Is Avatar 3 Underusing Neytiri and Jake?
Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third movie in James Cameron’s epic series, puts Jake Sully and Neytiri front and center, but some fans wonder if their roles feel sidelined amid all the new action. Jake, played by Sam Worthington, and Neytiri, voiced by Zoe Saldana, have always been the heart of the story. In the first film, they fell in love and fought for Pandora together. The second, The Way of Water, showed them as parents protecting their family from humans. Now, with Fire and Ash out, the focus shifts to big battles and new threats, sparking talk that these two icons might not get the spotlight they deserve. For more on the film’s plot, check out details from the Avatar Wiki.
Neytiri’s story takes a raw turn that proves she’s anything but underused. Saldana recently shared in an interview how Neytiri is wrestling with deep grief over her son Neteyam’s death from the last movie. This pain twists into rage against humans, especially Spider, the human kid raised by the Na’vi. Saldana called Neytiri “a full-blown racist” in this film, not in a mean way, but to show how hate blinds her. Jake barely recognizes his wife anymore because she’s so consumed by fury. She even questions Eywa’s will to love all children, no matter their origins. This arc tests her bond with Jake and forces her to face rage within her own family before battling sky people. Fans can read Saldana’s full comments in this ScreenRant article.
Jake’s role ties right into this family strain. The wiki notes their relationship gets “tested” hard because of Neteyam. Jake, once the fearless leader, now deals with a Neytiri who’s like a stranger. He’s still the Toruk Makto, guiding the clan, but the movie highlights his struggle to hold everyone together. New characters like Frances Ardmore and threats from the RDA pull attention to fresh conflicts, yet Jake and Neytiri drive the emotional core. Their kids, like Lo’ak and Spider, shine too, but the parents’ pain fuels the plot.
Critics say the film balances ensemble action with personal drama well. Neytiri’s dark side adds depth, showing growth beyond the graceful warrior from 2009. Jake anchors the chaos as the steady dad. If anything, their arcs feel more intense than ever, proving Cameron isn’t skimping on them. Spider’s empathy, learned from Jake, clashes beautifully with Neytiri’s hate, making family ties the real battleground.
Sources
https://screenrant.com/avatar-fire-and-ash-neytiri-racist-spider-zoe-saldana-response/
https://james-camerons-avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
