After a three-year wait, Avatar: Fire & Ash is finally premiering in 2025, and among the many storylines I hope to see in the next installment, one that absolutely needs to happen is fixing Jake Sully’s character. Since 2009, Avatar has been one of the most groundbreaking franchises in cinema. Raking in billions of dollars at the box office, the film series has undoubtedly made a mark on pop culture, and will continue to until the franchise ends in 2031. Yet, Avatar is not completely free of problems, and one that particularly frustrates me is Jake Sully.

Thus far in the franchise, Jake has been the obvious protagonist of Avatar. In the first movie, he volunteers to join the expedition to Pandora, earning himself a Na’vi avatar which eventually allows him to understand, bond with, and take the side of the Na’vi people. Avatar: The Way of Water then sees Jake with his new Na’vi family, which he must protect from his former human companions. There is no question that Jake is a compelling hero, yet Avatar’s one fatal flaw with him is that he isn’t very likable.

Jake Sully Was Really Hard To Like In Avatar & The Way Of Water

Jake’s Present Cannot Truly Override His Past

Despite being the protagonist of the Avatar franchise, Jake has rarely made himself likable. Redeemable, sure, but likable, not so much. For instance, the first movie introduces Jake as a spy. He is tasked with gaining the trust of the Na’vi, so that Colonel Quaritch can essentially invade Pandora. Although Jake eventually helps the Na’vi fight back against Quaritch, his involvement with the humans is something he cannot take back. If Jake hadn’t spied on the Na’vi, Quaritch wouldn’t have been able to destroy so much of Pandora or kill so many Na’vi.

Even Avatar: The Way of Water paints Jake in a less-than-stellar light. Jake clearly loves his children, but it is uncomfortable to see him being so hard on them, especially Lo’ak. In some ways, these moments make Jake seem clueless, as audiences see his kids discovering secrets and honing their powers, only for Jake to reprimand them for it. Ultimately, Jake’s intentions may be mostly good, but his past actions and his stern personality prevent him from being a truly lovable protagonist. He is easy to root for, but not nearly as entertaining to watch as his peers.

Avatar: Fire & Ash Needs To Make Jake Sully A Character You Can Actually Like

How Avatar 3 Can Make Viewers Like Jake

Considering Jake’s past, I think it is vital that Avatar: Fire & Ash makes Jake more likable. We have followed Jake thus far through the film series, but on the off chance that he becomes any more unlikable, some viewers may be at risk of losing interest. Of course, the franchise can’t really change who Jake is or what he has done, but there are ways to soften the hard edges that make him so unreachable. Rather than seeing him chiding and demanding and leading, audiences need to see Jake loving, caring, and taking accountability for his flaws.

When it comes to Avatar: Fire & Ash in particular, it may help to tell a story where Jake is not the reason that terrible things happen. In 2009’s Avatar, Jake’s arrival on Pandora ushers in the destruction and death of the Na’vi by other humans. Avatar: The Way of Water sees the same thing happen, but to the Metkayina tribe rather than the Omatikaya. Perhaps if the conflict at the heart of Avatar: Fire & Ash was completely separate from Jake, and his actions were helpful rather than hurtful, this could soften him towards audiences.

If Jake Sully Dies In Avatar: Fire & Ash, Audiences Need To Like Him First

Jake’s Past Means He Should Die

One popular theory about Avatar: Fire & Ash is that Jake will die at the end of the movie. Avatar: The Way of Water did a lot of work setting up Jake’s children, so many believe this will allow them to become the new protagonists of the franchise while Jake fades into the background. However, if this theory comes true, it is important that Jake is likable before his death. If Jake continues to be upтιԍнт, then his death will feel far less impactful. Yet, if Avatar: Fire & Ash finally shows his sweet side, then it will make his fate tragic.

Arguably, Jake’s past and personality can be seen as another hint that he will die in Avatar: Fire & Ash. Jake has undoubtedly brought change to Pandora which has led to two action-packed movies, but his emotional impact is far less than that of his children. In this way, Jake can be seen as Avatar’s catalyst, while his children will end up being the true heroes of Avatar: Fire & Ash. With both human and Na’vi blood within them, they will save Pandora in a way that outsider Jake Sully never could.