3) Groot’s Innocence
You didn’t think I’d forget about the standout character, did you? After the film, I mentally prepared myself to hear everyone around me scream, “I am Groot!” every second of every day, but you know what? I don’t mind it at all. The taciturn giant character is always popular, but what separates this “plant thing” from the rest is his fragility and innocence. He represents raw good, much like an undiscovered spring in the deepest part of a cave.
Groot isn’t hungry for blood, or even a trained warrior; he just wants somebody to love and somebody to love him. Sure, he can take out a dozen solders by impaling them with one arm, but he does it for the sake of friendship – as morbid as that sounds. He would much rather be growing flowers for children and lighting dark places with glowing buds. Watching his colossal figure in these moments of vulnerability is beautiful to our hearts and frightening to our eyes, as they drown in tears from his eventual sacrifice.
We are Groot, indeed.