I try to learn more about “popular” characters to understand why they are well-liked. But in order for me to dedicate an editorial to those characters, they need to capture my undivided attention. Colonel Miles Quaritch and Varang did just that as I listened to commentary discourse on Avatar: Fire and Ash. Those discussions about the 2025 film yielded constant praise about Varang and Quaritch’s relationship. Some people claim Quaritch and Varang were the best part of the third film, let alone the Avatar franchise. In fact, they’ve become so popular that Varang received her own unofficial theme song (MONTAGEM BUDA by DYGO). The choir of Varang and Quaritch’s admirers singing their praises genuinely confused me. However, because Quaritch and Varang are the villains of Avatar: Fire and Ash, I decided to write an editorial about their relationship similar to when I wrote about Lestat and Akasha’s relationship (from Queen of the Damned) and Top Dollar and Myca’s relationship (from The Crow). I assumed Quaritch and Varang’s relationship was equally or more toxic than those relationships. Even though they make villainous choices throughout Avatar: Fire and Ash, their relationship is, surprisingly, healthier than some of the problematic relationships from movies I’ve reviewed in the past or I’ve written about on 18 Cinema Lane. In this editorial, I will contrast Varang and Quaritch’s relationship with a handful of other film (and even television) relationships to prove my point. To support my argument, I will utilize examples, screenshots, and quotes from or related to Avatar: Fire and Ash, as well as referencing the other media in question.
Who are Quaritch and Varang?
Quaritch and Varang are the villains of Avatar: Fire and Ash, as well as the Avatar franchise. For readers who haven’t seen these films, I will introduce them to Varang and Quaritch. Colonel Miles Quaritch (portrayed by Stephen Lang) has remained an important character through all three Avatar films. In the first movie from 2009, Quaritch was the commander of the RDA’s (Resources Development Administration) security division. He also led the charge in Pandora’s war, attempting to remove the Omatikaya Na’vis from their home in order to provide more space for humans on Pandora. But in Avatar’s final battle, Quaritch was shot and killed by Neytiri, one of the Na’vi from the Omatikaya clan. He returned in the franchise’s second film, Avatar: The Way of Water, which takes place fifteen years after the events of the first movie. This time, however, Quaritch appears as a Na’vi Recombinant with the neurological information from his human self, such as his memories. In both the second and third film in the Avatar franchise, Quaritch maintains his objectives of providing space for humans on Pandora and holding Jake Sully (his former Corporal) accountable for abandoning the RDA in the first film. Quaritch’s second objective becomes disruptive for Jake and his family as the film series progresses.
Quaritch and Varang (portrayed by Oona Chaplin) meet in Avatar: Fire and Ash. She is the Na’vi olo’eykte (clan leader) and the tsahìk (spiritual leader) of the Mangkwan clan, known for having their home destroyed by a volcanic eruption prior to the events of the third movie. Believing Eywa (the Na’vis’ goddess representative of their belief system) abandoned the Mangkwan clan after the aforementioned volcanic eruption, Varang leads her clan through trauma, anger, and survival. While the Mangkwan Na’vis see her as the glue that’s kept their clan together, other Na’vis see Varang (and the Mangkwan clan) as a threat to Pandora’s society.
Varang and Quaritch vs. Achara and Jack
Achara and Jack (from the Lost episode ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’) is the only relationship from a television show included in this discussion. Jack becomes frustrated that Achara won’t share what her “gift” is with him. He becomes so hyper-fixated on learning what Achara’s “gift” is that Jack not only doesn’t take the time to learn more about Achara and the world around her (besides trying Thai food and meeting Achara’s brother in one scene), but he also defines Achara by that one aspect of her life. Throughout her month-long relationship with Jack, Achara remains hesitant to share her “gift” with him. This decision implies she doesn’t fully trust Jack. When Achara eventually reveals what her “gift” is, which is being “able to see who people are” and creating definitive (not decorative) tattoos, Jack forces her to give him this desired explanation. He also forces her to give him a tattoo by forcibly pulling her toward and placing her in a chair by her tattooing station. While Jack is in his drunken fueled aggression and frustration, Achara refuses his request. She cites Jack’s status as an “outsider”, saying that she isn’t allowed to give him a tattoo and giving Jack a tattoo would go against her people. But when Achara’s brother eventually discovers Jack received a tattoo from Achara, he and his friends beat Jack up. Achara’s brother then orders Jack to leave Thailand. Meanwhile, Achara tearfully looks on while this confrontation takes place.
Varang leads the Mangkwan clan through trauma, anger, and survival after her people’s home was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. This information isn’t revealed in Avatar: Fire and Ash until Varang willingly brings it up when she invites Quaritch in her yurt (tent) during their second interaction together. While recounting her traumatic past, Varang tells Quaritch the following:
“The fire came from the mountain when I was little; burnt our forest. It took everything. My people were starving. They cried for help, but Eywa did not come. So I went to the fire, and I learned its way”.
She also shares with Quaritch how she, along with the rest of the Mangkwan clan, responded to Eywa’s abandonment of them, saying:
“I am the fire! By my hand, my people grow strong! We do not lie down and die just because Eywa turns her back on us! We turn our back on Eywa! A weak mother for weak children. We do not suck on the breast of weakness”.
The fact all this information isn’t brought up in the movie until Varang herself shares it implies she doesn’t freely offer this information, especially to those outside of the Mangkwan clan. During this same interaction, Varang chose to tell him, “I see you” (which has been established in the Avatar franchise as the equivalent of saying “I love you”) and “You have a strong heart. No fear” (which seems to be a term of endearment). For Varang to openly share all this information with Quaritch on her own terms (and within her personal space) shows that she has developed full trust in him. Another example of Varang’s trust in Quaritch takes place in Bridgehead City. When Quaritch arrests Jake and takes him to Bridgehead City, Varang travels there with them. She immediately recognizes how being in an unfamiliar environment and surrounded by more humans than she’s ever interacted with before can be overwhelming. She even tells one of the attending Mangkwan warriors, “Do not show fear”. Yet, while in Bridgehead City, Varang is shown peacefully sleeping in her tent within the Mangkwan camp. Meanwhile, Quaritch is right outside the tent the whole time. People are likely to sleep more soundly if they feel safe. Varang sleeping peacefully inside her tent shows how she trusts Quaritch to keep her safe.
Throughout Avatar: Fire and Ash, Quaritch is shown trying to understand Varang and the world around her. He teaches her how to use a gun and a flamethrower, providing resources and skills the Mangkwan clan are interested in receiving. While in Bridgehead City, Quaritch speaks with Varang in the Na’vi language. He interacts with other members of the Mangkwan clan besides Varang during his time in Bridgehead City. Quaritch adopts the appearance of a Mangkwan Na’vi, even sporting the clan’s war paint toward the end of the film. Unlike Jack’s confrontation with Achara’s brother and his friends in ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’, Quaritch never faces animosity from the Mangkwan clan whenever he attempts to learn more about Varang and her world. It should be noted that some of Quaritch’s war paint appears to mirror Varang’s, implying her direct influence over their design. With all that said, Quaritch is not disrespecting the cultural boundaries of the Mangkwan clan, a mistake Jack made in the aforementioned Lost episode. Even when Quaritch introduces Varang to a human named General Ardmore in Bridgehead City, he refers to Varang as “Tsahìk of the Mangkwan”. This simple decision highlights three things:
- Quaritch is honoring and respecting Varang’s culture, as well as her role within it
- He refuses to define Varang by his perception of her (such as referring to her as “my girlfriend” or “my soulmate”), especially after General Ardmore calls Varang Quaritch’s “little missy”
- Quaritch believes he doesn’t have to prove his and Varang’s relationship to anyone, as his actions and choices should speak for themselves
Quaritch and Varang vs. Top Dollar and Myca
In 2021, I wrote an editorial analyzing the toxic relationship of Top Dollar and Myca from The Crow. One of the takeaways from that editorial was that Myca and Top Dollar’s incestuous relationship is likely the result of an absent/dysfunctional family unit, as well as likely being exposed to dark and harmful things from a young age by their father. Another major takeaway was how Top Dollar and Myca’s enablement of each other was contributed by their likely long-term exposure to dark and harmful things being their “normal”. But when I wrote and published that editorial five years ago, I didn’t realize how Myca and Top Dollar lacked awareness for who they are and what they do, which kept them in a constant cycle of toxicity. When Varang shares her traumatic past with Quaritch in Avatar: Fire and Ash, she recollects what caused her to become the leader she is and how the Mangkwan clan responded to the tragedy. Varang expressing self-awareness doesn’t excuse or condone her aggressive and violent behavior toward others. However, it shows that change, as well as healing, seems realistically possible for her. Varang’s steps toward healing consist of a) she willingly opened up to Quaritch about her traumatic past and b) she willingly opened up her heart to Quaritch after closing her heart off for so long, to the point where it dictated how she walked. Oona even commented on how Varang’s walk was developed, saying, “Varang’s trust is broken and so what happens when you close the heart”. Only time will tell if Varang wants to heal from her trauma, let alone change her villainous ways.
This awareness of Varang’s trauma is also acknowledged by the creative team behind Avatar: Fire and Ash. During an interview with Youtuber Bryce Edward Brown, James Cameron (the director of all three Avatar films) said, “I think that as a little girl the powerlessness and the loss and that she felt and and is playing out through PTSD and trying to recapture power and control the things that that she couldn’t control as a child”. When Oona was interviewed by Bryce Edward Brown, she explained, “The reason that she [Varang] is the way that she is is because she has been hurt in a really really deep place. And it’s, like, the classic, you know, architype of ‘hurt people hurt people’”. In an interview with ABC News, Oona addressed how “She’s [Varang’s] gone through a lot of trauma”, elaborating on that statement by saying, “But she’s gone though a lot of grief, you know, she lost her land, her whole way of life, her family, and, and, her great mother, the, the source of all of her faith, so she has suffered a lot of loss”.
One of the reasons why Varang is considered a villain in Avatar: Fire and Ash is because she uses her kuru (neural queue/braid) to forcefully connect to other Na’vis’ kurus, using that connection to mentally manipulate her victims. Based on the context within the film, she does this as a form of interrogation as well as to gain an upper hand. After Varang and Quaritch become a couple, however, Quaritch has stood back and watched Varang continue to mentally manipulate others with her kuru. Initially, I was confused why Quaritch would do this, especially considering a) Varang mentally manipulated him when they first met and b) Varang willingly opened up to him about her traumatic past, as well as expressing self-awareness for why she is the way that she is. I wondered, “shouldn’t Quaritch be trying to help Varang heal from her trauma”? This confusion led me, at first, to speculate if Quaritch had adopted Top Dollar and Myca’s “I don’t care because it’s none of my business” attitude/mindset, the same attitude/mindset they used to enable each other to hurt themselves or other people. But Quaritch is the same man who has gone out of his way to try to understand Varang and the world around her. In Bridgehead City, when General Ardmore called the Mangkwan clan “savages” and Varang Quaritch’s “little missy”, Quaritch (and Varang) appeared uncomfortable by what General Ardmore said. Quaritch even tells General Ardmore, “Don’t be a jackass, General”. What I said shows how Quaritch does care about Varang and her world because he’s made that his business. Though there are better ways Quaritch could have shown he cares about Varang, like preventing her from using her kuru for harmful purposes.
In an interview from the Youtube channel, Film Stories, Stephen responds to a question about where Quaritch fits in within the conflict of humanity versus Na’vi. He says, “What he [Quaritch] recognizes is that he can no longer, the idea of making the planet come to him, the moon come to him doesn’t work. He’s got to go to it. He’s got to adapt to it”. Stephen’s quote can be applied to Quaritch’s relationship with Varang. Varang willingly opened up to Quaritch about her traumatic past, as well as willingly opened up her heart to him. During his interaction with Varang in her yurt, Quaritch reminds her how she wants an “equal” (something she’s never had). With that said, he recognizes how Varang has not only carried her unresolved trauma for a long time, but has also lived her life a certain way for a long time. Quaritch recognizes as well how Varang’s new chapter in her life (developing a relationship with her “equal”) will take some adjusting to. So, as Varang’s “equal”, Quaritch’s decision to stand by and watch her continue to mentally manipulate others with her kuru is not about intentional enablement like Myca and Top Dollar not caring about what the other does. Quaritch acknowledges and respects where Varang is in her life, as well as her healing journey, and meeting her there instead of forcing her to do something she either doesn’t want to do or isn’t ready to do. However, I do wish Quaritch had intervened and encouraged Varang to make better choices that don’t involve hurting other Na’vis.
When I wrote and published my editorial about Top Dollar and Myca’s relationship, I discussed how both their conversations in The Crow were not meaningful. As I explained in that editorial, words aren’t utilized to address emotions, leaving feelings and personal turmoil bottled up and unresolved. Concerns and basic needs are ignored as well. In Avatar: Fire and Ash, Varang and Quaritch share only one conversation, which takes place during their interaction in Varang’s yurt. Despite this, their conversation is meaningful because of how much it accomplishes. Like I’ve already said, Varang willingly opened up to Quaritch about her traumatic past, showing how she not only trusts Quaritch, but also how change and healing seem realistically possible for her. Varang sharing her backstory allows Quaritch (and the audience) to learn more about her as well. Meanwhile, Varang learns more about Quaritch by asking him questions, such as why he came to see her in the first place. Even when Quaritch tells Varang, “You want to take on Eywa? You need me”, he confirms how he’s actively paying attention/listening to what Varang is saying. Though he was under the influence of a hallucinogenic powder she gave him earlier in their interaction, potentially affecting his judgement. The most important thing Quaritch and Varang’s conversation accomplishes is establishing their relationship. They no longer see each other as a threat like they did when they first met. As their conversation goes on, their tone of voice becomes friendlier. Varang even gently strokes Quaritch’s chin and kuru, though she did cut his chest prior to that, which could have given Quaritch mixed messages on her feelings for him. But when Varang tells Quaritch, “I see you”, he responds by telling her, “Damn right you do”, while appearing relaxed and speaking with a confident and matter-of-fact tone of voice. This response, and the fact Quaritch doesn’t appear surprised or caught off guard by what Varang told him, emphasizes his acceptance of her love, as well as doubling and tripling down on that idea.
Varang and Quaritch vs. Akasha and Lestat
I wrote an editorial in 2019 about Lestat and Akasha’s relationship (from Queen of the Damned), discussing why it was problematic for Akasha to possess more control in the relationship. One of her missteps was not making an effort to get to know Lestat. Akasha assumes she knows Lestat based on his image as a musical performer, even though being a musical performer only plays a small role in his life. This assumption leads her to give him a royal title he did not desire. Had Akasha taken the time to ask Lestat what he wanted, she would have known all he wanted was to walk in the light and not hide in the shadows. In Avatar: Fire and Ash, Varang doesn’t make Akasha’s mistakes. I brought up earlier how she learns more about Quaritch by asking him questions, such as why he came to see her in the first place. Varang even asks him, “What do I want”, when Quaritch claims she doesn’t want to keep him as a slave. Her asking this question shows how she’s interested in hearing his answer instead of assuming what he’ll say is incorrect. It also shows how she’s willing to change her mind about how she sees Quaritch, though her entertaining the idea of keeping him as a slave is concerning. Before giving Quaritch the hallucinogenic powder I referenced earlier in this editorial, Varang tells him, “First, I must see your soul”. Then, before telling Quaritch, “You have a strong heart. No fear”, Varang says, “Only true words will come from your tongue”. These examples illustrate Varang making a strong effort in getting to know Quaritch instead of falling for a fabricated image of him. Sadly, this is the only time Varang is shown learning more about Quaritch, which could give the impression her efforts aren’t strong.
Akasha doesn’t seem to see Lestat as an equal, but instead as something she can control. Akasha refers to Lestat by his name on less than three occasions. She also talks at him, not to him, as well as purposefully leaving Lestat out of the process of building their “kingdom”. Because Akasha forced Lestat into their relationship and possesses more control within it, he doesn’t feel their relationship is worth investing in. Once again, Varang refuses to repeat Akasha’s mistakes. In Avatar: Fire and Ash, when Quaritch brought up how she wanted an “equal”, Varang never objects or claims Quaritch is wrong. In fact, she tells him “I see you” after he reveals how an “equal” is what she really wanted. Any time she communicates with Quaritch (talking to him, not at him), Varang refers to him by his name. The only times she didn’t do that is when she didn’t know his name, hence the reason why she called Quaritch “Sky Man”. Since forming their relationship, Varang and Quaritch are rarely seen apart, as they recognize how valuable their time and company is. This is just one example of how their relationship contains equal investment. Meanwhile, Quaritch shows how he is an active participant in his relationship with Varang. In Avatar: Fire and Ash, during his interaction with Varang in her yurt, Quaritch explains what he can give her, such as “guns”, “comms”, and “RPGs”. But Varang recognizes the nontangible things he can give her as well, like security and peace of mind. This portion of their conversation highlights how Quaritch is willing to share and be a provider in his and Varang’s relationship. As I’ve said, Quaritch tries to learn more about Varang and her world. Because Varang has willingly provided these learning opportunities to Quaritch, he has received chances to grow closer to her.
While reflecting on Lestat and Akasha’s relationship, as well as the other relationships discussed in this editorial, I noticed how their displays of affection are not consistent, whether these displays have been publicly or privately. It seems like those couples’ problematic behavior was the primary focus. Though Quaritch and Varang display villianous behavior in Avatar: Fire and Ash, their displays of affection are shown consistently throughout the film as well. Varang and Quaritch hold hands on two separate occasions; in Bridgehead City (after Quaritch introduces Varang to General Ardmore) and after Quaritch teaches Varang how to use a flamethrower. Quaritch has referred to Varang by endearing names like “baby”, “sugar”, and “darling”. Any time he touches her, Quaritch has continually been gentle with Varang. Meanwhile, Varang gently touched Quaritch’s arm in Bridgehead City. As I mentioned in this editorial already, Varang gently strokes Quaritch’s chin and kuru, which she does before Quaritch brought up how Varang wants an “equal”. But what I’ve noticed is how Varang only blinks whenever Quaritch is around or when something connected to Quaritch is around. Because this behavior is so patterned around Quaritch, I believe blinking is Varang’s way of showing affection for him. These times are the following:
- While examining the deceased body of one of the Mangkwan Na’vi, Varang becomes interested in a bullet lodged within it. After digging out the bullet, Varang blinks as she bites into the bullet. Bullets typically come from the RDA, which Quaritch is associated with.
- After Quaritch teaches Varang how to use a gun, she blinks as she tells him, “I do not need you now, Sky Man”.
- Varang blinks as she notices the guns Quaritch brought to her Mangkwan village
- Varang blinks immediately after Quaritch reminds her how she wants an “equal”
- When Jake surrenders to Quaritch, Varang blinks three times during that situation: when Quaritch suggests Neytiri be arrested too, right before Jake refers to Varang as Quaritch’s “new girlfriend” and as Varang is looking up at Quaritch
- Varang blinks twice when Quaritch introduces her to General Ardmore: when General Ardmore refers to Varang as Quaritch’s “little missy” and as Quaritch is introducing Varang as “Tsahìk of the Mangkwan”
- When Neytiri infiltrates Varang’s tent in the Mangkwan clan’s camp in Bridgehead City, Varang blinks when Neytiri threatens to cut off Varang’s kuru. This incident takes place after Varang and Quaritch formed a tsaheylu (an intimate bond that lasts for life formed by mates connecting kurus). When Quaritch and Varang first met, she forcefully connected his kuru with hers in order to mentally manipulate him. However, an argument can be made that, in this particular situation, Varang did this in self-defense, as Quaritch had a gun pointed at her head when he was helping Jake rescue his children from the Mangkwan clan.
Quaritch and Varang vs. Oscar and Lily
One of the worst movies I ever reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane is Twentieth Century. A reason why I don’t like this movie is how abusive Oscar and Lily’s relationship is. Oscar grows jealous and obsessive of Lily over the course of the film. The worst thing he does is use his mortality as a manipulation tactic. Not only does Oscar threaten suicide if Lily doesn’t stay with him, he also fakes his death to trick Lily into signing his contract. Quaritch and Varang, on the other hand, never do that in Avatar: Fire and Ash. The only time Quaritch uses language to manipulate a situation is when he tells Varang, “You touch me with that thing again, I’ll kill you”. Before he said that, Varang was attempting to mentally manipulate Quaritch with her kuru for a second time, even though he came to her village delivering guns for her people. Therefore, Quaritch’s threat was a self-defense tactic, as he still saw Varang as a threat. It should be noted how Varang also still saw Quaritch as a threat during this interaction, as Varang continues to hold her kuru. This is a response to Quaritch holding a gun to her head when they first met, as he was trying to help Jake rescue his children from the Mangkwan clan. Meanwhile, during Quaritch and Varang’s interaction in her yurt, Varang’s mortality is never a topic of discussion. Even though she could have used her mortality to manipulate Quaritch, she instead chooses to share her traumatic past with him, as well as asking him why he came to see her in the first place.
Despite being treated horribly by Oscar, Oscar’s friends try to help him fix his relationship with Lily. They even go as far as blaming Lily for Oscar’s failures. Varang and Quaritch never do that either in Avatar: Fire and Ash. When Neytiri infiltrated the Mangkwan clan’s camp in Bridgehead City, Varang is more preoccupied with obtaining Neytiri’s heart than blaming Quaritch for the camp’s breach in security. Later in the movie, when General Ardmore permanently grounds Quaritch after Jake and another character named Spider escape Bridgehead City, Quaritch doesn’t blame Varang. Instead, he stays focused on recapturing Spider and Jake. Quaritch is even pleased he can utilize Varang mentally manipulating Neytiri to lure Jake and Spider, with Quaritch telling Varang, “Thanks, baby”. These examples I brought up show how Varang and Quaritch don’t take their frustrations out on each other because they possess the maturity and emotional understanding to recognize which battles are worth choosing, as well as what is within that other person’s control. At the same time, however, Quaritch and Varang don’t hold each other accountable if they do something wrong.
Varang and Quaritch vs. Nancy and Bill Sikes
Though I have reviewed 1968’s Oliver!, I never talked about how awful Nancy and Bill Sikes’ relationship is. Similar to Lestat and Akasha’s relationship, Nancy is more invested in her relationship with Bill. But, unlike Akasha and Lestat’s relationship, Bill is someone Nancy actually cares about. Unfortunately for her, Bill sees Nancy more as a nuisance than a girlfriend. When she asks Bill if he loves her, he angrily tells Nancy, “Course I do. I live with you, don’t I”? Bill also takes Nancy for granted, never showing gratitude whenever Nancy does something nice for him, like serving him food. He even becomes violent toward Nancy. Bill tries to physically intimidate Nancy by threatening to choke her when she refuses to bring Oliver back into a life of thieving. Bill also slaps Nancy so hard, she falls to the floor. After Nancy is beaten to death by Bill, Bill blames her for the predicament he put himself in. He expresses more concern for being caught by the police than remorse for the way he treated Nancy.
Quaritch is never shown becoming angry at Varang. Even when Varang mentally manipulated him with her kuru or cut his chest, Quaritch doesn’t express anger or resentment toward her. However, Quaritch ignoring Varang’s aggression toward him could give her a mixed message on how to treat him. Quaritch has continually been gentle with Varang any time he touches her. In fact, the closest to aggressive Quaritch has ever been toward Varang is when he pointed a gun at her head. In that moment, however, Quaritch saw her as a threat, as Quaritch was trying to help Jake rescue his children from the Mangkwan clan. Throughout his relationship with Varang, Quaritch never takes her for granted, proving this by taking the time to learn more about Varang and her world. Out of all the ways he could have chosen to spend his time in Bridgehead City, Quaritch chose to spend it with Varang and the Mangkwan clan. What I said about Quaritch can also be applied to Varang. She stops being aggressive toward Quaritch when their relationship is established, as Varang saw Quaritch as a threat before that. Varang doesn’t take Quaritch for granted either, with her proof being how interested she appears in learning how to use a gun and flamethrower. Quaritch and Varang are rarely seen apart when their relationship is formed. They recognize how valuable their time and company is.
Conclusion
What led to the creation of this editorial was trying to figure out why Quaritch and Varang were so popular. Through my research, I think I found an answer. In the Avatar franchise, Varang and Quaritch seem to be the only two characters who subvert expectations. In entertainment media, when expectations are subverted, that can spark curiosity and intrigue from the audience. If you had told me back in 2009 that Colonel Miles Quaritch would eventually adopt the appearance of a Na’vi and fall in love with a Na’vi woman, I definitely would not have believed you. Then, in 2025, if you had told me the first Na’vi villain in the Avatar franchise would fall in love at all, let alone fall in love with Quaritch, I also would not have believed you. But, before publishing this editorial, if you had told me Quaritch and Varang’s relationship was healthier than some of the problematic relationships from movies and tv I’m familiar with (like Lestat and Akasha and Top Dollar and Myca), I certainly would have thought you were joking.
Though this editorial highlights how Quaritch and Varang’s relationship is healthier than some problematic relationships from entertainment media, their relationship isn’t truly healthy. Because they are the villains in Avatar: Fire and Ash, their villainous behavior is on full display. They treat other people terribly, from Quaritch destroying Na’vis’ homes in his search for Jake Sully to Varang and the Mangkwan clan sparking unprovoked violence toward other Na’vis. There are also a lot of aspects of their relationship that are up for interpretation. I mentioned earlier how Varang and Quaritch formed a life-long bond called tsaheylu. Even though Varang is more educated about Na’vi culture than Quaritch, it’s unknown if she explained the significance of tsaheylu before they formed this bond, which would have allowed Quaritch to make an informed decision about whether he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Despite the flaws in their relationship, however, Quaritch and Varang treat each other better than I expected. As of the publication of my editorial, the fourth film in the Avatar franchise has not officially been greenlit, though the release date has already been chosen. If that film does come to fruition, I hope Varang and Quaritch acknowledge how good they have it when it comes to their relationship. Because if my editorial stresses anything, it’s how some people aren’t so lucky.
References:
From 18 Cinema Lane –
Travel Lessons I Learned from Movies and TV
Toxic Valentine: Why Lestat and Akasha’s relationship is very problematic in Queen of the Damned (2002)
We Need to Talk About the Toxic Relationship of Top Dollar and Myca from ‘The Crow’
Take 3: Twentieth Century Review
Youtube Videos and Shorts –
‘Why Varang Is Working With Quaritch and the Humans of the RDA in James Cameron’s Avatar’ (short from Youtube channel, Bryce Edward Brown)
‘I Interviewed Stephen Lang and Oona Chaplin About Quaritch and Varang’s Future in Avatar’ (video from Youtube channel, Bryce Edward Brown)
‘Candid interview with James Cameron and cast of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’’ (video from Youtube channel, ABC News)
‘Stephen Lang on AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH!’ (video from Youtube channel, Film Stories)
‘Avatar Fire and Ash Cast Talk About Their Band & Na’avi Phrases & Fan Edits’ (video from the Youtube channel, Hits Radio)
‘The Cast of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ on Reuniting, Diving Underwater, and Date Nights’ (video from the Youtube channel, Fandango)
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’s Oona Chaplin on Crafting Her MENACING Strut (Exclusive)’ (video from the Youtube channel, Entertainment Tonight)
Articles –
https://screenrant.com/how-quaritch-returns-in-avatar-way-of-water-explained/
https://james-camerons-avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Varang
https://james-camerons-avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Miles_Quaritch_(Recombinant)
https://james-camerons-avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Miles_Quaritch
Films and Television –
Avatar franchise (Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash)
Oliver!
Lost: Season 3, Episode 9 — ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’
18 Cinema Lane 