WHAT WENT WRONG

[Bonus Preview] Avatar: Fire and Ash Review

December 26, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The hosts of WHAT WENT WRONG find the story of *Avatar: Fire and Ash* to be convoluted and unoriginal, despite acknowledging the film's beautiful and seamless visual effects and artistry. 
  • The most compelling elements of *Avatar: Fire and Ash* appear to be the new villain, Varang (played by Una Chaplin), and the character arc of Quarich (Stephen Lang), as the main Jake Sully/Neytiri storyline feels reactive and fragmented. 
  • The hosts suggest that James Cameron's expansive world-building and numerous concurrent storylines in the *Avatar* saga are better suited for a mini-series format rather than a feature film runtime of over three hours. 

Segments

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(00:00:00)
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(00:00:29)
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Episode Introduction and Structure
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(00:01:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The WHAT WENT WRONG bonus episode reviews Avatar: Fire and Ash starting with spoiler-free thoughts before transitioning to a detailed spoiler section.
  • Summary: The hosts, Chris Winnerbauer and Lizzie Bassett, introduce the bonus episode reviewing Avatar: Fire and Ash, a three-hour and 15-minute film. They plan to offer spoiler-free thoughts initially, followed by a spoiler-filled discussion approximately 15 to 20 minutes into the episode.
Spoiler-Free Initial Impressions
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(00:03:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Both hosts agree the visuals in Avatar: Fire and Ash are gorgeous and seamless, but Lizzie criticizes the story as convoluted and Chris notes the narrative frequently shifts focus.
  • Summary: Lizzie finds the story of all Avatar films unoriginal despite the beautiful visuals, criticizing James Cameron for not investing enough time in the stories. Chris notes the visual effects are seamless in this installment, unlike the previous film. Lizzie highlights Una Chaplin’s villain character, Varang, as a dynamic element that introduced different tribal qualities.
Film Details and Production Context
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(00:12:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Avatar: Fire and Ash is a 2025 epic sci-fi film, the third in the series, written by Cameron, Jaffa, and Silver, with an estimated budget exceeding $400 million.
  • Summary: The film was released internationally before its US date of December 19th, 2025, and stars returning actors like Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, alongside newcomer Una Chaplin. The production was shot concurrently with Avatar: The Way of Water, contributing to its massive cost, estimated to be over $400 million.
Franchise History and Cameron’s Writing Process
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(00:14:39)
  • Key Takeaway: James Cameron insisted on writing all sequels concurrently to ‘crack the code’ of the first film’s success, allegedly throwing away a draft of the second film because it lacked a subconscious thematic level.
  • Summary: The sequels were originally scheduled for 2014 and 2015, but production delays pushed the timeline significantly. Cameron reportedly resisted his writers pushing new ideas until the core success factors of the original were understood. The current film feels like an iteration on the first movie rather than a distinct narrative progression.
Production Logistics and Future Uncertainty
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(00:19:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Underwater performance capture required developing new technology, and Cameron has expressed pessimism about filming the fourth and fifth installments due to the current depressed state of the film industry.
  • Summary: Filming for The Way of Water and Fire and Ash began in 2017, requiring actors to perform motion capture underwater to accurately simulate water movement. While The Way of Water was a major post-COVID success, Cameron is now hedging bets on the future sequels given industry trends.
Transition to Spoiler Discussion
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(00:21:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts conclude the spoiler-free section and direct listeners to subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Patreon to hear the full spoiler-filled review.
  • Summary: Chris prompts Lizzie to begin the spoiler discussion, but the audio cuts to the subscription prompt. The full episode and all bonus content are available via subscription on Apple Podcasts or Patreon at the $5 tier or above.