HOT TAKE: The Circus Trio (Gia, Vitaly and Stefano) are better friends and family to Alex than Alex’s parents (Zuba and Florrie) and childhood friends (Marty, Gloria, and Melman)
I personally believe Gia, Vitaly, and Stefano are some of the most if not the most wholesome friends Alex has ever had in the Madagascar franchise, and I would go far to say that they have a healthier relationship than Alex’s parents and childhood friends. Sure they don’t known Alex as long as his parents and childhood friends but this point is actually related on why I consider the circus trio the best friends Alex has ever had in the franchise.
In Madagascar 2 Alex had a break up and argument with zuba and Marty and honestly zuba and Marty are imo far more in the wrong. Zuba was pissed at Alex for failing the rite of passage and preferring to dance and got him and his family banished. Also Zuba was pissed and being so mean to Alex not long after he took a brutal blow and Zuba was far more in the wrong because this was all done thanks to Makunga, someone Zuba should know who is a disrespectful piece of shit who mocks him and his family and craves for his position. While Alex has no context of how the reserve works or who makunga is. Yet Zuba still had the audacity to be mad at Alex and reject him as a lion. You think his friends would come to comfort him during this moment but no. In fact, Marty complains to Alex for being stupid and selfish for “only caring for his problems”. Like I understand Marty has problems too and Alex did mistook him for another zebra (even though I’m pretty sure 95% or pretty much all of us would make this mistake too) but let’s be real Marty is really coming off as petty and out of character during this moment. It’s also hypocritical for Marty to say Alex only cares for his problems when in the previous movie Alex was willing to starve himself to death so he wouldn’t hurt his friends (specifically Marty) and even saved them when they were attacked from a lot of foosa. The worst thing about these two arguments and breakups though is that while Alex felt bad pretty much instantly, zuba and Marty took a long time staying mad at Alex and only stopped when Alex either said a “Reason I suck speech” to himself (to Marty)or was in danger and was informed by makunga (Zuba) and they didn’t even give Alex a proper apology. Mind you Zuba and Alex have known Alex since he was a baby and they are getting mad at him for reasons that are either petty or more on their fault.
As for Florrie, Melman, and Gloria they aren’t any better. Florrie doesn’t even come to comfort his son after her husband brutally reject him as a lion, in fact she stays with her mean husband and doesn’t come to Alex at all until he and zuba bring back the water. Like why didn’t she abandon zuba and go after Alex to comfort him, like it would be nice if she went to Alex after his and her husband’s argument and told Alex she will always love him no matter what. Melman and Gloria didn’t even care about Alex’s situation at all, which makes sense as they had their own things to do, but still. Also during the plane rescue for Alex and zuba, Melman and Gloria were happy and whopping, because it’s not like Alex is in trouble and could die very soon.
In Madagascar 3 Alex also had a break up scene with Gia, vitaly, and stefano but looking at this scene they were surprisingly not as angry as they should, despite this actually being Alex’s fault as he lied to them and selfishly used them for his and his friends on gain. What shocked me even more is that they were ready to forgive them and felt bad for giving them the cold shoulder and wasted no time saving them and was willing to allow them to come to their home. Mind you these three only know Alex for two to three days and are surprisingly quick to forgive him and his friends for selfishly using them.
So yeah, this is why I think the circus trio are better friends and family to Alex than Alex’s parents and childhood friends, as they are quick to forgive him for a fault that was all on Alex, while Alex’s dad and best friend will engage in a heated argument with him despite it being far less of Alex’s fault, petty, or hypocritical, while his mom and other friends don’t support Alex when he needed it the most. I’m not saying Alex’s relationship with his parents and childhood friends are bad or toxic I still think he has a solid relationship with them, I just think his relationship with the circus trio is far more wholesome. And honestly this makes Madagascar 3 a more perfect and wholesome ending to this series.