I’m sure someone’s made mention of this already, but can I just say one of the most powerful moments of GotG2 for me was Gamora’s line about “little girls across the galaxy that are in danger.”
Just … in superhero movies (other than Wonder Woman) female children aren’t showcased or mentioned. There was some tumblr post a while ago that pointed out how in Marvel movies we have young boys noticing Captain America or baby!Parker getting to fight alongside Ironman, but never do we get a girl doing those things. Boys get a chance to feel like a part of the Marvel universe, but never girls.
And now they’re mentioned, and not just as a casual insertion. It’s not a simple camaraderie moment that will make a kid want to jump around and fight imaginary foes alongside their heroes.
It’s an empowering moment.
It’s acknowledging that girls are in danger, that they’re being abused and cruelly targeted. That line will resonate with any child who’s felt like they have nowhere else to turn. Their pain and helplessness has been given a voice, and they will no longer feel alone. Nebula and Gamora are women they can identify with.
(Plus, the sisters represent both ends of the spectrum in how girls can react to the abuse they’ve suffered, so it’s not a matter of tokenism. No one has to feel like their abuse isn’t valid because they don’t act a certain way)
More importantly, it can give these girls hope or a sense of strength. They can tell themselves that Nebula or Gamora care about them. They can dream about being saved by the sisters if they wish, because their abusers wouldn’t stand a chance. Nebula and Gamora’s strength and power can also be something young girls can aspire to.
It’s just … that line and the entire arc of those sisters really spoke to me. Thank you James Gunn, for finally giving young girls a voice in Marvel movies.