The “Avatar” franchise has always been lauded for its breathtaking visuals, and “Fire and Ash” continues this tradition. However, with a runtime that stretches over three hours, it’s likely that some details slipped past you as you were mesmerized by the stunning shots of Pandora’s ocean. Don’t worry, though; our video above covers all the Easter eggs and subtle details you might have missed.

The film introduces us to a new antagonist, Varang (played by Oona Chaplin), who leads the Ash People. Varang’s animosity stems from a deep sense of abandonment by the Na’vi deity, Eywa, following the destruction of her home by a volcanic eruption. In the Ash People’s settlement, you might have overlooked the remnants of a massive hometree. Just like the iconic Tree of Souls in the original “Avatar” and the underwater tree of the Metkayina, the Ash People once had their own version, now reduced to charred ruins. Varang uses this loss to fuel the tribe’s anger and incite them against their fellow Na’vi.

The Ash People are not just defined by their charred landscape. Varang and Quaritch (Stephen Lang) serve as dark reflections of Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). While Jake wholly embraces Na’vi culture, Quaritch exploits it for personal gain. Although Quaritch’s fate at the end of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is uncertain, there’s a possibility he fathered a child with Varang. This potential offspring could serve as an intriguing counterpoint to Jake and Neytiri’s children in future narratives.

James Cameron has crafted a hugely successful franchise with “Avatar,” paying homage to classic science fiction. The film’s epic scope is reminiscent of “Dune,” and it seems to draw inspiration, intentionally or otherwise, from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” In a pivotal scene, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) finally connects with Eywa, Pandora’s global consciousness, depicted as a luminous Na’vi face. This imagery echoes the Star Child from “2001,” which symbolizes the next step in human evolution. Evolutionary themes are also evident as Spider (Jack Champion) can now breathe Pandora’s air, his physiology altered by Pandoran mycelium.

With “Avatar,” director James Cameron has created a hugely profitable film franchise that honors a lot of science fiction from the past. It has the epic scale of “Dune,” and intentional or not, it seems as though Cameron was inspired by “2001: A Space Odyssey” at least a little. Toward the end, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) is finally able to connect with Eywa, the global consciousness of Pandora. It looks like a shining Na’vi face, and the way it’s framed is similar to that of the Star Child in “2001.” The Star Child is symbolic of the next stage of human evolution, and there are some evolutionary advancements in “Avatar: Fire and Ash” as Spider (Jack Champion) is now able to breathe Pandora’s air thanks to his physiology becoming infused with Pandoran mycelium. 

One film reference that definitely has to be intentional is Kiri quoting “Aliens.” She saves Neytiri by telling Varang, “Leave my mother alone, b****!” Anyone who’s a fan of “Aliens” surely recognized that as almost being verbatim to what Ellen Ripley (Weaver) says while saving Newt (Carrie Henn): “Get away from her, you b****!” 

Cameron also seemingly borrows from one of the most seminal pieces of intellectual property there is — the Bible. At one point, Jake considers killing Spider so that his new physiology can’t fall into the wrong hands, which would allow more humans to colonize Pandora. It feels akin to the story of Abraham being told by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, only to be told to stop at the last second. Cameron pulls deep for his “Avatar” films, so make sure to check out the video above because we’re only scratching the surface here.