of great luck, where something bold, partly revolutionary, and endlessly charming is revered. When you rewatch them, you realize that the participants were having a blast during the process, and that's the most important thing for me in cinema.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 actually made me seriously think about the theme of fathers and children, plus it started a chain of watching all possible essays dissecting this type of relationship. James Gunn really managed to reveal them from an interesting angle.

My adventures are more modest than those of the Guardians, but each new part I watched in a new place and under unexpected circumstances.

I first got acquainted with the series at a special event in Astana, where a few months before the premiere, lucky ones were shown a fragment of the prison escape in IMAX format. To say that the audience ecstatically welcomed unfamiliar heroes and their killer jokes is an understatement. I later watched the film itself in my native Pavlodar and became a fan of this team.

I also got to see the second part before the official premiere. To get to a special screening in Kaliningrad, I had to go through a whole Marvel marathon with rewatches of not-so-bright and mandatory Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Age of Ultron. But the reward was not only an early viewing of the film but also access to a small press conference with the creators and their parting words before the screening.

I watched the final Guardians in St. Petersburg, where, like the film's characters, I found a home I had long been looking for. So it was easier to let go of my beloved characters, though not without tears.

I recall one story: I was in school when the first part of Guardians came out, and we had a subject called "English Theater" included in the curriculum for some reason – we had to prepare and present a play in English over the year.

So in September, when we were choosing a play to stage, everyone was still under the great impression of this film, and the main debate was: stage a conventional Macbeth or an indie version of Guardians. Roughly speaking, Shakespeare vs. James Gunn. The people's candidate was Gunn, naturally. Don't get me wrong, the walking forest in Macbeth is cool, of course, and everyone acknowledges that, but no tree there says "I am Groot," and Gunn has even crazier stuff.

We ended up staging Oscar Wilde, and I still don't fully understand that decision. Unfortunately, no one said "I am Groot" in Wilde either.