“the perfect present is a galaxy way”

Following the release of Werewolf By Night (originally streaming on October 7th), The Guardians and the Galaxy Holiday Special is only the second Marvel Studios project that is not in the form of a theatrical film or a weekly streaming series. This all new hour special shows a holiday adventure between the Guardians of the Galaxy as they try to cheer up Peter Quill/Star-Lord as he is depressed about Gamora, well his Gamora, being gone. So Drax and Mantis set off on an adventure by themselves to get Peter the best Christmas present of them all to brighten his spirits!! What can possibly go wrong when two incompetent aliens come to Earth during the holidays?? It’s the most heartwarming idea in a Marvel project for the Guardians to band together to cheer Peter up. 

If you haven’t yet go check out the official trailer for The Guardians and the Galaxy Holiday Special (released October 25, 2022) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYhFFQl4fLs

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS TIME SLOTS TO MATCH UP WITH THE TRAILER 

(link included above)

James Gunn made his Marvel debut as the director of the first Guardians of the Galaxy back in 2014 which also introduced the world to Marvel’s first found family. During this summer’s Comic Con at the Marvel Panel, Kevin Feige, alongwith James Gunn and the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 with returning stars like Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, and Sean Gunn. In Hall H they also introduce some new additions to the Guardians with Will Poulter as Adam Warlock, Chukwudi Iwuji as High Evolutionary, and Maria Bakalova voicing Cosmo the Spacedog. Based on the presentation and trailer, we should all consider the third film to be the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy. After the trailer reveal James Gunn said, “This is the end of that story. I’m sorry. Some stories have an end. It doesn’t mean everybody dies.” While talking about the characters Chris Pratt got choked up same with the rest of the cast talking about their characters and how far they’ve come. This just shows how invested not only Chris Pratt is but the entire cast are with the franchise, the characters, and how much of a family not only the Guardians are but the actors as well. “If you ever feel lost, just look into the eyes of the people that you love. They’ll tell you exactly who you are.” Fans were also speculating the end of the Guardians due to the music choice for the teaser trailer exclusively shown at Comic Con. The trailer is to “Do You Realize” which is a song about understanding that life is short and precious and how everyone should make the effort the spend time with the ones they love because you don’t know how much time you have with them (which is probably going to be a main theme in the third Guardians film). 

Hidden Details and Easter Eggs

• (0:04) The trailer starts off with multicolor lines declaring it is a “Marvel Studios’ Special Presentation”. Meaning similar to Werewolf By Night, The Guardians and the Galaxy Holiday Special will be Marvel Studios’ second project that is not in the form of a theatrical film or a weekly streaming series. The special presentation visuals from the get-go prove that the special will be a throwback to more vintage horror. The sounds playing during this are a nod to the CBS Special Presentation theme from the 80s and 90s. Marvel truly knocked it out of the park with Werewolf By Night which was something never before seen in the MCU and was perfect to say the least. So there are very high expectations for this Holiday Special but from the looks of it from the trailers it will be a Holiday Special watched for years to come. Also it’s the Guardians, they’re one of the most famous groups in the MCU now. 
• (0:09) The trailer starts off with Kraglin (Sean Gunn) telling the other Guardians, “I just saw on the calendar that right now on Earth it’s almost Christmas time.” Nebula then steps in saying, “We don’t have time for trivialities like Christmas.” 
• (0:16) Mantis says, “But Peter’s so sad about Gamora being gone.” It is revealed that Peter is depressed because why wouldn’t he be? The love of his life was killed at the price of an Infinity Stone by her own father (in Avengers: Infinity War). Then in Avenger: Endgame, Peter meets Gamora once more who is an alternate dimension version of his love who ditched him and the rest of the Guardians after the snap since she knows none of them. In The Guardians and the Galaxy Holiday Special, we see Peter dejected and empty with shots of him alone wallowing in his own self pity sadly in a bar and even a deflating inflatable Santa Claus (at time point 0:15).

• (0:21) Mantis hatches a plan thinking, “Maybe if we go to Earth for a really wonderful Christmas gift it would make him happy.” Here we see Mantis and Drax embark on an Earthly journey to Los Angeles, where we see a glimpse of them walking the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• (0:30) There’s an adorable shot of Rocket hanging strings of Christmas lights to cheer up Peter. 
• (0:33) It looks like Drax and Mantis stumble upon some Christmas parties and clubs while on their search for the perfect present for Peter. 
• (0:34) We get an adorable shot of Groot giving presents to each Guardian (who are in quite festive attire) like Mantis, Peter, Drax, and Nebula. 
• (0:35) Mantis says they need to get Peter, “Something he will never forget.” It is when Drax says, “What about someone special?”, when everything goes south. 
• (0:44) “We’re looking for the legendary Kevin Bacon.” “WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE LEGENDARY KEVIN BACON.” Mantis and Drax are trying to kidnap the “legendary” actor, Kevin Bacon to give as a gift to Peter. Marvel has been setting up Kevin Bacon’s cameo since the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie released in 2014. Peter has referred to Kevin Bacon as “the great hero” who taught him how to dance (he’s obviously referencing Footloose). In Avengers: Infinity War, Thor says, “The Avengers are Earth’s mightiest heroes.” Which Mantis asks, “Like Kevin Bacon?” Thor hilarious replies, “He may be on the team. I haven’t been there in a while.”  That’s not the only time Kevin Bacon is mentioned in Infinity War. When the Guardians meet Tony, Peter (Parker), and Strange, Drax tells Peter to, “tell him about the dance-off to save the Universe.” Which Peter (Parker) being the movie buff he is asks, “Like in Footloose? The movie?” “Exactly like Footloose!! Is it still the greatest movie in history?” “It never was.” 
• (0:45) MW pointed out that, “There’s also a nod to Quill’s past in a shot of Bacon’s front gate at Hollywood — his house number is 1988, the same year Peter Quill was abducted by aliens.” 
• (0:56) Drax then bursts through one of Kevin Bacon’s windows while he and Mantis are holding stolen Christmas decorations from his lawn. Drax says, “You’re coming with us as a Christmas present.” 
• The Guardians and the Galaxy Holiday Special will be starring Star-Lord (played by Chris Pratt), Mantis (played by Pom Klementieff), Drax (played by Dave Baustista), Nebula (played by Karen Gillan), Kraglin (played by Sean Gunn), Cosmo is returning to the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Groot grown-up (voiced by Vin Diesel), and introducing Kevin Bacon (of course playing himself). 
• (1:02) Cosmo the “Spacedog” is finally back!! She was first seen in Guardians of the Galaxy, “in the Collector’s Collection after being sent into space by the Soviet Union.” Cosmo will also be returning for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. 

• (1:04) Groot is all grown up again (almost). Though the Groot seen in the trailer is not the Groot we first met in Guardians of the Galaxy. MW says, “He’s gotten a bit older- so let’s call him early 20s Groot. With some pretty cool CGI, Groot here looks surprisingly bulky and fit… at least for a tree.” Groot has looked different every time we see him, and he’ll probably change in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

The Guardians and the Galaxy Holiday Special is streaming on Disney+ November 25th!!