Avatar "The Fire and Ash": Is it really DRY? [PART 2]

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** Read the PART 1 firstly ^^

The Role of Kiri and the Evolution of Responsibility

This shift is also visible in who actually prays to Eywa. In Avatar 1, it was Jake Sully. In Avatar 2, we had Kiri, who despites being confused about her identity, became the medium for connecting with Eywa. Then, in Avatar 3, Kiri is the one fully connected to her. Now, here is where things got a bit weird for me. While Kiri is in the spirit world trying to meet Eywa, there’s a scene where she walks forward but a gust of wind holds her back. This happens a second time when Spider and Tuk are there too. This hasn't been discussed much on social media, but having watched it twice, this moment felt "off" to me. I’m struggling to explain it, but maybe you guys can help if you get what I mean.

There’s another part I almost missed, but I think it’s crucial, occurring right before Eywa intervenes through those squid-like sea creatures. Tuk, the youngest, is captured by Quaritch. Then Neytiri, who had just finished helping Ronal, the Metkayina Tsahìk, give birth, is also captured in the same sequence of events, alongside the presence of Varang by Quaritch's side. At this point, the situation becomes much more intimidating because it's not just Quaritch; the leader of the Fire and Ash clan is there too. Meanwhile, Jake Sully is in pain from an arrow wound, and he’s with Lo’ak. This is where a major piece of character development happens.

For the first time, Jake Sully explicitly acknowledges his pride in Lo’ak. In Avatar 2, Lo’ak was often treated as the "rookie", the one who wasn't relied upon and had to step aside for his more "capable" older brother. In Avatar 3, that dynamic flips. Because of that acknowledgment, Jake isn't just proud; he asks Lo’ak to work with him. There’s a line that really hit home for me when Jake says to Lo’ak something like, “I need you. I need a wingman.” That’s a huge moment. It goes from "you're not ready" to "I need you." From there, Jake and Lo’ak eventually save Neytiri and Tuk together.

Comparing it to Avatar 2, it definitely feels repetitive. In the second film, Tuk and Kiri were the ones kidnapped, and they were saved by Jake, Neytiri, and the boys, Neteyam and Lo’ak. The pattern is the same: kidnapping, a rescue on a ship, and intense conflict. But in Avatar 3, the development is clear: different people are kidnapped, different people do the saving, and the role dynamics have shifted. Plus, Varang’s presence next to Quaritch makes the situation feel significantly more threatening. Meanwhile, Kiri is in a separate position. She’s with Spider after connecting with the Tree of Souls. From there, they also head to the ship.

At the end of the conflict on the ship, Spider is actually the one who makes the first move. He offers himself up: if Quaritch wants him, then Neytiri and Tuk must be released. In a sense, Spider "surrenders" himself. It almost works. The following scene is a bit of a blur in my memory regarding the technical details, but the point is: Neytiri and Tuk manage to escape, only to be blocked again by Varang. At this point, Kiri steps in. It’s clear that after understanding who she is (following Ronal's advice and remember what Tsahìk Omaticaya said), she is much more capable of taking action. She’s no longer confused. So yeah, the action on the ship feels repetitive if you just look at the pattern. But for me, what changed was who was saved, who did the saving, who did the capturing, and who made the decisions. This shift in positioning is what gives the scene its weight.

The Final Showdown and Spiritual Endings

Then, still in the ship area, though the ship is now destroyed, we get another fistfight between Quaritch and Jake Sully. This also feels repetitive, even if the context and location are different. In Avatar 2, if I recall correctly, their fight happened around the ship, near rocks and water. It was the same general zone, but not quite this far. In Avatar 3, the fight takes place in a much more extreme environment: near a pinkish-purple magnetic anomaly zone where metal objects are being pulled in, surrounded by massive fires. So, visually and atmospherically, it’s clearly different, but the conflict pattern: Jake vs. Quaritch, remains a repeat.

Even the ending feels a bit like a replay: the scene at the underwater Tree of Souls. There, the Metkayina and Jake’s family gather once again to connect spiritually. Structurally, it reminds me of the previous film’s conclusion. However, there’s a vital development here: Spider. In the ending of Avatar 3, Spider has a spiritual encounter; he meets spirits, including Grace, Kiri’s mother. To me, this adds a new layer to an ending that previously felt familiar. So even if the form is the same, the meaning has shifted.

Final Thoughts: Repetitive or Refined?

To sum it up, in my humble opinion, this might be what some viewers mean when they say Avatar 3 is repetitive and dry. The problem is, they never really explain which parts are repetitive. I think the examples I’ve mentioned above pretty much represent that "Oh, this feels familiar" feeling many people had. There might be other small or large repetitions I didn't get to discuss. But these are the most glaring ones, and they represent the sentiment quite well. Feel free to add more in the comments if you feel I missed anything.

However, as I said from the start, the repetition isn't just a "copy-paste" job. There is development. There are shifts in roles, context, and character. Personally, I don’t think it’s a big deal. Not at all. I still enjoyed the movie, not just because the visuals are getting even cooler, but because of the story. The conflict in Avatar 2 and 3 is clear: it’s about oligarchy, exploitation, ecology, and conservation. It’s about how greed can destroy Pandora’s ecosystem and the lives of the Na’vi. And from what I see, the Na’vi remain consistently portrayed as beings spiritually connected to Eywa. There’s nothing about that that feels "off" to me.

Looking Ahead: The Future Pandora in Avatar 4 & 5

Regarding the ending of Avatar 3, I happened to read on the BBC that James Cameron has already prepared Avatar 4 and 5. Looking at the final scenes of Avatar 3, this makes perfect sense. Varang escapes. Quaritch throws himself into a sea of fire. It’s a total cliffhanger. Is he dead? We don’t know for sure, but chances are, he’s still alive.

My assumption is that since Varang is the leader of the Fire and Ash clan, she can survive that environment and likely rescues Quaritch from the flames. If that happens, Quaritch might truly join the Mangkwan clan. In the next chapter, the conflict could shift into "Na’vi vs. Na’vi": the Eywa-centered clans versus the rebel clans.

As for the Sky People, logically, they’re almost wiped out. Scoresby is definitely dead, dragged to the depths by Ta’nok. That RDA ship sucked into the purple magnetic anomaly? It’s nearly impossible for anyone to have survived that. Ardmore ordered everyone to abandon ship, but it was too late. Metal gets sucked in, fire erupts: logically, it’s game over for them. So, there’s a high probability that the main villain in the next Avatar won’t be the Sky People, but an internal conflict within the Na’vi, with Quaritch right in the middle, still nursing his grudge against Jake Sully and his obsession with taking Spider. But again, that’s just my theory. It’s fun to play around with these "what-if" scenarios, right? Haha, don't take me too seriously!

Scoring: Missing the Beat?

Regarding the music, many people pointed out that the scoring in Avatar 3 didn’t stand out or felt a bit underwhelming compared to the first film. But personally, I find myself asking: what exactly are they expecting? If you want the music to be that dominant and over-the-top, then it shouldn't be in a movie: it should be on a concert stage. In my view, the score actually feels more subtle and atmospheric this time around. Instead of trying to be loud or overly epic, it focuses on making Pandora feel 'alive' and immersive. It blends seamlessly with the visuals, creating a more refined experience for those who actually pay attention to the mood. It might not be 'in your face,' but it hits the right notes by prioritizing the emotional depth of the story over pure spectacle.

More Than Just Visuals

So yeah, for me, Avatar 3 isn’t just about repetition. It’s packed with deep issues: divided visions, greed, colonialism, internal conflict, and the big question of who the "enemy" really is. It’s not just about the grand visuals too: it’s about the density of both explicit and implicit meanings.

James Cameron’s project is incredibly imaginative. The world of Pandora is extraordinary: fantastic, detailed, and visually insane. That goes without saying. But what’s important is that he doesn't abandon a strong, value-driven plot. The issues raised are very close to real life: things we can actually feel and see in our own world. In my opinion, you can't judge a movie like this just by its surface. You have to pay attention to the little things: why a character acts a certain way, or why the story moves in a specific direction.

For example, IMHO, why is the Metkayina clan still so prominent in Avatar 3? What did people expect? A total jump to the Fire and Ash clan immediately? To me, it wouldn't be realistic to expect the story to switch drastically like that. It’s possible that Avatar 3 serves as an "introductory phase" for Varang and her people, which will be explored much deeper in Avatar 4. The story is being set up slowly.

Even the continued presence of the Metkayina makes sense. James Cameron focuses on character and moment development. He doesn't want to rush. Why stay in the ocean for a while? Because it’s still closely tied to the Tulkun and the theme of human greed exploiting living beings for profit. Plus, emotionally, Neteyam has just passed away. Neytiri and her family are still grieving. Narratively and emotionally, it makes sense that they haven't "let go" of that phase yet.

I believe there's a specific reason why Cameron makes the story feel like it’s "not moving fast." In reality, it is moving, but with a pace that is intentionally slowed down so we can observe the process of development, both in the characters and the conflict. Professional critics can demand 'poetic' or 'complex' scripts all they want, but for me, the real complexity of Avatar lies in how it breathes life into an entire world while tackling real-life issues we face today. Demanding absolute perfection from a masterpiece that took such an incredible amount of effort feels a bit much. At the end of the day, creators like James Cameron have their own vision and mission. If every filmmaker had to follow those strict, so-called 'sophisticated' standards just to satisfy a critic's ego, they’d lose their identity. We don’t need every movie to have a convoluted plot or overly poetic dialogue. What Cameron delivers is a perfect balance—a powerful message wrapped in groundbreaking technology. To call it 'basic' is to miss the point entirely. Sometimes, the most profound truths are told through simplicity, and that’s exactly where the true strength of Avatar lies.

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In short, when judging a film, don't just look at the cover. Look at the practical and theoretical values within. Especially for a film like Avatar, which is complex and layered with meaning. Even animated films like Zootopia 1 and 2 have high value and shouldn't be dismissed lightly. Avatar is on another level of complexity in terms of themes and storytelling.

That’s all from me for now. In the future, I want to write a blog post discussing Avatar 1, 2, and 3 as a whole. I also want to cover Zootopia 2, as I’m a big fan and want to share my perspective on it. 

Thank you, see you!