Avatar has officially returned to the big screen with its sequel The Way of Water after a 13-year hiatus. Despite being released only two weeks ago, this film has quickly made waves at box offices worldwide, achieving a staggering revenue exceeding $1 billion.
Avatar: The Way of Water takes viewers back to the beautiful planet of Pandora, reuniting with the family of Jake Sully and Neytiri, but with an entirely new storyline. Although it runs for over three hours and features a visually stunning and immersive experience, the film still leaves audiences with lingering questions that resonate long after leaving the theater. This could potentially lay the groundwork for James Cameron to continue developing future sequels, but it may also serve as a “rare gem” in the latest installment of this iconic saga.
Who is Kiri’s father?
Kiri is the adopted daughter of Jake Sully’s family, having been conceived while still a fetus inside the physical form of the late scientist Grace Augustine, who passed away in the first film. However, the identity of Kiri’s biological father remains a closely guarded secret and is not clearly explained in Avatar: The Way of Water.
Throughout this film, both audiences and Kiri herself ponder the mystery of her origins, but there is no way to unveil the truth behind her existence. Some theories suggest that Kiri was born from the energy of Eywa—the life force of Pandora. Before her passing, Grace hinted to Jake that Eywa might not truly exist according to the lore of the Na’vi people.
This theory also explains why Kiri can easily connect with other living beings on Pandora. Among the Sully children, Kiri adapts to her new life in a coastal environment quickly and seamlessly. Therefore, many believe this character will play a crucial role in future film projects and might even directly influence the ecological balance of Pandora.
Who is Spider’s mother?
After the RDA left Pandora, Spider chose to live with the Sully family and adapt to Na’vi culture, although he himself cannot breathe the atmosphere of this planet. Avatar: The Way of Water reveals that Colonel Quaritch is indeed Spider’s biological father. This explains why, despite having tried to capture him from the very first moments of the film, Quaritch is always distressed and avoids causing harm to Spider.
When the humans left Pandora, Spider remained a hybrid and could not utilize the cold-blooded traits of humans. Therefore, many believe he was born just before the events of the first Avatar, and his mother could be one of the members of the RDA expedition team. However, director James Cameron has not yet explored this character’s backstory. No one knows who she is, what her relationship is with Quaritch, or whether she is still alive.
What other Na’vi tribes exist on Pandora?
The first Avatar film established that there are many distinct Na’vi tribes living on Pandora. Among them, the tribe primarily featured is the Omaticaya, who predominantly thrive in lush forest environments. Avatar: The Way of Water continues to introduce another tribe living in coastal areas, the Metkayina—Na’vi who possess unique aquatic adaptations.
With at least three sequels currently in development, it’s very likely that director James Cameron will continue to introduce more Na’vi tribes to enhance the ecological and cultural richness of Pandora. After all, we have only just begun to explore a small part of this captivating planet. There are still many different biomes, such as mountains, underwater caves, and even clouds, where other Na’vi might dwell and await discovery.
What is happening on Earth?
In the first film, humanity sought Pandora to exploit its precious resources, trying to escape an increasingly deteriorating Earth. Avatar: The Way of Water continues to emphasize the severe implications of this reality, as Earth is on the brink of becoming a dead planet, and the RDA aims to relocate humanity to Pandora.
Throughout the films, Earth is clearly portrayed as facing numerous hardships and dire circumstances. However, what these hardships entail—how the “blue planet” is experiencing these changes—remains largely unexplained in the first two installments of Avatar. Director James Cameron has hinted that Earth will become a significant element in future installments, and we might receive the clearest answers after this film’s release.
The process of preserving identity and memories of the deceased
Colonel Quaritch has returned in Avatar: The Way of Water and is a primary antagonist in this film. To be precise, he has been “reborn” in the body of an Avatar, but retains the essence of his original character through the memories stored in a flash drive. This data is then transferred to the Avatar body, allowing Quaritch to easily return to life after dying.
The question arises whether the RDA has applied this memory preservation method to all deceased soldiers. It is clear that this is a very effective way to create a continuous army without limitations on personnel. Additionally, if all memories are preserved, the individual will no longer have to suffer death and will not need to find ways to prolong their own existence.
Why are humans no longer interested in unobtainium?
In the first installment of Avatar, the RDA came to Pandora primarily to search for and exploit the valuable mineral unobtainium. However, Avatar: The Way of Water appears to have moved away from this narrative and focused more on the family dynamics of Jake Sully’s family.
It is possible that the RDA is still extracting unobtainium at Bridgehead, but Avatar 2 does not delve deeper into this plot point. Alternatively, it could be that humanity has abandoned this precious mineral after discovering other valuable resources that could aid in their survival. Regardless of the reason, unobtainium will likely play a less significant role in the upcoming projects of Avatar.
The relationship between Kiri and Eywa
As mentioned earlier, Kiri possesses the unique ability to connect with all living beings on Pandora. In Avatar: The Way of Water, she even seems to be able to sense the heartbeat of the goddess Eywa.
Moreover, since Grace saw Eywa before her passing, it is highly likely that Kiri is either a daughter or a reincarnation of this deity. This will undoubtedly be a story that James Cameron will explore more deeply in future installments, tentatively titled Avatar: The Seed Bearer, Avatar: The Tulkun Rider, and Avatar: The Quest for Eywa.
Quaritch’s survival
In the climactic battle of Avatar: The Way of Water, Quaritch expresses a sense of connection towards Spider, his son. This is precisely why he opts to spare Kiri in order to keep Spider safe, thus allowing Jake Sully’s family to win the upper hand and swiftly “take control.”
Because of this action, Spider, despite carrying a heavy burden of grief, still decides to protect Quaritch when he discovers the truth about his father’s survival. The question arises: will Quaritch’s survival impact his fate in the sequels? Director James Cameron has hinted that Quaritch will be a character in the remaining films. However, with the emotional turmoil surrounding his relationship with Spider, it’s certain that this villain will bring many complex stories to future projects.
SOURCE: MOVIEWEB, GIZMODO
