Rocky IV: Is It Actually About Apollo? (Hear Me Out)

Okay, so I've been thinking about Rocky IV again, and I know, I KNOW, it's peak 80s montage cheese. But hear me out. I think it's secretly (or maybe not so secretly?) about Apollo Creed's legacy and Rocky's struggle to live up to it, not just avenge him. Like, Drago kills Apollo in the most brutal way possible, right? Pure theatre, designed to break Rocky emotionally before he even steps in the ring. And everything Rocky does after that, from going to that freezing Siberian cabin to training like an animal, feels driven by this almost desperate need to somehow fill the void Apollo left. It's not just about beating Drago; it's about proving that Apollo's spirit, his heart, wasn't extinguished in Vegas. Think about it: the entire movie is framed by Apollo's choice to fight Drago. Rocky even brings Apollo's trunks to the Drago fight. It's a constant reminder of what has been lost. Rocky isn't just fighting for himself or even America (even though the movie pushes that narrative hard). I really and truly think he is fighting for Apollo. It's like, 'I'm going to win this fight, wear your colors, and in the process, restore some honor to what Drago did to you'. Also, maybe a bit of a tangent, but is it me, or does the training montage in Siberia feel so… primal? Like Rocky is stripping away all the glitz and glam of fame to become the kind of raw fighter Apollo always was, at least in his younger days. He's chopping wood, he lifts rocks. It's like he's trying to get back to the source of what made Apollo such a legendary competitor. I'm not saying it's some super deep, philosophical masterpiece or anything (it has its flaws, like, BIG ones). But I do think there's a genuine thread of grief and legacy running through Rocky IV that often gets overlooked because of all the Cold War spectacle. What do you guys think? Am I reading too much into it, or is there something subtly profound going on with Rocky and Apollo's relationship, even after death?