If the “Avatar” franchise has achieved anything in its three-film run thus far, it would be establishing some of the best worldbuilding of any film series, and **“Fire and Ash”** is no exception.
Pandora, the home world of the Na’vi—the movies’ fictional alien race—is as stunning as ever, if not even more so. The visual effects have been lauded countless times, and rightly so; they offer a truly magical experience. Granted, seeing the film in IMAX 3D certainly helped, but watching Pandora’s majestic ocean creatures weave gracefully around marine plant life was pure wonder.
The world of Pandora stretches beyond its surface-level visual appeal. Director James Cameron has gone to great lengths to ensure the Na’vi are fleshed out with their own unique traditions, spirituality, and struggles. Such detailed worldbuilding was present in the previous sequel, **“The Way of Water,”** but it is fully fleshed out in this newest installment.
### Introducing the Ash People
The biggest addition is, of course, the introduction of a new faction of Na’vi: the Mangkwan Clan, also known as the Ash People, led by a Na’vi named Varang (Oona Chaplin). The arrival of this faction seemed inevitable. If the first “Avatar” featured the Sky People and the second the Water People, it makes sense for fire to follow.
It would have been easy to simply cast the Ash People as the “evil” Na’vi, providing a straightforward contrast to the conflict between humans and the Na’vi seen in previous films. However, there’s a nuanced scene that sets the tone for the film and establishes the faction’s moral complexity.
Varang recounts the story of her people to the other lead villain, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), after he requests the Ash People’s aid in fighting the other Na’vi, forming a surprising alliance. She tells how a volcano near her colony erupted, enveloping her entire people. But in her prayers to the Na’vi’s goddess Eywa, she came to a different revelation—embracing the fire that burned her town to ash, turning her colony back to the goddess.
Varang states,
“I am the fire! By my hand, my people grow strong! We do not bend down and die just because Eywa turns her back on us! We turn our backs on Eywa!”
This is neither spite nor retaliation, but a response aimed at survival.
### The Ash People as a Symbol of Colonial Aftermath
Within the greater narrative of human colonization of Pandora, the Ash People stand out. Other tribes of Pandora thrive by drawing sustenance and nourishment from animal colonies and environments—resources that are also sources of conflict between humans and the Na’vi. The Ash People, however, represent those who have already been burned, both literally and figuratively.
Their land, once fertile and recognizable, has been turned into an ashen, hellish wasteland by the volcanic eruption, an allegory for the destructive aftermath of colonization. Varang’s ruthless leadership becomes a sort of Prometheus figure for her tribe, forging strength through repeating cycles of colonization via brutal raids and conquests of other tribes.
It’s easy to see why this tribe might ally with human colonizers—their spirit and connection to the land have been severed, giving them little reason to preserve it. Instead, they have assimilated into the colonialist spirit alongside the humans.
### Themes and Reception
When the movie ended, I was surprised to see much of the criticism and discourse it received. Some viewers argued the story was too similar to the previous two films. While it’s true the explosive battles and tense captures and escapes echo the structure of earlier “Avatar” movies, the underlying themes are very different.
The Ash People’s arc is dense and rich. The film broadens the mythos surrounding Pandora—delving deeper into Na’vi religion and their interactions with the natural world. Crucially, **“Fire and Ash”** explores what the previous films never touched on: what happens when the Na’vi’s connection to their world is broken.
Though the movie again focuses on the conflict between humans and Na’vi, colonialism is the ever-present ghost haunting every step of the narrative. This perspective recontextualizes every scene—from the breathtaking sceneries and skies the Na’vi run through to the underlying stakes of the conflict.
When the humans first see one of their own gain a psychic connection with Pandora’s interconnected natural life, their primary thought is how to exploit it for colonization. This highlights the film’s critique of humanity’s destructive fervor, threatening the culture and fruitfulness of Pandora.
### A Powerful Message
In my view, **“Fire and Ash”** elevates the existing conflict within the “Avatar” series into a genuine examination of colonialism’s devastating impact. Through its battles, cries, and moments of joy, the film underscores the importance of preserving and honoring cultures.
It delivers a message that is rich, dense, and all too real—reminding viewers that beneath the dazzling visuals lies a story about survival, identity, and the cost of losing one’s land and spirit to ruthless conquest.
https://thehoya.com/guide/avatar-fire-and-ash-is-a-dazzling-cry-for-freedom/