As Avatar: The Way of Water proceeds, director James Cameron once more pushes the boundaries of filmmaking on a visual level. This sequel flows from the Omatikaya clan in the jungles of Pandora to the sea tribe, the Metkayina, strewn across the oceans. However, it's still a bloody war as Colonel Quaritch returns as a Na'vi clone to hunt Jake and his family down.
No matter what, the humans want to take the planet for themselves by any means necessary. But this time, rather than just mining for resources, they're going all in on genocide. However, as simple as Avatar 2's narrative seems, some plot holes and unanswered questions arise, confirming the story's not as foolproof as Cameron would have liked.
Why Did Kiri Have a Seizure in Avatar 2?
It does seem like Mother Nature (aka Eywa) bonded with Grace's Na'vi form to make Kiri. She deeply connects with the planet in Avatar 2, able to control animal life and plants. However, it's never explained why she suffers a seizure in the sea. The High Ground comics already had her manipulating trees and vines, so it'd have been nice to know if this was a power overload, allowing her to see the dead Grace in her visions. It's something a third film has to address because Kiri wasn't using her abilities for the first time, so it's up in the air why this sequence rendered her comatose.
Why Did Spider Work With Quaritch?
Spider's kidnapped by the humans, but he doesn't get harmed because he's Quaritch's son. The colonel then has Spider translate for him, using him to intimidate other tribes so they can find Jake. However, Spider can sense his dad won't kill him, so it makes no sense he plays along as a pawn. Spider should have remained mum because he enabled Quaritch's crew to torture others.
Why Didn't the Tulkun Join the War in Avatar 2?
Payakan's the tulkun that helps Lo'ak and Jake's team in Avatar 2's finale. However, it's never revealed why the other whales didn't come to help as well. Their species suffered yet another mass killing at the hands of the RDA, so Payakan could have informed them, gained forgiveness and then returned en masse for revenge. It's strange to harp on how many whales got slaughtered over the years, only to have Payakan be the only one involved in fighting back.
How Did Grace Give Birth?
In the first film, Grace and some other humans helped bring down Quaritch's RDA unit. Sadly, her essence couldn't be transferred into her Na'vi body when she got shot, so she died. Yet, this vessel gives birth to Kiri. However, Avatar 2 never explains how Jake and his human allies knew to keep the body in stasis and how Grace could give birth, as she was, for all intents and purposes, dead. It's another plot point viewers have to roll with without much logic backing it.
What's the RDA's Main Resource in Avatar 2?
The first movie has unobtanium as the mineral being sought after, deeming it the fuel source of tomorrow. Shockingly, this is totally dropped from Avatar 2, with amrita being the new target. It's a yellow fluid drained from tulkuns' brains, leaving fans curious how humans knew about it as an anti-aging fluid and if unobtanium is still being sought. More so, it leaves one intrigued to know what other resources the planet has to mine in the RDA's secret research cache.
What Became of the Tree Clan?
Avatar 2's story solely focuses on Jake and the sea tribe, so it leaves it up to viewers' imagination regarding how the Omatikaya fared. There's a chance the RDA went after them, as Jake would have been distracted by the war at sea. And if the humans did find a way to the Hallelujah Mountains, there's a strong chance the tree clan could have been exterminated without Jake and Neytiri.
Where's the Toruk Makto Beast?
Jake became the warrior known as Toruk Makto after riding the leonopteryx in the first film. Only legendary fighters can do this, but the raptor-like creature flew off in the end. It doesn't appear in Avatar 2, leaving folks wondering if it's still around, if it'll join the fight with the Ikran to give the heroes more aerial power, and if it'll bring even more of its kind to the cause.
What Else Exists on Earth and Pandora?
Earth's said to be dying, but the planet's landscape isn't seen in Avatar 2, and neither is what scientific measures are being undertaken to heal it. It'd have been nice to learn more about the RDA's military hub back home as well, as they're into creating more Na'vi soldiers to take Pandora. It means there's a lot more happening on Earth than assumed. As for Pandora, fans want to know what other tribes exist, what the rest of the planet has in terms of volcanoes, animals and other threats and if the Na'vi are the only species roaming. After all, the humans could always find another species to partner with and go on the hunt.
Why Isn't the RDA More Strategic?
The RDA uses a tracker to keep Spider in check, but with all the Na'vi taken prisoner for interrogation, they never think of using trackers on them. That could easily lead them to the secret camps the jungle and sea tribes use, allowing Quaritch to destroy the main bastions of resistance. The RDA doesn't even use bombs and traps in the jungles or rig the weapons the Na'vi steal with trackers or explosives. Basically, after years of being attacked, the RDA hasn't learned a thing about defense.
How Did Quaritch Learn Neteyam Dies?
Jake's eldest son, Neteyam, helps rescue the other siblings from Quaritch's ship, which ends with him fleeing after Quaritch and company open fire. Later in Avatar 2, the villain taunts Jake over the boy dying, but this makes no sense as Quaritch doesn't know he got hit. It's only thrown in to anger Jake and add drama to their brawl.
Why Do the Ikran Bond With Quaritch's Men?
The first Avatar has Neytiri confessing Pandora's life, especially the Ikran birds, will only bond with those strong in conviction and pure of heart. It's why Jake has trials before trying to work with a bird. Yet, the creatures bond with Quaritch and his Na'vi soldiers, who have bad intentions for Pandora. It's counterintuitive, as Cameron forgets his own lore and rules.
Why Would Lo'ak Decide To Return Alone?
Lo'ak almost gets eaten by a shark in Avatar 2's first act, which does lead him to befriend Payakan. But he returns alone after the sea tribe warns him not to venture there again as it's dangerous. He could have asked Jake, though, because it's clear he'd need backup and would give them bonding time. Going alone is a strange move, but it happens in order for Lo'ak to have his Free Willy moment.
Why Does Avatar 2 Ignore the Whaling Process?
Ronal and the sea tribe have an ethereal, spiritual bond with the whales. They even consider them siblings while holding them up as deities. However, Avatar 2 fails to detail why the clan knows about the RDA's whaling project and lets it happen. They'd have the advantage of home turf, so they should take out these ships and preserve their allies.
To see all these plot holes arise, Avatar: The Way of Water is now playing in theaters.