Recap / Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) S 3 E 12 "Long Distance Runaround"

---

Synopsis:

“In order to find out who set them up after escaping the Kree Monolith of Justice, the Guardians of the Galaxy track down Howard the Duck at Knowhere. He confesses that Collector made him set the Guardians of the Galaxy up in exchange for seeing the outside of his tower and also double-crossed him. Phyla-Vell continues to pursue the Guardians of the Galaxy as Collector has sabotaged the Milano to attack Hala.”

---

Tropes featured in the episode:

• The Chessmaster: The Collector reveals that he did more than frame the Guardians of theft of the Kree box. He allowed Howard to escape and eventually help them. Beforehand, he rigged the Milano in the event they take it back. Once that is done, he can control it remotely and have it attack a Kree cruiser so they can finish the Guardians off.
• Crazy-Prepared: Howard the Duck.
  Gamora: Why are you wearing a suit in the tub?
  Howard: In case I gotta make a quick exit. (turns the tub into an escape pod) Like now!
• Dating Catwoman: The team’s relationship with Howard. Is he helping them, or just helping himself?
• Earth-Shattering Kaboom: The Collector blows up the Kree home world.
• Everyone Has Standards: When the Guardians are wanted by the Kree, Cosmo subdues them at Knowhere. As he says, he's a good dog and sees it as enforcing the law. However, Phyla-Vell intends to execute the team on sight, which Cosmo opposes. He "fails" to keep Groot immobile so that the team can escape. He also refuses to pursue them after reading their minds and learning their claims of innocence were true.
• Evil Is Petty: While the Collector isn't entirely petty, as many of his items and places are destroyed or freed by the Guardians, his plot of trying to eliminate them is all because they continue to "break his things", even when he deserves it.
• In-Universe Factoid Failure: Star-Lord is the only one who knows what a duck is.
  Rocket: Well, obviously a duck is an idiot like Howard. Now let’s take him upstairs and see if he’ll quack, heh heh heh.
  Groot: I am Groot?
  Rocket: I dunno, that’s what Quill said ducks do.
• Intelligible Unintelligible: Rocket can understand Groot as always, but everyone (including Groot himself) is surprised to find out that Howard can also understand him.
• Look Behind You: Phyla-Vell doesn’t believe Drax when he says the Collector’s ship is behind her, suspecting this trope is being used. Naturally, Drax is right, after all...
  Drax: Drax does not excel at deception. Now turn around and look!
• The Man Behind the Man: The Collector has forced Howard to work for him.
• Murder by Remote Control Vehicle: The Collector takes control of the Milano and flies it towards a Kree warship. Then he makes it fire, so that the Kree will retaliate and kill the Guardians.
• Previously on…: Done via a Nova Corp newscast.
• Screaming at Squick: Star-Lord is pretty grossed out when he learns the "rain" within Knowhere is actually saliva.
• Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: After learning the Guardians are going after the Collector, Howard high-tails it so he doesn't risk getting captured again, but not before leaving a tracker for them to follow him.
• Skewed Priorities: Star-Lord is annoyed that they didn’t use the good mugshots of the team in the news report. Gamora and Drax are sceptical there is such a thing.
• Tempting Fate: Star-Lord and Rocket are chasing Howard, who has escaped in his bathtub. Star-Lord says he’s a duck in a bathtub, what is he going to do - get soap in his eye? Guess what Howard does...
• Villain Override: Phyla-Vell tries this with Cosmo, but he is able to break free from it when he finds out she wants to execute the Guardians. The Collector is able to override the Milano, however.