Spoiler Alert !!!Contains Spoilers on Avatar: Fire and Ash!

James Cameron’s third sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is here, and it’s just packed with action, thrill, emotion, and heartbreak. After kicking off the franchise in 2009, this one requires you to remember a few important plot points from the first film, as well as its 2022 sequel. So, from the original movie, you must remember how Jake Sully, after killing Quaritch, gave up on his human body and gained his Avatar form. 

Now, in the sequel, we saw Quaritch return in Avatar form, with Colonel Miles’ memories transferred into his Avatar. And he went on to seek out revenge on Jake Sully. Meanwhile, there’s also Spider, Quaritch’s son, who grew up with the Sullys, and the RDA is harvesting Amrita from the Tulkun. Soon, another war unfolds in The Way of Water, which kills Sully’s eldest son, Neteyam, and leaves us on a cliffhanger with Kiri’s powers. 

So now, Avatar: Fire and Ash begins with the Sullys mourning Neteyam, Quaritch trying to get hold of his son Spider, and the RDA ruthlessly killing Tulkuns to harvest vials of Amrita, each costing $80M. Plus, there’s a new threat from the Ash People. So, let’s unfold everything that happens in James Cameron’s third film. 

The table contains basic details on Avatar: Fire and Ash:

MovieAvatar: Fire and AshDirectorJames CameronCastSam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, and Joel David MooreRotten Tomatoes Score (so far)69%Runtime3h 17mRelease DateDecember 19, 2025

What Happens At the End of Avatar: Fire and Ash? 

The final act of Avatar: Fire and Ash begins with Jake Sully finally escaping from RDA captivity, as he’s rescued with help from Neytiri, Spider, and scientist Dr. Ian Garvin. Once free, Jake returns to the Metkayina clan and learns the terrible truth about the RDA’s latest plan: they intend to hunt the Tulkun for Amrita during the calf-reunion. 

We’ve already learned how this substance can slow human aging, but it kills the Tulkun in the process. Realizing Pandora is once again under serious threat, Jake decides it’s time to fight back. So he reconnects with the great Toruk, his massive flying creature, and once again becomes Toruk Makto.

Then, he unites Pandora’s clans and prepares for war. From the Na’vi folks to the creatures, including the Tulkun, Jake, as Toruk Makto, asks everyone on Pandora to form an alliance and fight the Sky People. This moment signals that the Na’vi are ready to stand together against the humans. 

But the Tulkun matriarch refused to fight wars, much like she refused to take Payakan into the clan, because of his violent past. However, with Lo’ak’s support, Payakan tries to convince the Tulkun leaders that staying peaceful will only lead to extinction. His argument becomes stronger after his last remaining family member is badly injured and blinded by the RDA.

Seeing this cruelty finally pushes the Tulkun to agree to fight. So now, with everyone on their side, the Sullys get ready for war. It begins when Scoresby and the RDA arrive to kill the Tulkun, capture Jake, and take Spider for experimental purposes. But Scoresby’s team soon realizes that they are completely unprepared. 

For the first time, the Tulkun fights back, smashing ships and sinking boats. At the same time, the Na’vi attack from the skies, launching a full-scale assault on the RDA forces. But then, just when it seemed like Jake’s side had the upper hand, the Ash People arrive and turn the battle in the RDA’s favor. 

Quaritch also returns to the fight, despite being warned by General Ardmore to stay focused on his mission. This makes things even more dangerous, especially since Spider is still caught between both sides. So now, with the battle going badly, Kiri makes a risky decision. She goes underwater to connect her queue to Pandora. 

This is extremely dangerous because we know how Kiri suffers from seizures when she connects too deeply. So, to keep her safe, Spider goes with her and connects for the first time using a queue he developed after Kiri previously saved his life. But still, nothing happens until Tuk joins them and completes the connection.

However, even though the three of them seek help from Ewya, it remains unclear if it’s gonna arrive. But then, the Tsyong, strange squid-like creatures Lo’ak encountered earlier, appear in huge numbers. They attack the RDA forces, drag humans underwater, and destroy their ships. Amid the chaos, we witness vengeance when Scoresby is captured by Payakan’s wounded family member and dragged into the depths, likely killing him. 

But even with that, the fight isn’t over yet. Varang kidnaps Tuk, forcing the Sully family into another confrontation. But thankfully, Jake and Lo’ak manage to help save her, while Kiri scares Varang away. Then, the film ends with a showdown between Jake and Quaritch inside a massive and colorful anti-gravity chamber. 

As they fight, Spider takes charge and shoots Quaritch in the arm with an arrow, confirming that he will never accept Quaritch as his father. But then as Spider nearly falls to his death, both Jake and Quaritch stop fighting to save him. Jake even offers Quaritch a chance to change, but Quaritch panics when Neytiri arrives and chooses to fall into the flames below. 

In the final moments, Spider connects to the Tree of Souls to mourn Grace, Neteyam, and Ronal, who died after giving birth. Payakan is welcomed back by the Tulkun, and the Sully family finally finds peace, for now.

How Does Kiri Help Spider Breath in Pandora? 

Now, let’s break down important moments from James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash. Well, one of the most jaw-dropping scenes takes place when Kiri helps Spider breathe on Pandora during an emotional moment. 

Spider in Avatar: Fire and Ash | image credits: 20th Century Studios

Early in the film, while traveling with the Wind Traders, when the Ash People attack the ships with fire, Spider, along with the Sully kids, escapes while leaving behind his spare breathing mask. And unfortunately, while hiding from the Ash People’s attack, Spider’s current breathing mask runs out of battery. 

That’s when, as Spider starts to lose consciousness and appears close to dying, Kiri turns to Eywa for help. She kneels, connects herself to the ground, and begins a mysterious ritual. Lo’ak interrupts the ritual, worried that Kiri might hurt herself. That’s when they realize something incredible has happened.

Spider not only gains consciousness, but he suddenly manages to breathe Pandora’s air without a mask. Kiri’s connection created a bond between Spider and Pandora’s plant life. We later learn that this bond cannot be removed without killing him, making Spider permanently tied to the planet and a target for the RDA’s dangerous experiments.

Why Did the Ash People Renunciate Ewya?

Meanwhile, as we meet the Ash People during their attack on the Wind Traders, we learn that they are another type of Na’vi on Pandora, known as the Mangkwan Clan. Unlike the rest of the clans, these groups of people are rather violent and use fire as their weapon. Plus, they have renounced Ewya. 

Varang in Avatar: Fire and Ash | image credits: 20th Century Studios

Later in the film, when Quaritch befriends the Ash People’s Tsahìk, Varang, we learn why they gave up their faith in Ewya. Turns out, when their home was destroyed by a volcanic eruption, they prayed to the Ewya for help. But when their prayers went unanswered, and their homes were already destroyed, they turned their backs on Eywa.  

But since they needed a new faith, Varang went to the volcano that destroyed her clan and sought mercy. There she learned the ways and powers of fire and turned herself into the ruthless beholder of fire magic. And so, it’s her love for fire and penchant for violence that leads Varang to unite with the Sky People and wage war on Pandora. 

Did Kiri, Spider, and Tuk Meet Ewya?

On the other hand, during the war, we see Kiri, Spider, and Tuk go underwater together to ask Eywa for help. They connect their queues to Pandora’s natural network, hoping the planet will answer them. Kiri and Spider manage to connect first, while Tuk soon joins them, making the moment even stronger. 

Tuk in Avatar: The Way of Water | image credits: 20th Century Studios

And after the trio manages to push through the hanging trees in the spirit realm and reach for the beam of light, we finally see a faint image of the All-Mother. Eywa’s oversized face slowly begins to turn, before it’s cut away by an attack on the underwater spirit tree. Eywa, the powerful spiritual force of Pandora, does not speak to them or give clear answers. 

However, it’s her head turning and a look at the three kids that shows that their call has been heard. Soon after this moment, help arrives dramatically. A large group of Tsyong suddenly appears and attacks the RDA forces, destroying their ships and killing many of the humans. Even though Eywa never speaks directly, her actions make it clear that she responded and chose to protect Pandora and its people.

What are Kiri’s Powers, and Who Is Her Father? 

Well, after The Way of Water left us wondering about Kiri’s powers, Avatar: Fire and Ash surely answered them all. In the recently released movie, we see her help Spider breathe Pandora’s air, connect with Ewya for help during the war, and even overpower Varang during the final altercation. 

So, after all this, we realize that Kiri truly is a special child harboring a higher power to connect with the spirit realm and Ewya in ways no Tsahìk ever could. But that’s not all, Avatar: Fire and Ash also reveals the truth about Kiri’s birth. We learn that while she was born from Dr. Grace Augustine’s Na’vi body, she does not have a biological father.

This makes her a kind of clone who was born after Pandora planted a seed in Grace’s Avatar when she was brought to the Ewya for healing. Because of this unique origin, Kiri turned out to be closer to the All-Mother than anyone else, and even grew up with powerful and mysterious abilities. 

This explains why she can form a deep connection with Pandora’s natural world and even use her power to help Spider survive by linking him to the planet. Kiri is also able to communicate directly with Eywa, something very few Na’vi can do. However, the full limits of her abilities are still unknown and will likely be explored in future films.

What Happens to Varang and Quaritch At the End? 

Meanwhile, James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash leaves the fates of Varang and Quaritch open. At the end of the film, we see Varang, the dangerous leader of the Ash People, flee the battlefield after Kiri scares her away. Turns out, Kiri connected her queue with Varang’s to not only control her motor neurons, but also show her a vision. 

Quaritch appearing at war in Avatar: Fire and Ash | image credits: 20th Century Studios

And perhaps that vision is what scared Varang away during the chaos of the final fight. But after that, she completely disappears from the story and we see no sign of her death, which strongly suggests she escaped. Additionally, a similar fate befalls Quaritch, who chooses to fall backward into the fire. 

After Neytiri and the rest of the Sully family arrive to offer him a chance to change, we see Quaritch choose death over change. And as he falls back, the last shot shows him screaming, but not in terror. This leaves his fate uncertain, and his last moments quite questionable, like Varang. 

How Does Avatar: Fire and Ash Set Up Avatar 4?

Well, based on Varang and Quaritch’s open ending, it seems like Avatar: Fire and Ash has left the door open for a possible fourth film, even though its future isn’t fully confirmed. After all, previously speaking on The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast, James Cameron suggested that if Fire and Ash doesn’t perform well at the box office, he may step away from making another sequel. 

Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash | image credits: 20th Century Studios

However, we also know that Avatar 4 and 5 are set to happen, which will finally put an end to the franchise. So, with the biggest unresolved storyline surrounding Quaritch and Varang, it seems that their fate is what makes them a major loose end for a future story. The duo’s possible future suggests that they could return, team up yet again, and continue to oppose the Sully family in another film. 

Additionally, although the RDA appears largely defeated by the end of Avatar: Fire and Ash, it’s unlikely that humanity’s presence on Pandora is over. New leaders or forces could easily replace the fallen ones. Plus, there’s also a huge new threat tied to Spider. His ability to breathe Pandora’s air proves that humans could one day adapt fully to the planet. 

That discovery could restart colonization efforts and put Pandora in danger again. And if we go by the pattern, the first film showed RDA’s hunt for Unobtanium under the Hometree, the second film showed RDA’s hunt for Amrita from Tulkuns, and the third played with both Amrita and Spider’s breathing abilities. 

So now, Avatar 4 has a high chance of showing RDA’s return with a new team to hunt down Spider for his symbiosis. And that’s when Quaritch might return, only this time with a newfound love and appreciation for Pandora, to save Spider. So, while the main conflict feels mostly resolved, these unanswered questions clearly set up several directions for Avatar 4 if the story continues.

James Cameron’s Powerful Message on Cycles of Violence and Grief 

So, in the end of it all, what does James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash signify? Well, after the original Avatar film from 2009 clearly focused on protecting nature, exposing corporate greed, and showing how indigenous communities are often harmed, the second one took a different route. 

Varang with Spider in Avatar: Fire and Ash | image credits: 20th Century Studios

Avatar: The Way of Water continued this message but shifted its attention to oceans and rainforests. It highlighted problems like pollution, overfishing, and the killing of sea creatures. But now, in Avatar: Fire and Ash, although environmental themes are still present, the main focus moves toward loss and grief.

Fire in the film represents destruction, anger, and hatred. It is shown as a wild force that destroys everything in its path and leaves behind ashes that stand for mourning and emotional pain. This pain, in turn, keeps anger alive and creates a repeating cycle of violence. So, the movie asks an important question: how do we stop this endless cycle?

Let us know your opinions on James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash. 

Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently running in theaters worldwide. 
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