One Easter Egg in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 Became a Plot Hole After Vol. 3
Why was this subtle mention a mistake?
James Gunn, the creative mind behind the Guardians of the Galaxy series, is known for paying attention to every little detail and leaving sneaky Easter eggs in his films. However, there's one reference in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie that Gunn might wish he could take back.
In the first installment of Guardians of the Galaxy, fans with a keen eye would have spotted a written profile for Rocket during a scene at the Nova Corps. This profile, serving as a visual Easter egg, listed Lylla as one of Rocket’s associates, hinting at her potential involvement in the sequels.
This reference sparked curiosity and speculation among the audience, as Lylla, a talking otter, has a rich comic book history as Rocket’s ally and love interest.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 revealed Rocket’s past, exploring his tough upbringing as the High Evolutionary’s lab rat and introducing us to his animal buddies, including Lylla, who we've been waiting to meet for a while.
The film showed Rocket’s close bond with his pals and the tragic fate that befell them during their escape. Lylla’s death ended up being a major factor in Rocket’s character development and his intense hatred for the High Evolutionary.
However, after GotG Vol. 3, Lylla’s name in the first film raises questions, as Rocket was the only who managed to break free from the High Evolutionary’s laboratory, so it's kind of strange to think the Nova Corps would know about her.
Some fans now consider it a plot hole, as there is no way Lylla is alive during the events of the first movie. However, there are viewers who have an explanation of their own.
People are speculating that maybe Rocket kept using Lylla’s name as an alias for his accomplices. Another theory suggests he could have used her name to mislead the authorities and throw them off his trail.
Though fans have their own ideas, there's an actual reason. According to The Direct, it seems James Gunn initially planned for Lylla to show up in a sequel as Rocket's romantic interest. However, he eventually decided to take her character in a different, more somber direction, as we witnessed in the third movie.
Sources: The Direct, Reddit