Why Rocket Lets Star-Lord Be Guardians Captain In Endgame, But Not Infinity War

In Avengers: Infinity War, Rocket Raccoon insisted that he’s the Guardians of the Galaxy’s captain, and yet he was suddenly okay letting Star-Lord be the team’s leader in Avengers: Endgame — why? The rag-tag of cosmic heroes organically came together during the events of Guardians of the Galaxy. While they work effectively as a team, bickering has been typical among its members, especially since the gang has some of the snarkiest heroes in the MCU.

The back-and-forth among the gang makes them very fun to watch; after all, despite the petty arguments, it’s clear that when push comes to shove, the Guardians of the Galaxy members will have each other’s backs. Like Iron Man and Captain America with the Avengers, the galactic characters have Rocket and Star-Lord as the team’s leaders. However, while the Earth-based MCU heroes have no issues sharing the responsibility of leading the team, their space counterparts have squabbled a few times about who’s in charge. Upon meeting Thor in Infinity War, the pair once again argued who’s actually the captain of the Benatar. No one technically won the debate, but by Endgame, it appears that Rocket has already given up on his claim.

After Thanos has been defeated in Endgame, Thor embraced his true self, relegated his Asgardian ruling duties to Valkyrie, and joined the Guardians of the Galaxy in their next adventure instead. With the God of Thunder back with his fellow cosmic heroes, he attempted to assert his position within the team resulting in a subtle and hilarious argument with Star-Lord as to who is in charge. As the pair squabbled, Rocket did not join the argument — even letting a small smile out as Peter Quill insisted that he’s leading the team. This was a surprising move for Rocket who was also jockeying for the role in Infinity War, but considering his experience following the snap, this decision makes sense. The moment highlighted just how glad Rocket is for having his family back that he couldn’t care less who’s the captain of the Benatar just as long as he has his team with him again.

While all original Avengers and some of their most trusted allies survived Thanos’ random genocide, Rocket was the only official member of the team who remained following Infinity War‘s tragic ending. Given this, the usually snarky and unaffected hero came to terms that the Guardians of the Galaxy has become very important to him. During the Asgard leg of the time heist with Fat Thor, he asked the God of Thunder to take the mission seriously because the resurrection of his family depended on it, subtly and rarely showing affection towards his squad. After five years of losing all hope that his teammates will come back, miraculously reuniting with them in Endgame was something that would make even Rocket appreciate and not take them for granted anymore.

It’s curious how else the five years in between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame changed Rocket. As he and the rest of his rag-tag team go on a new adventure in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it’s possible that he’s more in tune with his emotions and less argumentative. Of course, that doesn’t mean that he will lose all his snarkiness, however, the experience more likely impacted him in ways that haven’t been revealed just yet.

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