Iroh is a major protagonist of the animated Nickelodeon series, Avatar: The Last Airbender and a supporting character in its sequel, The Legend of Korra.
Iroh also appears as a supporting character in the Avatar: The Last Airbender comics and will be the main protagonists of the comic, The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer (2024; with June)
He was the paternal uncle and adoptive father of Zuko, the former heir to the Fire Lord of the Fire Nation and Ozai's older brother. He used to be a ruthless Fire Nation general; however, he became wise mentor for his nephew, who he regards as a son due to the loss of his own child, and an ally of Team Avatar. However, he is best known for his team and wisdom.
History[]
To be added
Book One: Water[]
Zuko perceives a radiant light, which he identifies as an immensely potent source. Iroh, meanwhile is playing what appears to be a solitaire-like game. Zuko attempts to persuade his uncle Iroh that this light is the Avatar just as the beacon evaporates. However, Iroh remains skeptical, arguing that Zuko is simply witnessing celestial lights and advises him to relax and enjoy some tea. Frustrated, Zuko rebukes his uncle and instructs his helmsman to chart a course toward the dazzling light.
Later that evening, prior to retiring for the night, Iroh cautions Zuko that he could be wrong about the Light bring the Avatar. He encourages his nephew to prioritize rest over his fixation on the Avatar, noting to Zuko that his father Ozai, his grandfather Azulon and great-grandfather Sozin attempted and failed to find the lost Avatar. However,Zuko remarks that their honor doesn't hang on finding the Avatar like his does.
The following day, Zuko engages in rigorous firebending training from Iroh. He later forces Iroh to teach him the next set of firebending. Despite being disappointed in his nephew's aggressiveness, Iroh agrees to teach Zuko the next set after he eats his dumplings.
Personality[]
Iroh admits that back when he was younger, he was once ambitious and misguided; but would rather the four nations live together in peace and harmony. However, Iroh was still kind and caring, especially in the presence of Lu Ten. He never liked hurting people and was never cruel but he did admit that he once reveled in his status as the Prince of the Fire Nation. Iroh hoped they could see the city if he did not "burn it to the ground."
his son's death and spiritual enlightenment in the spirit world changed the former Fire Nation general. Iroh kept the secrets of firebending when he learned its true nature from Ran and Shaw, the last of the Dragons. As such, Iroh lied to protect them from being hunted down to extinction. He additionally found the finer things in life and wanted Zuko to experience this as well. As such, during his nephew’s quest for the Avatar, Iroh secretly wanted Zuko to follow his own paths and destinies. However, he did help Zuko because the Avatar, gave him hope, albeit in Zuko’s own twisted way.
Iroh was particularly fond of tea, the strategy game Pai Sho, and music. Iroh has also become kind, caring and compassionate, helping Team Avatar fight Zhao after he murdered the Moon Spirit. Iroh constantly guided Zuko during his exile and critical, character-shaping decisions. He had also advised Aang and Toph to great effect.
Powers and abilities[]
Powers[]
- Firebending
- Lighting Generation
- Lightning Absorption/Redirecting
- Firebreath
- Heat Generation: Iroh has the ability to generate and control heat.
- Hydrothermokinesis: The ability to heat water by controling its molecules. Iroh mainly used his heat generation to enhance the hotness of his tea. He heated up his tea in "Secrets of the Fire Nation", which alerted Jet of his status as a Firebender. However, after this incident, Iroh heated his tea with natural rocks and water. In "The Winter Solstice: Part 1", Iroh used this ability to heat up the water he was bathing it, turning the pools of water into hot springs.
Equipment[]
To be added
Relationships[]
Trivia[]
- Iroh can brew tea so delicious that it even garnered the attention of a Ba Sing Sei official, who gave him a tea shop of his own as a show of gratitude for his skill. In fact, Iroh blushed at being called the greatest tea maker.
- Iroh got his title of "dragon of the West" for two reasons: one, use the "Breath of Fire" technique effortlessly, and two, from him having supposedly slain the last two dragons, Ran and Shaw.
- He could fall asleep anytime and anwhere.
- Iroh developed lightning redirection by studying waterbending, making him the first lighting redirecter, followed by his nephew Zuko and Avatar Aang. He is the only person who is able to redirect natural occuring lightning.
- Katara later used a similar tactic to Iroh's lightning redirection During her deal with Azula, Katara performed firebending movements in her water bending. After Katara traps herself and Azula in ice, she uses Zuko's Breath of Fire technique, Katara used only her breathe to convert it from ice to liquid, allowing her movement.
- Iroh is one of a few known individuals who can both generate and redirect lightning, the others being Mako, Azula, and Lightning Bolt Zolt, before he had his bending removed.
- For the entirety of Book 1, Iroh always addressed his nephew as "Prince Zuko." However he occasionally dropped "Prince" in the title. As of Book 2, he just refers to his nephew by his first name due to his loss of title as Prince of the Fire Nation.
- Iroh usually spoke in proverbs which, in the first and second seasons, annoyed Zuko. However, in the third book, Zuko was shown to have regretted not listening to them and consistently referred to them after joining Team Avatar.
- The only known times when Iroh had ever been in the palace at the same time as his brother was during Zuko's Agni Kai against Ozai, and during the argument in the war room which caused the duel.
- Additionally, his appearance before Team Avatar left with Azula to search for Ursa was his first known visit to the palace since his nephew's banishment.
- Iroh was extremely passionate about tea, and was offended when Zuko said that all tea is simply "hot leaf juice"
- Iroh's great-grandnephew shares a name with him, and they both have been the general of an army.
- Since Iroh is Zuko's adoptive father, this would also make him Izumi's foster grandfather and Iroh and Izumi's daughter's Adoptive great-grandfather. It also means Zuko is his own cousin as well.
- Iroh is one of a few known individuals to transcend into the Spirit World following death, the others being the Kemurikage and the Painted Lady.
- A number of aspects of Iroh's character were inspired by writer Aaron Ehasz's now-deceased stepfather.
- Despite popular belief that iroh had no speaking lines in the first few episodes of Book 3: Fire due to his original voice actors passing, this is not true. The creators went on to say that stay intentionally kept Iroh silent in his first be appearances until "The Avatar and the Fire Lord."
Other Notes[]
- Several things to note about Iroh from his centric novels Legacy of the Fire Nation.
- He has been aware of his brother OZAI's brutality since they were teenagers. He knew that his brother was temperamental since their first game of Pai Sho together. Later, Iroh was temporarily impressed with his brother's popularity at school, but this diminished once he realized his brother's crude nature. Since then, Iroh kept his distance.
- Iroh used to visit Katara, Aang and their children on occasion long before Tenzin was born.
- Zuko wrote letters to his uncle when he was seven and long after Iroh died. The novel also reveals that the elderly Zuko seen in The Legend of Korra finally entered the spirit world where he and his uncle were reunited for the first time in 40 years.
- Each member of Team Avatar wrote letters to Iroh as adults
- Aang thanked Iroh for his wisdom, shaping Zuko into the man he is today and now he'll make a good Fire For with Iron's guidance, , and acknowledging him as an honorary member of his family over the years.
- Toph made hers short and to the point, where she compliments Iroh for his wit, tea and his advice.
- Katara thanks Iroh for his wisdom he passed down to her and all the years of friendship. She even made Sokka and Toph write letters of appreciation to Iroh.
- Sokka praises Uncle Iroh for his jokes but begs him not to make him drink anymore tea before asking
- Zuko, now an old man wrote his long after Iroh has passed, thanking him for his fatherly support and how much he misses him.
- Iroh is aware of the existence of the Red Lotus, even attempting to prevent its members, who were members of the Order of the White Lotus at the time, from leaving and still uphold its ideals.
Gallery[]
.jpg "1x10 Zuko and Iroh (The Winter Solstice).jpg (56 KB)")
.jpg "Iroh and Zuko (The Storm Flashback).jpg (43 KB)")
.jpg "Zuko, Iroh and Jee (The Storm).jpg (656 KB)")
.png "Zuko and Irohz(book 2).png (165 KB)")
.png "Iroh (Avatar).png (112 KB)"){kind=avatar}
Trivia[]
To be added
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Gen I: Aang (The Last Airbender - Netflix) • Appa (Netflix) • Katara (The Last Airbender - Netflix) • Momo (Netflix) • Sokka (The Last Airbender - Netflix) • Zuko (The Last Airbender - Netflix) • Suki (Netflix) • Toph Beifong Avatars Order of the White Lotus Air Nomads Fire Nation Water Tribe Spirits Other | ||