Bounding several fictional planets across the far-reaching expanse of space, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017) is a journey very close to home. The film handles serious topics such as family violence, abuse, child trafficking, and abandonment through the vulnerability and imperfection of its characters. There’s a directness and regretless tone, a willingness to give us characters who deal with pain, hurt, fragility, and anger openly. How they relate to one another is where we come in. We recognize ourselves in Gamora’s coldness; Nebula’s rage; Rocket’s loneliness; and Drax’s lack of boundaries. The film centers around a certain kind of belonging – the unconditional love, acceptance, and tolerance that we can only secure from close and familial relationships.

Although we never see him in the film, Thanos is a vicious character who stands out as an abusive parent, felt throughout the arguments and battles between Gamora and Nebula. Drea explains the concept of Parental Differential Treatment; a common trait within parents to choose favorites among offspring. But when differential treatment happens with abuse in a family, the outcomes have cascading effects. One sibling in particular is targeted, picked on, marginalized, ignored. The other, caught in a bind to obey and “look the other way.” Thanos was specifically more punishing with Nebula, who consequently redirected her anger toward a more “suitable” target, her sister.

Rocket Racoon is constantly underestimated, but holds intellectual and emotional wisdom. A result of genetic experimentation, he’s learned to be gritty, self-sufficient, self-empowered, and refuses to be victimized. He looks like a pet, but belongs to no one.

Star-Lord (Peter Quill) finally meets his real father, but soon learns the man who has every quality Quill thought he valued–Ego, a powerful Celestial–simply doesn’t feel like “family.”

Ultimately, Guardians, Vol. 2 reflects the complexities of human bonds, that love without the contingencies of power and control is indeed possible, even found between the most unexpected people.