Talk:Iroh/@comment-3278061-20110928165231/@comment-4522016-20111016123345

Hmm. I do see your point - and I really wanted to see more firebending from Iroh too, but I think the writers had more in store for Iroh aside from showing his firebending prowess. His main role was to support his nephew, and later, help Team Avatar.

Also, Iroh mostly used firebending in defense only - and even then, he really had to be in danger. When he battled Zhao's men at the North Pole, he made very short work of them. He used short fireblasts, but his ferocity was enough to make Zhao back down, and Zhao was an accomplished firebender himself. From what I've seen on the series, he tended to use firebending in combination with hand-to-hand combat. He was also able to quickly subdue Azula when she tried to take him and Zuko prisoner.

I guess it is possible that Iroh was not as powerfull as is "implied" in the series, but somehow I don't think that is likely. It's more likely that the writers wanted to convey that Iroh did only what was necessary, and that he was not interested in huge displays of his firebending. Just my take on it.