Countdown to Doomsday: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

The countdown reaches the last film James Gunn directed before the firing, and Adam makes the case that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is better than the first, and the entry most burdened by the machine around it. Why nearly every character arc here exists to clear the decks for Infinity War, how the Yondu rehabilitation works despite its setup, why the found-family theme rings hollow for a team that acts like coworkers, and why Guardians is the sub-franchise the crossovers damaged most. Plus the Awesome Mix Vol. 2 and the needle-drop grammar it taught the entire MCU. A full 5 out of 5. Next week: Spider-Man: Homecoming.