Finally, James Cameron fixed the biggest problem with this franchise. The 'Ash People' are exactly what we needed. For two movies, the Na'vi were these perfect, peaceful eco-warriors, and it was getting boring. Seeing Na'vi that are cruel, industrial, and power-hungry makes the world feel real. Varang (the leader) is a way better villain than Quaritch because she isn't a cartoonish military guy; she actually believes she is protecting her people. This is the first time I've actually cared about the politics of Pandora.
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Varang is great, but did they have to make them look so edgy? The grey skin and volcanic armor felt a bit like 'Lord of the Rings' cosplay. But I agree, stopping the 'Noble Savage' trope was necessary. It’s nice to see that blue people can be jerks too.