What's the Deal with Baby Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2?

Here’s a quick refresher on Groot’s status in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ahead of its North American release.

“What’s the deal with Baby Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2?” sounds like new material for Jerry Seinfeld’s stand-up. “Why is he called Baby Groot? Shouldn’t he be called Sapling Groot? He’s a tree, not a person!” Something like that.

But you didn’t come here for sub-par comedian impressions. You came here because you don’t watch Guardians of the Galaxy once a month and you forget what happened to Groot. No, he didn’t father a little sentient tree. That would make for some interesting cinema and bring a whole new dynamic to the series, though.

Who is Baby Groot, then? Is he new to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2?

Baby Groot isn’t a newcomer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe at all. Baby Groot is the original soft-spoken Groot who melted your hearts in the original Guardians of the Galaxy, only much cuter and much smaller. So exactly how did Groot become so tiny?

In Guardians of the Galaxy, Groot sacrifices himself to save the rest of the team. After they successfully infiltrate Ronan the Accuser’s ship, the Dark Aster, they find themselves face-to-face with Ronan himself, who quickly overpowers them. As a last-ditch effort, Rocket flies a Ravager ship into the Dark Aster, sending it on a collision course with Xandar. In one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the MCU, Groot grows wood tendrils and envelops the team inside a giant wooden sphere to ensure their survival as the ship crashes to the surface.

As if the scene wasn’t already emotional enough, Groot, whose only words all movie were “I am Groot,” utters the phrase “We are Groot” as the team braces for impact, signifying the bond the unlikely heroes built throughout the course of the film.

At the end of the movie, Rocket cuts a twig from Groot’s body in hopes that he can bring his friend back to life.

Fortunately for the team (and the viewers), it doesn’t take long for the twig to grow. In the first post-credits sequence in Guardians of the Galaxy, and the most adorable and fun post-credits sequence in the MCU, we are treated to Baby Groot in his early stages, still potted and grooving along to “I Want You Back.” Drax sharpening his knife in the background and glancing back suspiciously only makes the scene better.

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Baby Groot will be out of his pot and on the loose. Early reviews have been praising the pint-sized hero so if you’re hoping to have your heart stolen again, you’re in luck!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits North American theaters on May 5, 2017.