Chris Sullivan in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, photo courtesy Disney
Yondu’s Space Pirates
For all his rough ways, the blue-skinned pirate Yondu has always had a soft spot for Peter, the child he kidnapped and essentially raised. Yondu’s crew was already grumbling over their captain’s apparent favoritism for Peter in the last movie, and they’re irked even more here. In their own way, they hunger for acceptance and approval themselves. And when they don’t get it, some begin hungering for something else: a new captain.
In a way, Yondu’s disgruntled crew reminds me of the disgruntled older brother in Jesus’ Prodigal Son parable—a parable flipped on its head a bit here. “We’ve done everything you’ve asked,” they seem to tell Yondu. “We’ve been as bad as we could be. And you still make excuses for this … this, hero?”
OK, we’ve talked about some general themes, but to this point, our discussion has been pretty light on spoiling any significant plot points. But one lies beyond the button below. So turn away now, unless you want to hear about …