Every Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Main Character, Ranked

The following post contains spoilers for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."

All hail James Gunn! After a slew of bland Marvel sequels, spin-offs, and TV shows, the creative mastermind behind "The Suicide Squad" gifts audiences "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," the best Marvel Cinematic Universe entry since the Avengers took on Thanos in "Infinity War." Action-packed and full of heart, the third (and final?) Guardians outing is a grand adventure full of imaginative set pieces, fast-paced dialogue, and Gunn's signature sense of humor. 

Thankfully, the writer-director focuses heavily on character, allowing our ragtag crew of heroes -- Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) -- one last hurrah that feels akin to a giant group hug. After spending so much time with these guys, it's weird to say goodbye, especially since the MCU continues to trudge on, for better or worse.

At any rate, I thought it would be fun to rank the characters based on their performances in the film. So, without further ado, here is every main character in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" ranked from worst to best. Let's do this!

Adam Warlock

Count Adam Warlock amongst the elements of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" that don't work. Will Poulter's performance is acceptable, but the hero feels shoehorned into the film for no apparent reason. While most of "Vol. 3" feels like a standalone adventure, Warlock is the only character who appears explicitly designed for spin-offs and future appearances. It doesn't help that he's portrayed as a middling doofus with an adolescent mind, diminishing his overall impact.

Also, other than his mother, Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), no one in the film pays Adam much attention. His storyline doesn't add much to the overarching narrative. Sometimes I completely forgot about his character before he randomly appeared to do absolutely nothing. Warlock flies in, causes some damage, and then either gets his butt kicked or hobbles away in disgrace -- not exactly a memorable setup.

Still, his first action sequence, in which he battles the Guardians in the middle of Knowhere, kicks the picture off with a furious bang. Poulter looks cool when he's zipping through space at breakneck speeds. We'll undoubtedly see the man in future MCU adventures, hopefully giving Poulter and Marvel more time to work out the kinks. For now, though, Adam Warlock is an entirely superfluous addition to the Guardians brand.

Kraglin

Do yourself a favor and watch the previous Guardians outings -- "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," "Infinity War," "Endgame," and "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" -- before venturing into "Vol. 3," if only to remember how characters like Sean Gunn's Kraglin figure into the plot. It's been a while since I went down memory lane, so I could only scratch my head when Kraglin appeared in "Vol. 3" with Yondu's Yaka Arrow in tow. A refresher course eventually brought me up to speed. Still, my first viewing of "Vol. 3" was marred by a constant state of confusion.

Kraglin is pretty great in the threequel, even though his entire arc revolves around using said Yaka Arrow and finally softening his heart enough to compliment a space dog. He appears in the final battle and does some cool stuff, but fails to make much of an impact. Compared to Yondu, Kraglin is weak and inessential to the central storyline, resulting in a lower ranking on the list.

Gamora

In the first two Guardians films, along with "Infinity War," Gamora is an incredibly complex character who toes the line between good and evil. It's easy to see why others call her the most dangerous woman in the universe. Her super strength, extraordinary combat abilities, and indomitable will make her a challenge to foes of all shapes and sizes. After reluctantly serving her father Thanos, Gamora cut ties and bonded with Peter and the other Guardians before meeting a shocking death during the events of "Infinity War."

"Endgame" brings back an alternate version of the character with no prior knowledge of her relationship with our motley crew. Consequently, the Gamora depicted in "Vol. 3" too often feels like a stowaway, wholly cut off from the rest of the team. Obviously, that's by design, but this approach means she can't bicker and banter with the others like the old Gamora. Zoe Saldana stomps around with a massive chip on her shoulder, constantly shouting, pouting, and brushing aside any of the positive qualities that made Gamora so endearing in the Guardians' previous adventures.

Moreover, by the film's end, Gamora opts to rejoin the Ravagers rather than stay with Peter and company. That's the right move for this iteration of the character, but also one that'll likely tick off fans hoping for Star-Mora romance.

Groot

Groot always seems to stay the same. Oh, sure, the big guy constantly changes his physical appearance, but he's still lovable Groot, a big-hearted, simple-minded tree capable of extreme violence. Gunn doesn't buck the trend in "Vol. 3," but does give Groot a few more tricks for audiences to swoon over. At one point, Adam Warlock destroys Groot's body from the neck down, so his head sprouts legs and crawls around in an obvious nod to John Carpenter's "The Thing."

Later, he leaps after Quill, unfurls angel-like wings, and glides to safety. As always, Groot gets in on the action, using his incredible branch-growing abilities to pierce and pummel bad guys to a pulp. Then, during the big hallway sequence, he and Rocket team up to blast a group of fierce warriors. There's a fun moment where his branches lift to produce hidden weapons that Peter uses to fend off advancing soldiers; the pair stand back-to-back during the fight, which makes me all kinds of giddy.

However, the biggest surprise Groot makes is near the end when he stuns everyone by saying "I love you guys" during a group hug. I'm not crying, you are!

The High Evolutionary

During their time on the big screen, the Guardians have fought all manner of villains. In the first film, they battled Ronan (Lee Pace); the follow-up saw them take on Kurt Russell's Ego. Their bout against Thanos in the two latest "Avengers" movies is legendary. "Vol. 3" brings them face to face with Chukwudi Iwuji's High Evolutionary, a deranged scientist yearning to create a utopian paradise.

The High Evolutionary is the biggest challenge the Guardians have ever faced, no joke. He's completely unsympathetic, consumed by his personal goals and enraged at his inability to accomplish them. He's a fascinating character with deep ties to Rocket's past and a worthy adversary for our heroes.

If I have one complaint, it's that Iwuji leans too hard on overkill in his performance. The High Evolutionary screams and shouts in nearly every scene he appears in; after a while, it grows tiresome. At a certain point, you wonder why anyone follows this madman, as he displays no compassion or generosity. He is a perfectionist to an extreme, demanding excellence out of his workers and creations at all times. Thanos looks reasonable by comparison.

Negatives aside, the High Evolutionary makes for a formidable opponent and gets a pretty radical final scene that'll make your skin crawl.

Nebula

Out of everyone in the "Guardians" franchise, Nebula has the most remarkable character arc. After all these years, it's easy to forget that she once harbored an extreme grudge against Gamora and tried to kill her multiple times. Thankfully, she sides with the good guys against Thanos and finds a moral purpose without losing the punk-rock vibe that made her a fan favorite.

In "Vol. 3," Nebula gets plenty to do, showing off a new batch of contraptions -- did her arm always morph into a gun and flashlight? -- and her unique ability to take a licking and keep on ticking. She kills two baddies while her head dangles from her body. Yeah, there aren't many like Nebula 'round these parts.

Best of all, Nebula finds peace among the Guardians. When Adam Warlock injures Rocket early on, she's the first to come to his aid. Late in the film, she leaps aboard the High Evolutionary's massive ship to save Peter and Groot, something the old Nebula would have never done. It's a stunning transformation for the character, who chooses to stay on Knowhere and aid the lost Star Children at the film's conclusion.

Nebula's development only works because Karen Gillan is so terrific in the role, finding the perfect amount of rage, a character flaw the others criticize. Even with her brazen attitude, Nebula cares about her friends more than anyone, and we love her for it.

Drax

Ah, Drax. It's the role that Dave Bautista was born to play -- a perfect blend of manic energy, thickheadedness, and grit. Like Nebula, the big lug cares for everyone, but doesn't know how to show affection. Instead, he spends much of "Vol. 3" insulting Mantis and criticizing others while subtly revealing his true feelings. When everyone calls Rocket Peter's best friend, Drax casually says, "His second-best friend." When Mantis leaves the team in the final act, he sheds real tears, noting, "I need to protect you because you are so weak!"

While he never did get his revenge on Thanos for murdering his wife and child, "Vol. 3" reveals Drax's true purpose. "You're not a destroyer," Mantis says, "you're a dad." Drax bonds with the Star Children, speaking their language while calling them morons. He really can't help himself, but that's why we like him so much, right?

I also liked how Drax screamed when he thought Peter would die in space. On the outside, Drax looks every bit the muscular, badass destroyer he claims to be. Inside, however, he's a fluffy, gentle giant with a big heart that yearns for a family.

Peter Quill

There's a moment in "Vol. 3" when I thought Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, would die. I was surprised at my emotional reaction to the scene, which shows how much I've bonded with the character over the years -- and it's not just because Chris Pratt is a Seahawks fan.

Peter endures endless tragedy during his adventures. He loses his mom in the original "Guardians of the Galaxy," watches Yondu die in "Vol. 2," learns about Gamora's death in "Infinity War," watches half the universe vanish as a result of his actions, and struggles to move on from his lost love (that there's a literal copy of her running around doesn't help). Nonetheless, "Vol. 3" gives the guy a proper sendoff, allowing him to live with his grandpa on Earth for a spell -- a well-deserved break after years of chaotic, galaxy-saving quests.

Gunn gives Peter the respect he deserves, a welcome return to form after "Infinity War" and "Endgame" treated the character pretty harshly. Peter may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's not an idiot. "Vol. 3" gives him plenty of opportunities to show off his unmatched charm, bravery, and resourcefulness. A post-credit scene teases his return, which is just as well -- the more Star-Lord, the better.

Mantis

I wasn't the biggest Mantis fan following her appearance in "Vol. 2." The character felt misplaced among our main cast and veered too far into goofy territory, what with her penchant for saying everything that crosses her mind. My feelings changed after watching "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special," in which she teams up with Drax to kidnap Kevin Bacon. Maybe it was the Yuletide magic warming my heart, but eventually, I saw Mantis as the perfect addition to the Guardians family.

"Vol. 3" only increased my admiration for Pom Klementieff, who brings a tremendous energy to the role in her (potentially) final outing. We don't learn much more about Mantis, but she uniquely affects each character. She helps Drax find his purpose, dishes out harsh truths to Nebula, and mends Peter's broken heart. She may be a side character, but Mantis functions as the Guardians' soul, using her abilities to aid others, including a group of frightened Abilisks.

Fittingly, she decides to head off on her own, finally doing the one thing she never got to do during her time in the MCU: focus on herself. You've earned a break, Mantis. Just don't be gone too long!

Rocket

James Gunn ensures that every main character goes on a journey of self-discovery in "Vol. 3," with incredible results each time. Still, despite Peter and Co.'s unforgettable accomplishments, the third chapter is Rocket's story. As Lylla (Linda Cardellini) explains, the "Guardians" trilogy might have been Rocket's tale all along.

At any rate, "Vol. 3" digs deep into the raccoon's past and lets us see how he came to be and why he harbors a deep resentment for, well, everything. His tragic relationship with Lylla, the friendly otter brutally murdered before his eyes, and the other prisoners locked in the High Evolutionary's base of operations is genuinely heartbreaking. Rocket starts as a wide-eyed, intelligent being whose brain functions rapidly. After escaping the High Evolutionary, he becomes angry, bitter, and alone (save for Groot). Thankfully, Rocket's time with the Guardians serves him well and gives him a new family to fight for. This purpose literally brings him back from the dead.

I never thought much of Rocket's backstory, but seeing his origins casts the character in a new light, particularly at the start of the original film, where he struggles to fit in with Peter and the gang. Gunn makes the right move by making Rocket the leader of the new Guardians team, having him adopt the moniker Rocket Raccoon and spend his days aiding helpless souls throughout the galaxy.

Read this next: The Most Powerful Aliens In The MCU Ranked

The post Every Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Main Character, Ranked appeared first on /Film.