I’ve Never Been Happier To Be Wrong About Neytiri In Avatar: Fire & Ash

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Avatar: Fire & Ash

I was pleasantly surprised by how Avatar: Fire & Ash changed my opinion of Neytiri. After The Way of Water (2023) left her in a difficult situation, I developed a theory about her. But a surprising plot point in Fire & Ash completely proved me wrong about the matriarch of the Sully family, as portrayed by Zoe Saldaña.

I went into Avatar: Fire & Ash anticipating a significant conflict for Neytiri that would deeply divide the Sully family. However, the movie pleasantly surprised me with an emotionally rewarding turn for Neytiri, subverting those expectations in a fantastic way.

After Way Of Water, I Was Confident I Knew Where Neytiri’s Story Was Going

The film Avatar: The Way of Water ends with a conflict between Spider and Neytiri. This happens after her oldest son, Netayam, dies trying to rescue Miles Quaritch’s human son.

Honestly, after seeing how Neytiri initially reacted to Spider, I was bracing myself for a total breakdown in their relationship. I figured she’d go from being distant to actively hating him, and he’d be absolutely terrified of her – especially after that intense moment where she threatened him right in front of Quaritch. It felt like a turning point where things could get really ugly.

At first, Avatar: Fire & Ash lived up to expectations. Neytiri gets more focus than in The Way of Water, and her dislike of Spider grows into outright hatred. Things get even more complicated when Kiri uses the power of Eywa to let Spider breathe on Pandora without a mask, making him incredibly valuable to the RDA, who want to figure out how to replicate the effect.

With everything changing so dramatically, Neytiri tells her husband she thinks they should kill Spider before others can take advantage of him, despite the years they’ve already spent raising him as one of their own.

I expected Neytiri would likely try to kill Spider, which would cause a significant conflict with her family, demonstrating how strong grief can turn into intense anger and negativity.

While I Was Right At First, I’m Glad Fire & Ash Ultimately Proved Me Wrong

I didn’t think Jake would side with Neytiri in Fire & Ash, especially when it came to believing Spider needed to be stopped to protect the Na’vi and those they love.

In the second part of Fire & Ash, Jake almost kills Spider, and Neytiri initially lets him try. However, there’s a surprising turn of events. Jake can’t bring himself to do it, and Neytiri overcomes her strong feelings of anger, rushing to intervene and finally accepting Spider.

I was really pleased to see Neytiri move away from her increasingly bleak path, and I’m glad my initial fears about how dark her character would become in the Avatar series didn’t come true. The moment Jake and Neytiri decide to spare Spider and embrace him as their son, despite the risks, is one of the most gripping and heartfelt scenes in the whole film.

I expected Neytiri’s story to take a very sad turn, but I was thrilled that Fire & Ash instead explored the difficult process of grieving and how to move past the anger and resentment that can come with loss.

James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire & Ash is now playing in theaters.

2025-12-23 03:58

After Way Of Water, I Was Confident I Knew Where Neytiri’s Story Was Going

While I Was Right At First, I’m Glad Fire & Ash Ultimately Proved Me Wrong

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