Becoming a mother changed the way Zoe Saldana approached Avatar: The Way of Water

"We were parents, whereas in the first movie we weren't," Zoe Saldaña told ScreenRant. "We were reckless and accepted head-on every challenge that was presented to us. Obviously we still had that kind of mentality, it just took a little longer, about 10 years later."

In the first "Avatar", the forbidden human/Na'vi romance of Jake and Neytiri served as the emotional core. Neytiri was able to train and immerse Jake in the culture of the Omatikaya clan and, leveraging her status as a princess, was able to vouche for her character despite prejudice against humans. It was risky, of course, since Jake's original mission was to destroy the Na'vi from within – but she trusted her heart. Jake took huge, determined risks in the first movie, too. His efforts to oppose a huge corporation and choose to fight for the Na'vi puts him in a vulnerable position that leads to the death of his friend and collaborator, Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver).

In "The Way of Water", the Neytiri and Jake we are reintroduced to are relatives, but they are also the protectors of the remaining Omatikaya. Having fought humanity before, they are even more cautious and expect their children to follow their lead. In the first act, the Sully children are attacked by Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and narrowly escape. It is here that Jake makes a huge decision that affects the well-being of his family: to leave the Omatikaya clan to seek refuge elsewhere.