Adopted daughter of the Mad Titan Thanos, Nebula was a feared space pirate and mercenary who was once ruthless in her ways, determined to earn the favor of her father while knowing it was never hers to begin with. She was recognized as one of the most relentless and brutal assassins throughout the galaxy after being raised as a biological weapon. Her rage motivated her actions as she slaughtered her way to achieving her own version of vengeance. It was never truly determined what Nebula’s lineage was before she was taken in by Thanos, but Marvel Comics depict her past as filled with abuse that she works to free herself of. She became a force to be feared as she slashed her way through the stars. Her hunger for power was insatiable. She made enemies of some of Marvel’s most popular faces that she would later cross paths with in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and even bear the Infinity Gauntlet as her own.
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James Gunns’ Guardians of the Galaxy became a breakout hit after the once-obscure intergalactic team was introduced to a mainstream audience. The leap from the comic books to live-action was timed purposefully enough that it would deepen the lore around the MCU, while digging into the otherworldly inspiration that would diversify the franchise’s brand. Guardians of the Galaxy was a pivotal moment in the Infinity Saga as it was responsible for featuring a more detailed look at Thanos and the dynamic between his children. Karen Gillan made her MCU debut as Nebula, a secondary villain to the Guardians. Afterwards, Nebula was awarded a higher standing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and eventually Infinity War and Endgame. With each film, Gillan’s humanoid assassin was granted more screen time, building her overall story arc. Now, Gillan is locked in for both Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder as a main character, which promises more of her story to be told. Nebula has come a long way since her villanous position in Guardians of the Galaxy. Here’s how she had one of the best character arcs in the MCU’s Infinity Saga.
Nebula is Introduced as a Wounded Character For a Reason
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When she is first seen meeting Thanos for the first time, Nebula is eager to please her disinterested father and constantly seeks his approval. The need for the Mad Titan to reward her with praise and the want to be viewed as an equal to Gamora were prominent motivations for her character. Unlike other characters who find themselves being thrown away by their underutilization, Nebula becomes a villain first due to her misguidance. There is a purpose behind the pain with which she is portrayed: that raw, outcast feeling acts as an incubator for Nebula’s arc across future projects, providing a narrative centerpiece for her Infinity Saga journey.
According to SlashFilm, Nebula was originally supposed to be killed off during the events of the first Guardian of the Galaxy, though was spared by Gunn as there were further plans for her evolution. It was first noted that Nebula was void of a personality per her inauguration into the MCU as she was consumed by self-grief. Without the bristling, woeful, and bitter approach, Gillan’s performance as Nebula would not have been given room to mature.
Her Arc is More Than a Plot Device
Nebula’s arc is both necessary for her character development and to push the Guardians of the Galaxy saga forward. However, more than a plot device, it symbolizes the resilience of abuse survivors. The first film features Nebula internalizing her past and holding onto her neglect as she yearns to be noticed. The incessant desire to be noticed is later shed as she dons a new approach to who she is, shaking herself free of the need for external validation, especially from Thanos. She removes herself from her past and is given a stronger, reformed reprise. Her aggression and assertion are replaced with self-acceptance as she and her sister mend their broken past during Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, a film that effectively solidified Nebula’s redemption. The sequel was smart enough to include the restitution of their relationship with enough weight where it was impactful and not distracting.
Nebula choosing to join the Guardians instead of continuing to fight them may appear to be a plot point from a surface level. Beneath that, however, there is a deeper connotation. The moment when she stops dwelling over her past and embraces the future is a step forward that symbolizes overcoming abuse and reclaiming one’s life as their own. Nebula’s on-screen transformation and the gradual shift in her character insist that her past does not define her present or her future. This enforces the message that those who are subject to any form of abuse are not defined by actions taken against them and are able to champion their setbacks. Gunns’ reinvention of the character demonstrates that strength and resilience are unwavering forces.
Nebula’s Redemption is Earned, Not Given
Her story has been left open-ended as of Avengers: Endgame, hinting that Nebula is to be seen again. This open end is written in a natural way that convinces an audience that there is nothing forced or canned about her on-screen transformation. What’s most outstanding about Nebula’s redemption is that it is earned, not given. She is not introduced as a villain and then redeemed by the post-credit scenes of Guardians of the Galaxy, nor is she stagnant in her ways as an antagonist. The changeover from vying to be acknowledged by Thanos to the determination to defeat him does not occur in one fell swoop — she must earn back the trust and deem herself worthy when joining forces with the Avengers. The building of relationships with those around her took their time to develop fully, demonstrating that Nebula had to reconsider how she was viewed through the eyes of others, and attempt to repair damages to her reputation. Her shared scene with Tony “Iron Man” Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Avengers: Endgame could not happen without the time taken to control the rate of change around her arc.
The thoughtfulness of how Nebula would step back from her destructive behaviors and regain her humanity is not outright awarded to her. The poised timing of her self-improvement testifies to the fact that one of the best arcs in the MCU must progress quietly to be profound. It may fall to the wayside, but Nebula’s storyline is one of Marvel Studio’s best. It articulates that people must want change to achieve their personal best and that there must be an effort made to reach that goal. There is nothing handed to Nebula, which makes the follow-through of her arc all the more worthwhile.
