Tenzin's relationships

This page comprises Tenzin's relationships with other characters in the Avatar world. Tenzin is a quiet and calm man with a great sense of responsibility toward the people of Republic City.

Aang
Tenzin was the only one of Aang's children who inherited his father's airbending. As the only living airbending master, Aang taught him, and Tenzin mastered the skill, earning his arrows. The two developed a good relationship; the Avatar even built a new air temple for his son and his family.

Tenzin respects his father and still misses him. When he was in his boat heading to Air Temple Island, he looked-up at Aang's statue with sorrow before solemnly bowing his head. When Tarrlok suggested that he is emulating Aang's past actions in the council, Tenzin quickly and defensively chastised him for being arrogant enough to think himself to be as good as "Avatar Aang".

Being a member of the United Republic Council, Tenzin feels a great responsibility for the welfare of Republic City and its inhabitants. His original desire was to protect the metropolis. This may have stemmed from the fact that his father helped to found the entire United Republic. If this is so, it shows how much Tenzin wishes to please his father, both then and now.

Katara
"'Hello, mother. I can't tell you how happy I am to see you. Please, help me.' - Tenzin to Katara in 'Welcome to Republic City'."



When Tenzin and his family traveled to the Southern Water Tribe compound, Katara was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her youngest son and her grandchildren. Once he arrived, Tenzin briefly bowed with respect to his mother. When Tenzin revealed that his family would not be moving to the compound as planned and were only going to be staying for one night, Katara appeared quite disappointed.

Kya and Bumi
Katara mentioned that Tenzin, while growing up, had always had a very different personality than his older siblings, the rambunctious Kya and Bumi. Tenzin, however, retained a more serious and calm demeanor.

Children
"'You must promise me that your teenage years won't be like this!' 'I will make no such promises.' - Tenzin speaking to Jinora in 'A Leaf in the Wind'."



As evidenced by Ikki and Jinora's reaction to Korra's accusing Tenzin of being a "terrible teacher", Tenzin has a very healthy relationship with his two daughters. They immediately hug him to comfort him when he appears crestfallen, and he is not at all surprised by their gestures. While Tenzin is sometimes frustrated by how his children act, he still loves them dearly. Meelo has been seen gnawing on his father's head, as well as falling asleep during meditation, and mistaking something at Tarrlok's party for a toilet. In addition, Ikki is very active and talkative, which sometimes embarrasses Tenzin, like when she makes fun of Tarrlok's appearance when he visits them during dinner.

Pema
"Pema, let me help you."

"Stop doting on me. I'm not helpless, I'm just pregnant." - Tenzin and Pema in "Welcome to Republic City".



Pema and Tenzin got to know each other at Air Temple Island, where she was part of the Air Acolytes that had moved there to learn the ways of the Air Nomads. At that time, Tenzin was in a relationship with Lin Beifong, but Pema fell in love with him nonetheless. Albeit shy and scared of rejection at first, she eventually mustered up the courage to admit her true feelings to him. Those feelings were reciprocated by him, as he broke off his relationship with Lin and eventually married Pema. Together, the two started a family which consists of three airbending children, two daughters and one son, with a fourth child on its way.

Tenzin is very protective with Pema, especially now that she is pregnant, and wants to assist her in any way he can. Tenzin holds his wife's opinion in high regards and they live happily together on Air Temple Island with their children.

Lin Beifong
"Lin, with so much on the line it would be nice if we could help each other out, at least for one night."

"Like old times?"

"Like old times." - Tenzin and Lin Beifong in "And the Winner Is...".



Lin and Tenzin seem to have a distant, yet professional, relationship. The two were romantically involved in their younger years, but at some point began to drift apart. Tenzin broke it off after Pema confessed her love to him. Lin tried unsuccessfully to get Pema thrown into jail afterwards. Presently, despite there still being some tension between the two, they seem to regard each other with respect, as Tenzin managed to convince Lin to release Korra after she was detained by the Metalbending Police Force.

Korra
"' You... you were right. I've been scared this whole time. I've never felt like this before and I don't know what to do.' - Korra sobbing to Tenzin in 'The Voice in the Night'."



Tenzin allowed Korra to stay with him in the Air Temple after disagreeing with Lin's decision of sending Korra back to the Southern Water Tribe. Having Korra stay with his family changed his peaceful life, and his obligations increased as well. Aside from protecting Republic City as a council member, he also has to teach Korra airbending and the spiritual aspects of being the Avatar.

Tenzin also plays the part of a father figure for Korra. For example, Tenzin prohibited her from watching pro-bending as she had come to the city to learn airbending. Although he eventually let her participate, Tenzin still kept an eye on Korra, especially in the final tournament. Tenzin also noticed Korra's fear of Amon and asked her about her real reason for refusing to join Tarrlok's task force, telling her that it is okay to be afraid sometimes. At her denial, he reassured her that she could tell him anything whenever she wanted. After the Avatar's encounter with Amon, Tenzin found her at Aang Memorial Island, where Korra finally admitted her fears. She cried and let Tenzin comfort her.

Amon
"'I believe you. I don't know how Amon has achieved this power, but this means the revolution is more dangerous than ever. No bender is safe.' - Tenzin speaking to Korra about Amon in 'The Revelation'."

Tenzin considers Amon a great threat to Republic City and is concerned about how the city would react to his revolution. Unlike Tarrlok, however, Tenzin did not favor any direct action against Amon, thinking it would escalate into a civil war.

Hiroshi Sato
Before knowing Hiroshi Sato's real personality, Tenzin never suspected that he could be an Equalist sympathizer. When Korra told him and Lin Beifong about the phone conversation she had overheard Sato having, he concurred with Lin that he had the means and a motive. After getting a tip about Hiroshi's involvement with the revolutionary group, he accompanied Korra, Lin, and several metalbending officers during the raid of the secret factory beneath Sato's mansion, where they were ambushed by the industrialist and some Equalists.

Equalists
"'... Republic City is at war.' - Tenzin speaking to Korra about the threat of the Equalists in 'And the Winner Is...'."



As a member of the United Republic Council, Tenzin takes the Equalist's threat seriously, though he wishes to see it handled to a point such that balance is retained between benders and non-benders. Tenzin first encountered the Equalists in the Pro-bending Arena during their ambush. He and Lin Beifong were attacked, both of them stunned by electrified gloves. Following the completion of their attack and subsequent escape, Tenzin declared that Republic City was at war with the Equalists. Days later, Tenzin, Lin, Korra, and members of the Metalbending Police Force ambushed the Sato estate after receiving tips of a secret underground factory in operation. However, the Equalists planned everything out and ambushed the investigating party. Tenzin held his own for as long as he could, but like his associates, he was stunned by Hiroshi Sato and left unconscious before they were rescued.

Tarrlok


Tenzin and Tarrlok are both councilors in Republic City. They have a contentious relationship and a long-standing rivalry, almost always disagreeing in every council meeting. When Tarrlok went to Air Temple Island in an attempt to recruit Korra into his task force, Tenzin was very hostile toward him and only reluctantly allowed him to stay. Tenzin and Tarrlok briefly agreed when they both decided to shut down the Pro-bending Arena. However, Tarrlok recanted after Lin Beifong intervened.