Watch 'em, they bite.
Zdinarsik or "Z-Dog", was one of a dozen resurrected SecOps soldiers as part of Project Phoenix. She was a recombinant member of the first recom squad under the command of Recom Quaritch.
Biography[]
Zdinarsik was once a human SecOps operative serving under Colonel Miles Quaritch in 2154. At some point during the Assault on the Tree of Souls she was killed in action. Two hours prior to her death, Zdinarsik had her memories uploaded onto a Soul Drive, which was then sent back to Earth during the expulsion of the Resources Development Administration from Pandora. This copied consciousness was then downloaded into Zdinarsik's recombinant in 2170 aboard the ISV Vindicator.
Avatar: The Way of Water[]

Quaritch recognizes Z-Dog.
When Quaritch was revived as a Recom and attacked everyone, Zdinarsik tried to restrain him, telling him to calm down. She assisted Quaritch during his mission to find and kill Jake Sully. When she flew with the team to the Hallelujah Mountains, she was visibly impressed by the beautiful scenery.
She helped the group hold the Sully children hostage and managed to survive Jake and Neytiri's assault. She held Tuktirey hostage at night, but Tuk bit her arm to escape.
During the violent interrogation of the Ta'unui clan, she used an electro prod to keep them in check.

Zdinarsik killed by Neytiri using an arrow to her head.
During the skirmish at the Three Brothers Zdinarsik noticed Jake Sully who had boarded the SeaDragon in order to save Kiri and Tuk kill Prager and other RDA soldiers and shot at him furiously but was unable to even hit Jake. She was later wounded and killed once again by a furious Neytiri who shot her in the side and then in the head with her arrows during the battle on the SeaDragon. Zdinarsik's gun still manages to fire a few shots after, although it is unclear if this was a death reflex or a sign she wanted to take Neytiri down with her.
Personality[]

Zdinarsik trying to kill Jake Sully.
Zdinarsik has little screentime, but she seems to be a tough woman, managing to be one of the last Recoms to survive. When Quaritch was panicked about being in a Recom body, she also had the bravery to try to restrain him physically, despite that she could be attacked in the process.

Zdinarsik blowing bubblegum during the violent interrogation.
It is shown that she can be cruel and callous, suggesting she has a lack of empathy. She does not protest when one of her team members kills an ilu, nor does she protest when Quaritch threatens to kill the Ta'unui Tsahìk. When the villagers are understandably panicked, she uses her electro prod on one of them merely for trying to get a better look at what's happening, despite that there was no indication he would rush over to the Tsahìk. After, she blows her bubblegum and does not protest when the village is burned either.
Zdinarsik seems to be a short temper, telling Tuk to "shut your mouth, shut up, quiet!" when she is pinned down on the deck, potentially hinting she has not fond of Na'vi, children, or both. She can be seen picking up a panicked Tuk into the air when it is not necessary, causing Tuk to scream, implying she is not good around children. She also seems to have a habit of chewing gum.
Trivia[]


Z-Dog's tattoos.
- In Avatar: The Way of Water: The Visual Dictionary and The Art of Avatar: The Way of Water, her name is written as Zdinarsk. However, in the film's closed caption subtitles and credits, it is Zdinarsik. It can be presumed both books have errors.
- Zdinarsik is mentioned as being male in the original script, but like Frances Ardmore, is female in the final version. Zdinarsik was also supposed to be the one restraining Kiri and be killed by Neytiri's arrow which initiates the forest skirmish, but it is Sean Fike in the final version.
- Zdinarsik is not a name used in the real world. However, it might be derived from several Eastern European names, such as the Slovene Žnidaršič or Ždiňák, or the Russian Zdrenik.
- James Cameron requested Zdinarsik's design, asking the team for a female Recom with a mohawk and many colorful tattoos.[1]
- Zdinarsik is one of the two female members of Project Phoenix, along with Walker. Both are killed by Neytiri.
- Zdinarsik is the last member in the group to be killed in the second movie, although this is only true if Mansk did not die. Even Mansk survived, Zdinarsik is the last Recombinant killed onscreen.
- Zdinarsik has many colorful tattoos on her arms, neck, and chest. They include:
- A chimera on her neck.
- An eagle on her back with the Latin motto "AUT VINCERE AUT MORI" which means "conquer or die". It also has the number 33 which is known as an "angel number" that calls for people to cleanse their life and mind of negativity.
- Her right arm has a skeleton reaper on the bottom and an angel on the top.
- Her left arm has a snake wrapped around a skull with "DEATHLESS" on it. The bottom portion is the most difficult to interpret as it looks very Hindu in nature with many strange symbols.
- Actress Alicia Vela-Bailey previously played Ikeyni, leader of the Tayrangi clan, as well as the huntress Saeyla of the Omatikaya clan.
- Like Lopez, her vest also features a small patch depicting the flag of pirate captain Calico Jack.
- Z-Dog's iconic bubblegum was added via reshoots after it was suggested by someone on set and James Cameron approved of it. The face-cam footage of Alicia Vela-Bailey chewing and popping it was overlaid on top of her existing performance capture. The gum Vela-Bailey chewed during shoots was the Extra brand watermelon flavor.[2]
Memorable Quotes[]
- „You little shit!“ - Zdinarsik when Tuk bites her arm.
- „Get down! You too! You see this?“ - Zdinarsik threatening a Na'vi woman with a stun prod.
- „Drop the knife! Drop it!“ - Zdinarsik taking a knife from Tuk.
- „Down! Shut your mouth! Shut up! Quiet!“ - Zdinarsik to Tuk.
Gallery[]
![]() |
See the image gallery for |
Appearances[]
Title | Format | Release date | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Avatar: The Way of Water | Film | December 16, 2022 | Portrayed by actress Alicia Vela-Bailey. |
References[]
- ↑ The Art of Avatar: The Way of Water
- ↑ OmatiCon 2024 livestream with Alicia Vela-Bailey
Characters from the films | ||
---|---|---|
Introduced in Avatar | Humans: Na'vi: | |
Introduced in Avatar: The Way of Water | Humans: Miles Socorro • Frances Ardmore • Mick Scoresby • Ian Garvin • Ward • Charles Stringer • Dorman • Morgan • Jocelyn • Davis • Neytiri's Victim
Na'vi: Kiri • Lo'ak • Neteyam • Tsireya • Tuktirey • Aonung • Ronal • Tonowari • Rotxo • Ta'unui Olo'eyktan • Tarsem • Ta'unui Tsahìk • Popiti
Recombinants: Miles Quaritch (recombinant) • Lyle Wainfleet (recombinant) • Mansk • Prager • Sean Fike (recombinant) • Walker • Brown • Lopez • Ja • Zhang • Warren
Tulkun:
| |
Introduced in Avatar: Fire and Ash | Humans: Na'vi: |
Known recombinants | ||
---|---|---|
Recombinants | Brown · Ja · Lopez · Lyle Wainfleet · Mansk · Miles Quaritch · Prager · Sean Fike · Walker · Warren · Zdinarsik · Zhang |