In Avatar 3, titled *Avatar: The Way of Water* sequel or *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, Jake Sully and Neytiri’s family undergo significant changes marked by grief, conflict, and shifting dynamics. After the tragic death of their eldest son, Neteyam, the family leaves their original Omatikaya clan and joins the Metkayina clan, which lives by the ocean. This move represents a major shift in their lifestyle and environment, as they adapt to new customs and challenges with the Metkayina people.
Neytiri, deeply affected by the loss of Neteyam, struggles with intense grief that changes her character profoundly. Actress Zoe Saldaña has described Neytiri as becoming “a full-blown racist,” particularly toward Spider, their adoptive human son, who is a constant reminder of the humans who caused her son’s death. This bitterness causes a rift within the family, with Neytiri abandoning some of her previous beliefs and even distancing herself emotionally from Jake, who finds it difficult to recognize the Neytiri he once knew. Despite this, Spider remains empathetic and is not led astray by his biological father, Colonel Quaritch, who is an antagonist allied with a hostile Na’vi tribe called the Ash People or Mangkwan clan.
The family’s story also shifts focus to the younger generation, especially Lo’ak, another of Jake and Neytiri’s sons, who becomes the narrator of the film. Lo’ak’s perspective offers insight into the family’s internal struggles, his desire to live up to his father’s legacy, and his processing of Neteyam’s death. The family’s journey is intertwined with the escalating conflict on Pandora, involving new threats from the Ash People and the ongoing human presence.
Overall, Jake and Neytiri’s family in *Avatar 3* is portrayed as fractured and evolving, dealing with loss, cultural shifts, and the complexities of blending human and Na’vi identities in a time of war and change.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
https://screenrant.com/avatar-fire-and-ash-neytiri-racist-spider-zoe-saldana-response/
https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/avatar-fire-and-ash-isnt-being-narrated-by-jake-james-cameron-explanation
https://movieweb.com/james-cameron-ash-people-reflect-neytiri-could-become-avatar-fire-ash/
