Imagine Spider Going Into A Self-imposed Exile Not Out Of Bitterness, But As An Act Of Self-preservation

James Cameron has written Neytiri and Spider's relationship before...

Recently I went on a kick of rewatching old sci-fi movies, including the James Cameron ones of course, and I noticed an interesting little pattern in JC's storytelling:

In Terminator 2 we have our protagonist Sarah Connor. In the first movie she was almost killed by the first terminator, so in the second movie, when she meets the new terminator, she's understandably distrustful of it even though her son, John, trusts it. However, the new terminator proves itself to be loyal to John, so she realizes she doesn't have to be distrustful and even comes to rely on it in the end.

Then in Alien 2 we have Ellen Ripley. In the first movie, Ripley was almost killed because of the android Rook, so in the second movie, when she meets a new android, Bishop, she's understandably distrustful of him even though the other human characters trust him. Just like the new terminator, Bishop proves himself to be loyal, and Ripley realizes she can trust him and they become friends by the end (and stay friends for the rest of their lives because I like to pretend Alien 3 didn't happen 😭)

Now we have the Avatar sequels and Neytiri. In the first Avatar, Neytiri was almost killed by Quaritch, so in the second movie, when she's around his son, she's extremely distrustful even though her family members trust Spider... hmm I wonder how James Cameron is going to resolve that conflict? 🤔

Obviously, Neytiri/Spider's relationship is more complicated and ugly than Ripley/Bishop and Sarah Connor/the second Terminator, but the story beats are still lining up the same. We don't know the conclusion to Neytiri and Spider's relationship conflict just yet, but looking at James Cameron's other works, I think he may be setting up to follow the same pattern as Alien 2 and Terminator 2.

Having a main protagonist realize she was wrong about someone and change her views on them is a story beat James Cameron seems to enjoy writing, and it's one that works really well. Giving a character flaws and having them grow and change is what creates compelling character arcs!

Avatar co-writer Amanda Silver even commented on the narrative purpose of Neytiri disliking Spider in an interview: "Neytiri is a fully fleshed-out character. She’s got flaws. So it’s okay to let her have flaws, we think. And that’s where Jim was coming from."

All this is to say that no, we are not going to see Neytiri murder Spider in Avatar 3 like many young fans hope, that would be a horribly depressing conclusion for her character arc; to never be challenged on her biases and never have to reflect on her views and grow. I for one am really excited to see how James Cameron and co resolve their conflict since their relationship has a lot more bad blood than the other two examples did!

Wheeee another one 👀...

Lord, I have never written so much about one character ever.

in other news i can’t be the only one weirded out by the theories and fanart that make Varang and the Mangkwan seem like evil, animalistic beasties, right? it’s weird, right? like the theories that they eat people or are going to torture Neytiri/the kids or cut off people’s huru or limbs, that’s weird right? i’ve even seen theories on discord speculating that they’re somehow biologically “less intelligent” and “more brutal” and i. woah perhaps we should unpack this

Me? A Proud Spider Apologist???

You think me stupid??? Foolish???

How dare you???

SPIDER HAS NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR???

Why would I need to apologize for Spider when my son has done nothing wrong????

A fractured Sully family would add so much depth to the story, forcing each character to evolve beyond their chosen roles.

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING I JUST POSTED SERIOUSLY! This is me just theorizing what might happen in Avatar 3, 4, and 5.

Lo’ak’s Hero’s Journey: Lo’ak has always struggled in the shadow of his father and older brother, feeling like a disappointment because he can't measure up to them. If he embarks on a hero’s journey, he could finally reach his full potential. Perhaps by the end, he could surpass Jake, not by being a better warrior, but by being a leader who understands both humans and Na’vi on a deeper level. He becomes less hot-headed and more diplomatic while embodying certain traits of his grandparents and is guided by Neyteyam's memory.

Kiri’s Spiritual Journey: Kiri’s connection to Eywa is stronger than anything we’ve seen before—almost godlike. I love the idea of her becoming a Jesus-like figure, growing in power but also struggling with the burden of it. What if she learns how to become one with Eywa in ways even the Na’vi don’t understand? Maybe she's Eywa herself. But the more powerful she grows, the more enemies she racks up because there might be some Na'vi who reject Eywa and others who won't take too kindly to Kiri's ascension because of her demon blood, which could spark a religious war that the RDA uses to get the Na'vi to fight among themselves. Even better, Kiri could slowly become more and more detached from the physical world and would rely on Spider to keep her grounded because she's closest to him.

Spider’s Journey of Self-Discovery: Spider’s arc is especially interesting because he’s torn between two worlds. He’s spent his whole life being treated as an outsider by both species, and maybe the third movie puts him in a position where he decides what he wants. His journey wouldn’t be about proving himself to others anymore—it would be about making peace with who he is. Also, if he does breathe the toxic air of Pandora because of Kiri, he could be the poster boy for humans back on Earth, desperate to settle on Pandora and believing that they can because of Spider, sparking huge repercussions for both sides. Spider may also learn to stop allowing others to define his path or he's given the chance to become an avatar, but ultimately rejects it because he loves himself for who he is.

Tuk’s Forced Maturity: Tuk, the youngest, would have the most tragic arc if she were left behind. With her family scattered in the wind, she would have to grow up quickly, learning that childhood is a luxury in times of war. Maybe she becomes an apprentice to someone unexpected—an elder, a rogue warrior, or even a human scientist who teaches her things no one else knows. She could become a bridge between the old ways and the future, embodying the lessons her family failed to learn before. Maybe she stays with Tonowari and his family, adopting their ways fully because they're all she has left.

Neytiri’s Crusade and Healing: Neytiri, consumed by grief and rage, would either become the new leader of the Ash Clan or go return to the forests without her family so that she can prepare her people for the next war. The Ash Clan is rumored (and confirmed) to be more brutal and warlike, and Neytiri, who has lost so much, would see them as a means to finally drive out the humans once and for all. But war is never clean. Maybe she starts to lose herself, becoming the very thing she hated—merciless, driven by vengeance rather than love. In the end, she realizes that this path doesn’t bring her peace. Maybe she goes on a journey of healing and confronts her trauma, which leads her to reconnect with Eywa and make peace with Spider, where the two come to an understanding as equals rather than family. But more importantly, she makes peace with herself and rises like a phoenix from the ashes, guided by the spirits and memories of her family. I firmly believe that independence from Jake and going her own way for a bit will help her heal. (I am praying that she has a deep and satisfying arc because if anyone deserves peace, it's her.)

Jake Disappearing and Haunting the Narrative: Having Jake disappear rather than be a central figure in the fourth movie would be fascinating. Maybe he goes off on a mysterious mission, searching for something that could turn the tide of the war. Or maybe he’s presumed dead, leaving only his legacy behind. The Sullys would feel his absence like a ghost haunting them, each one dealing with it in their own way. And if he returns, it would be as a changed man or Na'vi—someone who takes a step back to allow the new generation to step forward.

Spider is 10000% for killing RDA. he doesn't even think about it. he went straight for maximum damage without a second thought. twice.

Me, running out of Spider Socorro healing his trauma through found family fanfic after searching through 50 pages on ao3: