**Spoilers for “Avengers: Infinity War”…obviously**
I’ll admit it. I’ve seen “Avengers: Infinity War” three times in theaters already. This past Saturday, I was in the theater for the third time, expecting a packed crowd of those people who, like me, had seen the movie before and needed to digest it one more time. Surprisingly, the laughs and gasps of a brand new audience filled the theater. Somehow, beyond my comprehension, the theater was filled with a crowd of people who have avoided all spoilers for the film.
Against all odds, the people in the theater have avoided the disintegration memes. The headlines teasing mass deaths. And all the rumors/speculation about what’s coming next year in ‘Avengers 4.’ To my immediate right sat two girls, who were probably the most vocal when the ending of the film was playing out. And the biggest reaction that came from them was when Groot “died.”
As you know by now, Groot (along with 50% of the universe) died when Thanos famously snapped his fingers. As he disappears, Rocket walks up to him and is sad to see his fellow Guardian turn to ash, while saying one last “I am Groot.” Now, thanks to a tweet from “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker James Gunn, we know what that last “I am Groot” actually meant.
Dad.
That’s it. Groot, as he’s dying, looks to Rocket and says “Dad.” In the film, through all the hijinks and action, we tend to forget that teen Groot is in fact a kid, still. After the original Groot perished in ‘Guardians Vol. 1,’ he was replaced by his “offspring” in ‘Guardians Vol. 2.’ Now, in ‘Infinity War,’ this new Groot has grown up surrounded by his teammates, specifically being watched over by Rocket. So, justifiably so, Groot feels like Rocket is his father figure, as crazy and deranged as that might be.
So, when you go back for your next round of “Avengers: Infinity War” goodness, you can add Groot’s demise to the Spider-Man disintegration as the two most tragic “deaths” of the film. Obviously, we have our own thoughts about that ending, and probably Groot won’t be gone for long. But until then, we’re allowed to mourn.
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/993265674616221696
