Iroh's relationships

This page comprises of Iroh's relationships with other characters in the series.

Azulon
"You dare suggest I betray Iroh? My first born?" - Azulon to Ozai in Zuko Alone when Ozai suggests that he become Fire Lord instead of his brother, Iroh

Little is known or shown on how Iroh got along with his father. It is known that Azulon was a fierce defender of Iroh's birthright and thus felt outraged when Ozai suggested that Iroh should be stripped of it due to Lu Ten's death, further suggesting the favoritism towards his older son. Azulon felt Iroh's terrible pain after the death of Lu Ten and didn't seem that angry at his son after he abandoned the Siege of Ba Sing Se. Iroh never attended his father's funeral as he was still on his way home.

Ozai
"I've never known my brother to regret anything." - Iroh to Zuko about Ozai in The Avatar State

Iroh's relationship with his brother was never given much clearing during the series. While the two neither met nor spoke with one another during the series, both of them have been clear about how they feel towards each other: tension and mutual dislike. Ozai definitely bore resentment towards Iroh for being the first born son as he desired the throne, and attempted to convince their father, Azulon, that Iroh wasn't a suitable successor to the throne. Ozai also held little respect for his older brother and often belittled and spoke condescendingly about him, a trait he passed on to his daughter. Iroh on the other hand, while obviously not fond of the person his younger brother became, acknowledged that he was very powerful albeit merciless. It is possible that they may have never had much of a close relationship due to the apparently rather large age gap between them.

Someone carry on

Lu Ten
"My beloved Lu Ten, I will see you again." - Iroh remembering Lu Ten during a flashback in Bitter Work



Not much is known about Iroh's relationship with Lu Ten, except that they were close. They loved to play together during Lu Ten's childhood. In a "Zuko Alone" flashback, it is revealed that Lu Ten died during Iroh's Siege of Ba Sing Se. The loss of his only son was so overwhelming that Iroh gave up on what could have been his greatest military achievement. In "The Tales of Ba Sing Se", it is shown that Iroh still cares deeply about his son, as he makes special arrangements for Lu Ten's birthday. He makes a small shrine for his son, and lights some incense. Next to it, Iroh places a picture of his son, on which Lu Ten wrote that he promised to see him soon after the war. Iroh seems to have tried to fill this void in his life by trying to be a father to Zuko, since his father largely ignores or acts abusively toward him and his mother can no longer raise him.

Iroh should traditionally have become Fire Lord after Azulon's death, and Lu Ten would have succeeded Iroh had he not died in battle.

Zuko
"Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you." - Iroh to Zhao in The Southern Air Temple after a defeated Zhao tries to attack Zuko from behind



Iroh has always cared for Zuko. After Lu Ten's death, Iroh begins thinking of Zuko as his own son, and cares for him like a father. Iroh supports Zuko in every way he can and is a constant mentor to the troubled boy throughout the entire series.

In season 1 Iroh can be seen throughout episodes showing caring affection towards his nephew. During The Southern Air Temple, at the Agni Kai of Zuko and Zhao, Iroh is shown giving Zuko advice on how to defeat Zhao. At the end of the fight, Iroh stops Zhao from harming Zuko from behind. Iroh's affection to Zuko becomes clear in the Northern Water Tribe Episodes. In the episode, "The Waterbending Master", Iroh showed great sadness when he thought Zuko had died. During The Siege of the North, Part 1, Iroh confesses his fatherly nature to Zuko by telling him he thinks of Zuko as a son, and reminding him to remember his breath of fire, and to keep his hood up. Despite Zuko saying "he'll be fine", Iroh still looks worried.

Someone expand Season 1

In season two, Zuko and Iroh have to rely on each other more, because of Azula. Even though they are all each other has left, Zuko leaves Iroh for a short time, at the end of "Avatar Day". Iroh is not seen again until "The Chase", when he and Toph meet and have tea. According to Toph in "The Ember Island Players", Iroh wouldn't stop talking about Zuko. Before he and Zuko reunite, Toph suggests that Iroh tell Zuko that he needs him too.

During "Bitter Work", Iroh resumes Zuko's Firebending training and teaches him how to redirect lightning, but wouldn't shoot lightning at Zuko due to the risks.

Iroh later decides that he and Zuko will be safe from Azula's grasp if they flee to Ba Sing Se as refugees. During their stay there, Iroh and Zuko work together in a tea shop in the city's Lower Ring, and they live together in an apartment. Despite Zuko's obvious disdain for his life as a refugee, Iroh remains patient and constantly encourages Zuko to look at the positives. He goes so far as to encourage Zuko to find a nice "lady friend", and prompts Zuko to go on his date with Jin.

When Zuko learns that Aang is in the city looking for his bison, Iroh encourages Zuko not to go looking for trouble. When Zuko tries to capture Appa, Iroh stops him and insists that he has to stop letting others control his destiny, namely his father. This encourages Zuko to instead free Appa and abandon his identity as the Blue Spirit, whom he was dressed as during the capture.

In "The Earth King" the two return to their apartment after Zuko frees Appa, but almost immediately after arriving Zuko collapses to the floor with a terrible fever. Through his sickness, Iroh is by Zuko's side day and night to comfort him and care for him, knowing that his spirit would be cleansed as a result of his better decisions. Zuko starts taking on a more positive attitude after he regains his health and the two are happy to work in their new tea shop in the Upper Ring.

Zuko and Iroh's relationship is jeopardized during the events of "The Crossroads of Destiny". Azula captures Zuko and asks him to help her conquer the city, which would earn Zuko his father's respect and possibly restore his honor. Iroh vehemently insists that Zuko must do what his heart tells him and not to give into another's demands. This fails when Zuko helps Azula defeat Aang and Katara and conquer Ba Sing Se. Iroh is later captured and is clearly ashamed of Zuko's actions. Zuko regrets his actions almost immediately.

Throughout book three, Iroh refuses to speak to Zuko while in prison, and Zuko calls him a crazy old man. In an attempt to calm Zuko's inner turmoil, he reveals to Zuko his relationship with Avatar Roku and that he can help restore balance to the world. Zuko eventually realizes this destiny and joins Aang in his fight against the Fire Nation, but was too late to reconcile with Iroh, who had fled from prison during the solar eclipse.

Iroh and Zuko finally reunite prior to the arrival of Sozin's Comet, with a repentant Zuko begging Iroh for forgiveness. Iroh quickly forgives his nephew, stating that he was never angry with Zuko, but was sad that Zuko had lost his way. Zuko affirms this, but says Iroh helped him find it. Iroh later encourages Zuko to take his place as Fire Lord, as he is the more suitable heir due to his reputation and what he has learned from his mistakes. He prompts Zuko to ask for help defeating Azula, since she would not give up the throne easily, and Katara accepts Zuko's request.

Iroh's guidance to his nephew gives Zuko the strength needed to defeat Azula and to claim his rightful place as Fire Lord, and the desire to restore peace and unity to the divided world. Zuko and Iroh are on much better terms now that the War is over, and the two are happy to be serving their friends tea together in Ba Sing Se after that city's liberation.

Azula
"She's crazy, and she needs to go down." - Iroh speaking to Zuko about Azula in Bitter Work



Little is known about Iroh's relationship with Azula. While it was shown that Iroh cared for Azula when she was little, as seen when he sent her a doll from The Siege of Ba Sing Se, that attachment has since deteriorated, going as far as saying that Azula "is crazy and needs to go down" (these words are oddly prophetic as Azula does go insane and is defeated in the end). Azula almost killed Iroh when she struck him with blue fire in "The Chase", and Iroh has constantly advised Zuko not to give in to her deceit and selfish demands. It was he who insisted that Zuko face her one final time so that he could claim his rightful title as Fire Lord. It is unknown what his feelings are about Azula's current mental state.

Toph Bei Fong

 * "I met him in the woods once and knocked him down. Then he gave me tea and very good advice." - Toph to Team Avatar in The Crossroads of Destiny



Iroh met Toph by accident in "The Chase", during her temporary leave of Team Avatar. Alone in the woods, she felt someone move behind a large boulder. She quickly assumed her Earthbending stance and launched a preemptive attack on an unsuspecting Iroh, whose only response was complaining of a sharp pain in his "tailbone". They are shown later having tea and talking about Toph's relationship with Aang and the group. Toph resents being told what to do and having to comply with rules and protocol within the group. Iroh then compares her sense of self -reliance and independence with Zuko's. He then states that "there is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you". Toph chose to acknowledge Iroh's words of wisdom and return to help the gang. Having earned her trust, Iroh came to her for help when Zuko was captured in Ba Sing Se.

At the close of the series, they are shown sharing tea with the rest of the Avatar Family in their house in the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se. It is safe to assume the two are still friends.

Aang

 * "So, Toph thinks you give pretty good advice, and great tea." - Aang to Iroh in The Crossroads of Destiny



There never was much interaction between Aang and Iroh. During the first time they met, in the series premiere, Iroh aided Zuko in attacking Aang, and after that, they didn't meet again for a while. Aang apparently didn't hold a grudge against him for assisting Zuko. Aang found an ally in Iroh during The Siege of the North, Part 2 when they were defending the moon spirit from Zhao. During "The Chase", Iroh helped out all of Team Avatar when they cornered Azula, but Iroh was hit by Azula's blue fire anyway. Iroh and Aang finally get up close and personal in "The Crossroads of Destiny", when Iroh went to request Toph's help in finding Zuko. While the two made their way towards the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Se, Aang tried to get advice regarding the Avatar State from Iroh. Iroh said that because power is overrated, Aang had made the right choice in coming to Katara's help.

Team Avatar

 * "Goodbye, everyone. Today, destiny is our friend. I know it." - Iroh to Team Avatar in Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters



Other than Aang, Zuko, and Toph, Iroh has had little real interaction with the rest of Team Avatar. Naturally, they were enemies while Zuko pursued the group, but as Zuko gradually changed his ways, Iroh came to respect the group more and more. He never actually fought them in direct combat, and thus few hard feelings exist between him and the other members. He sought the team's help to save Zuko from Azula in Ba Sing Se, as she had also captured Katara. He saved Aang and Katara's lives when Azula and Zuko tried to finish them off. Iroh later helped the team to determine how they should assist in Ozai's final defeat when Sozin's Comet arrived. It is clear that he respected all of their abilities, as he didn't argue when they chose their tasks, only offering encouragement. When the War is over, Iroh seems to have befriended the entire team.