Will Quaritch protect Spider?
In Avatar: Fire and Ash, Colonel Miles Quaritch does protect Spider at key moments, though his motives are complex and shift over the course of the film[2][3]. Early and mid-film actions show Quaritch capturing and pursuing Spider for the RDA because Spider can breathe Pandora’s atmosphere without a human mask, making him a valuable test subject[1][2]. Later, during the climactic confrontation, Quaritch intervenes to save Spider when the child is in immediate danger, indicating a personal, if conflicted, impulse to protect him[2][3].
Context and important details
– Why the RDA wants Spider: The RDA see Spider as potentially unlocking a way for humans to survive on Pandora without environmental suits, which would enable deeper and more dangerous colonization efforts; this is why they capture and experiment on him[2].
– Quaritch’s initial stance: Quaritch leads the RDA effort to capture Spider and uses force and alliances (including with Varang and the Mangkwan) to exploit Spider’s unique physiological change, making him an antagonist to Jake Sully and the Na’vi for much of the story[1][3].
– The turning point: In the final act, Spider is placed in mortal peril during a battle; Quaritch reacts by acting to save him, suggesting his paternal connection—Spider is Quaritch’s biological son—affects his behavior despite his ruthless goals[3][4].
– Quaritch’s motive mix: His protection of Spider appears driven both by self-interest (maintaining a living link to the phenomenon the RDA wants) and by personal attachment; reviewers and plot summaries describe this as a complex relationship rather than a straightforward redemption[4][2].
– Outcome and ambiguity: During the climax, Quaritch helps in rescuing Spider but then leaps or falls from a floating rock formation, leaving his ultimate fate ambiguous in the film[2][3]. This leaves open whether his protective impulse signals a lasting change in allegiance or a momentary, fatherly reaction amid larger conflicts[3][4].
What this means for Spider’s safety
– Short term: Spider receives direct protection at least once from Quaritch during the film’s climax, which saves him from immediate death[2][3].
– Long term: Because Quaritch’s priorities include serving the RDA’s goals and he has previously captured Spider, Spider’s long-term safety is uncertain; Quaritch’s willingness to both exploit and protect Spider shows the child’s future depends on the broader power struggle over Pandora and the choices other characters make[1][2][4].
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Quaritch
https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/sci-fi-movies/avatar-fire-and-ash-ending-explained-who-dies/
https://comicbookmovie.com/sci_fi/avatar/avatar-fire-and-ash-ending-explained-will-jake-neytiri-and-quaritch-return-in-avatar-4—spoilers-a225604
https://screenrant.com/avatar-fire-and-ash-spider-role-important-explained-james-cameron/
