Here is something that bothers me regarding the ikran in the new movie. Spoilers for AFAA:
Lo'ak and Kiri's ikrans are dead, but they flew away on three banshees toward the end of the film when the demon ship was getting torn apart by the magnetic field. One of the ikran was Neytiri's, so that leaves two unnamed ikran.
MAYBE Jake's ikran might've helped out (Bob, you're too loyal for Jake lol), but that would still leave one extra ikran.
Were they wild ones from when Eywa heard Kiri? I didn't get a good look to see if they had riding gear. Maybe Kiri summoned them.
My brother thought maybe Lo'ak and Kiri grabbed new ones while they were briefly back in High Camp, but if so, then that completely contradicts what we've been told for so long.
If a Na'vi lose their ikran, they take time to mourn before choosing another. It's said in books after Neytiri lost Seze and when Eetu lost Zomey in Frontiers of Pandora. I think So'lek took a REALLY long time after losing his first ikran if I remember correctly.
But Jim, you're telling me Lo'ak and Kiri chose new ikran in a span of one or two days?
I really hope that's not the case, mainly because it just feels disrespectful. It's been ingrained into our heads how important the ikran are to forest/land Na'vi clans and how the bond is strong between rider and banshee.
Sure, maybe the kids lose their ikran so that it would be one step further into getting more accustomed to Metkayina culture (but that still doesn't explain the two ikran who save the kids at the end of the movie).
The movies would be vastly different if none of our favorite characters had ikran. Those amazing creatures deserve more than being thrown away for the plot.