Iroh's relationships

This page is comprised of Iroh's relationships with other characters in the Avatar World.

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 had since deteriorated, going as far as saying that Azula "is crazy and needs to go down" (these words were oddly prophetic as Azula did go insane and was defeated in the end while she was in this condition). Although he did not seem to be fond of her, he did knock her over instead of using his bending to disable her, suggesting he still harbored some small amount of affection for her. He also attempted to speak courteously toward her after the long time they did not see each other, however, she did not seem to return the favor kindly and insisted him to be silent while she spoke to Zuko. Azula almost killed Iroh when she struck him with blue fire, and Iroh had 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.

Azulon
"'You dare suggest I betray Iroh? My first born?' — Azulon to Ozai when the son suggested that he become Fire Lord instead of his brother, Iroh, in 'Zuko Alone'."

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 toward his older son. Azulon felt Iroh's terrible pain after the death of Lu Ten and did not 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.

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 his son Lu Ten, execpt that they were close. They loved to play together during Lu Ten's childhood. In a flashback, it was revealed that Lu Ten died during the Siege of Ba Sing Se led by Iroh. The loss of his only son was so overwhelming that Iroh gave up on what could have been his greatest military achievement. It was shown that Iroh still cared deeply about his son, as he made special arrangements for Lu Ten's birthday. In Ba Sing Se, he made a small shrine for his son, and lit some incense. Next to it, Iroh placed a picture of his son, on which Lu Ten wrote that he promised to see him soon after the war. Iroh seemed to have tried to fill this void in his life by trying to be a father to Zuko, since his father largely ignored or acted abusively toward him and his mother could 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.

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 shown very clearly during the series. While the two neither met nor spoke with one another during the show, both of them have been clear about how they feel toward each other: tension and mutual dislike. Ozai unquestionably bore resentment toward Iroh for being the first born son as he desired the throne, and attempted to convince their father, Azulon, that Iroh was not a suitable successor to the throne. Ozai also held little respect for his older brother and often belittled and spoke condescendingly of him, a trait inherited by his daughter. Iroh on the other hand, while not fond of the person his younger brother became, acknowledged that he was very powerful albeit merciless.

Ursa
"'Azula, we don't speak that way. It would be awful if Uncle Iroh didn't return. And besides, Fire Lord Azulon is a picture of health.' — Ursa speaking to Azula about Iroh in a flashback during 'Zuko Alone'."

It is known that Ursa cared for her brother-in-law and publicly scolded Azula when she asked that if Iroh was killed in the War, it would mean Ozai would become the Fire Lord's heir. Ursa defended Iroh, going as far to say that it would terrible if he did not survive the War. Ursa was devastated when his son Lu Ten was killed in the Siege of Ba Sing Se and she instantly shed tears upon hearing the news.

Zuko
"'Ever since I lost my son... I think of you as my own.' — Iroh to Zuko in 'The Siege of the North, Part 1'."



Iroh has always cared for Zuko. After Lu Ten's death, Iroh began to think of Zuko as his own son, and cared for him like a father. Iroh supported Zuko in every way he could and was a constant mentor to the troubled boy throughout the entire series.

Iroh was shown giving Zuko advice on how to defeat Zhao when the two faced off in an Agni Kai. At the end of the fight, Iroh stopped Zhao from harming Zuko from behind. Iroh voiced his affection for Zuko when they traveled toward the Northern Water Tribe. Iroh showed great sadness when he thought Zuko had died and he later confessed his fatherly nature to Zuko by telling him he thought of Zuko as his own. Despite Zuko saying he would be fine, Iroh still looked genuinely worried.

When Zuko and Iroh traveled through the large Earth Kingdom, they had to rely on each other more. Even though they were all each other had left, Zuko left Iroh for a short time. Iroh was not seen again until he and Toph met and shared a cup of tea and some advice. According to Toph, Iroh would not stop talking about Zuko. Before he and Zuko reunited, Toph suggested that Iroh tell Zuko that he needed him too.

Iroh resumed Zuko's firebending training and taught him how to redirect lightning, but would not shoot lightning at Zuko due to the risks.

Iroh later decided that he and Zuko would be safe from Azula's grasp if they fled to Ba Sing Se as refugees. During their stay there, Iroh and Zuko worked together in a tea shop in the city's Lower Ring, and they lived together in an apartment. Despite Zuko's obvious disdain for his life as a refugee, Iroh remained patient and constantly encouraged Zuko to look at the positives. He went so far as to encourage Zuko to find a nice "lady friend", and prompted Zuko to go on his date with Jin.

When Zuko learned that Aang was in the city looking for his bison, Iroh encouraged Zuko not to go looking for trouble. When Zuko tried to capture Appa, Iroh stopped him and insisted that he had to stop letting others control his destiny, namely his father. This encouraged Zuko to instead free Appa and abandon his identity as the Blue Spirit, whom he was dressed as during the capture.

The two return to their apartment after Zuko freed Appa, but almost immediately after arriving, Zuko collapsed to the floor with a terrible fever. Through his sickness, Iroh was 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 started taking on a more positive attitude after he regained his health and the two were happy to work in their new tea shop in the Upper Ring.

Zuko and Iroh's relationship was jeopardized during the events that eventually occurred. Azula captured Zuko and asked him to help her conquer the city, which would earn Zuko his father's respect and possibly restore his honor. Iroh vehemently insisted that Zuko must do what his heart told him and not to give into another's demands. This failed when Zuko helped Azula defeat Aang and Katara and conquer Ba Sing Se. Iroh was later captured and was clearly ashamed of Zuko's actions. Zuko regretted his actions almost immediately.

During his time in the Capital City Prison, Iroh refused to speak to Zuko, who called him a crazy old man. In an attempt to calm Zuko's inner turmoil, he revealed to Zuko his relationship with Avatar Roku and that he could help restore balance to the world. Zuko eventually realized this destiny and joined 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 reunited prior to the arrival of Sozin's Comet, with a repentant Zuko begging Iroh for forgiveness. Iroh quickly forgave his nephew, stating that he was never angry with him, but was sad that Zuko had lost his way. Zuko affirmed this, but said Iroh helped him find it. Iroh later encouraged Zuko to take his place as Fire Lord, as he was the more suitable heir due to his reputation and what he had learned from his mistakes. He prompted Zuko to ask for help defeating Azula, since she would not give up the throne easily. Zuko asked Katara, who accepted the request.

Iroh's guidance to his nephew gave 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 were on much better terms now that the Hundred Year War is over, and the two were happy to be serving their friends tea together in Ba Sing Se after that city's liberation.

June
"'Uncle? I didn't see you get hit with the tongue.' 'Shhhh!' — Zuko to Iroh in 'Bato of the Water Tribe'"

Early in 100 ASC, June tracked a fleeing man who had stowed away on board Zuko's ship and captured him. Iroh developed an immediate interest in her. Soon after that, Iroh and Zuko tracked her down and hired her to find Aang, using the scent from Katara's necklace. They successfully found Aang at a nearby abbey. Once there, June was busy with an angry Appa. When Nyla was blinded by the perfume that Katara had waterbent, she lashed out in confusion, stricking both June and Zuko and paralyzing them. Iroh caught June and feigned paralysis just to get close to her and hold her. When Zuko pointed this out, Iroh tried to quiet him, hoping that June wouldn't notice that. When she heard this, you could clearly see that she was annoyed, perhaps even angry, with him, but she could not do anything about it. About a year or so later, when Zuko and the rest of Team Avatar come to June, to ask for he help in finding Iroh, she remembered him clearly.

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, Iroh aided Zuko in attacking Aang, and after that, they did not meet again for a while. Aang apparently did not hold a grudge against him for assisting Zuko. Aang found an ally in Iroh when they were defending the moon spirit from Zhao. At another time, 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 got up close and personal when Iroh went to request Toph's help in finding Zuko. While the two made their way toward the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Se, Aang tried to get advice regarding the Avatar State from Iroh. Iroh said that because power was overrated, Aang had made the right choice in coming to Katara's aid.

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 had 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 did not argue when they chose their tasks, only offering encouragement. When the Hundred Year War was over, Iroh seemed to have befriended the entire team.

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



Iroh met Toph by accident during her temporary leave of absence from 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 were shown later having tea and talking about Toph's relationship with Aang and the group. Toph resented being told what to do and having to comply with rules and protocol within the group. Iroh then compared her sense of self-reliance and independence with Zuko's. He then stated that "there is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you". Toph chose to acknowledge Iroh's words of wisdom and returned 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 were shown sharing tea with the rest of the Avatar Family in Iroh's tea shop, the Jasmine Dragon, in Ba Sing Se.

The Dai Li
"'Have you met the Dai Li? They're earthbenders, but they have a killer instinct that's so firebender. I just love it.' — Azula to Zuko and Iroh about the Dai Li in 'The Crossroads of Destiny'."

Iroh first encountered the Dai Li in Ba Sing Se when he and Zuko were tricked into coming to the Earth King's palace to personally serve him tea, unaware that the invitation was a bait to lure them into a trap set by Azula for herself and the Dai Li to capture them. Iroh in turn tricked Azula and the Dai Li into by asking if he ever told Azula how he got the earned the title of "Dragon of the West". With that, he answered his own question with a demonstration by drinking his tea and exhaling a powerful torrent of bended fire at the Dai Li. The agents lowered their heads and lifted their earth-gloved hands in defense. Iroh and Zuko ran away, the former still breathing fire at the Dai Li before catching up with the latter. Iroh escaped the clutches of his niece, but Zuko declared it was time he faced his sister, only to be captured himself. Iroh knew that that Team Avatar was in Ba Sing Sea and sought them to help him save his nephew from captivity, forming a permanent official alliance with Team Avatar and vowing himself not to allow Zuko to hurt or hinder Team Avatar ever again.

Aang and Iroh made their way to the Crystal Catacombs and rescued Katara and Zuko from their underground prison. Zuko asked Iroh what Iroh was doing in Aang's company. When Aang mocked him, Zuko's anger returned to him. Iroh withheld his nephew, telling Aang and Katara to join Sokka and Toph and that he and Zuko would catch up with the four of them to help them defeat Azula, Long Feng, and the Dai Li and save Ba Sing Se from Fire Nation conquest. After Aang and Katara departed, Iroh reminded his nephew that the banished Prince chasing and hunting the Avatar for his life's worth was no longer Zuko was and that Zuko was now a stronger, wiser, and freer boy than he had ever been in his three years of exile from the Fire Nation, revealing the time had come for Zuko to denounce the destiny Ozai had forced upon him and to choose to do what is right by helping the Avatar save Ba Sing Se from Fire Nation domination.

Azula and two Dai Li agents heard every word Iroh said to Zuko. The agents bound Iroh's hands and feet, immobilizing him. Azula drew Zuko away from his and Iroh's good side and towards his and her evil side. Together, Zuko and Azula, with the help of the Dai Li, took down Aang and Katara until Aang lay dead in the cornered Katara's arms. Fully changed from his days as the ruthless Fire Nation general and free from the clutches of Zuko to choose his own destiny, Iroh stepped in on the scene, there for no reason other than to help Katara escape. He drew the attention of their enemies, so that Katara carried herself and Aang out of the Crystal Catacombs to safety. Once his two friends were safe from danger and harm, Iroh willingly surrendered to their foes. Here at long last, it was the Dai Li who immobilized Iroh this time permanently and who therefore brought about his capture by the Fire Nation.

After Iroh escaped from his prison, he did not encounter the Dai Li ever again.

The Rough Rhinos
"'If you're surprised we're here, then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps.' – Colonel Mongke to Iroh in 'The Desert'."



The Rough Rhinos took it upon themselves to apprehend Zuko and Iroh when nephew and uncle were branded Fire Nation fugitives. Their first and only encounter was a small skirmish in which Zuko and Iroh easily and effortlessly bested the five thugs. Ogodei swung his ball and chain at Iroh. Iroh kicked the ball away. The redirected ball wrapped its chain around the foot of Kahchi's rhino. Iroh tumbled along the ground, dodging Mongke's fire blasts, and rose back up to swat the rump of the chained rhino. The rhino ran off, yanking Ogodei and Kahchi with it. Vachir shot a lit arrow at Zuko who broke it apart. Zuko bent a fire blast, which burned a hole in Vachir's bow, breaking the string. Mongke bended fire blasts consistently at Iroh who deflected them one after the other. Zuko stole Mongke's rhino, kicking him off. Iroh remounted his ostrich horse and rode to his nephew. Zuko jumped back on his ostrich horse as his uncle galloped by. Yeh-Lu rode in pursuit and threw a grenade at the ostrich horse. The grenade exploded ahead of the ostrich horse, but its riders rode through the explosion.

Zhao
"'I'm no traitor, Zhao. The Fire Nation needs the Moon as well. We all depend on the balance.' — Iroh to Zhao in 'The Siege of the North, Part 2'."



Zhao was a high-ranking and ambitious officer, originally a lieutenant, then captain, then commander, and finally an admiral, in the Fire Navy and Zuko's major rival in his attempts to capture Avatar Aang. Zhao and Zuko were constantly at odds as they attempted to stay one step ahead of each other in their pursuit of the Avatar. Iroh was, on the other hand, completely neutral in regards to their enmity.

Zhao showed Iroh much respect by bowing to him and calling him "Great Hero" of the Fire Nation when Iroh and Zuko visited Zhao's harbor for their ship to be repaired from damage. There, Iroh was wholeheartedly prepared to join Zhao for a drink when the latter offered him and Zuko and even urged Zuko to show Zhao his respect by accepting the offer. Zhao discovered the information that the Avatar had returned and decided to detain Zuko so that he would be unable to capture the Avatar first. This infuriated Zuko and in their subsequent argument Zhao mocked Zuko's plight, telling him that his father does not really want him back at all. Iroh consistently held Zuko back, trying to withhold him from the argument and remaining on neither his nor Zhao's side during the outburst. Zuko then challenged Zhao to an Agni Kai in which he defeated Zhao however, chose not to scar or kill Zhao upon his victory, and while he walked away, the latter attempted a dishonorable attack that was blocked by Iroh. Iroh urged a vengeful Zuko not to taint his victory. Iroh scolded Zhao for the way such a great commander acted disgracefully in defeat and told Zhao that even in exile, Zuko had more honor than Zhao. Before leaving, Iroh at that moment thanked Zhao for the ginseng tea.

Zuko entered into Fire Nation waters in pursuit of the Avatar, thus violating the terms of his exile; however, Zhao allowed him to pass. Iroh told Zuko that Zhao wanted to follow Zuko to the prize they were both seeking – the Avatar. Under Zuko's instruction, Iroh defied Zhao by continuing to head northward by means to distract Zhao while Zuko used the smoke of his ship as a cover. Despite this treacherous act, Zhao found no reason to dislike Iroh or consider him an enemy. Upon learning that Zhao was promoted from Commander to Admiral, Iroh was expressively neutral and replied, "Good for him". When Zhao vowed to attack the Northern Water Tribe, he took Zuko's crew by force to aid him in his assault and unhesitatingly offered Iroh to join them. Zuko ran to attack Zhao, but once again, Iroh withheld him. Iroh did not know at that point the identity of the Zuko and when asked by Zhao, he answered honestly which was that he knew only rumors. Before leaving, Zhao kept his offer for Iroh to join him on his mission. Zhao secretly planned to assassinate Zuko so that he could capture the Avatar without Zuko getting in his way ever again. To this end, Zhao commissioned pirates who were enemies of Zuko to destroy Zuko's ship. The Prince survived however and with his uncle's help, stowed about Zhao's navy by means to secretly reach the North Pole and capture the Avatar. In order to help Zuko guise himself; Iroh joined Zhao on his mission. Iroh lied to Zhao that Zuko was dead and Zhao lied to Iroh of his devastation. In the light of their Siege of the Water Tribe, Iroh toasted the Fire Nation and Zhao toasted victory.

As Zhao's naval fleet charged ruthlessly upon the North Pole sea; Zhao told Iroh how their siege will be one for the history books. Iroh urged Zhao to be careful what he wished for and that history was not always kind to its subjects. Zhao assured Iroh that the Siege of the North would be nothing like the Siege of Ba Sing Se. Iroh was a kindhearted man and retired former general, but he merely joined Zhao and tried to be a good warrior as he once was, not for the triumph of the Fire Nation but solely for the welfare of his beloved nephew. On the second day of the naval siege against the Water Tribe, Iroh reminded Zhao that if the enemy was not defeated before the full moon rises, victory would be inevitable. Zhao revealed his plan to kill Tui, the Moon Spirit, so that waterbending would die forever. Iroh angrily advised Zhao that the Spirits were not to be trifled with. Zhao acknowledged Iroh's fear of the spirits, but that did not stop him form undertaking his monstrous plan to eliminate Tui. When the Moon turned red and the Northern waterbenders visibly fell powerless before their besiegers, Zhao stood triumphant with Tui at his mercy. Team Avatar arrived to stop Zhao's evil scheme.

After Aang told the Admiral that destroying the Moon would hurt everyone including its destroyer and the absence of the Moon would put everything out of balance with imaginable chaos inflicted on the world, Iroh arrived supporting Aang's statement. Zhao calmly and casually declared Iroh a traitor to the Fire Nation, after a time of neutrality in his rivalry against Zuko, and admitted himself unsurprised at Iroh's treachery. Now Zhao's enemy, only because of the former's plot to kill Tui, Iroh angrily warned Zhao that he would inflict on Zhao whatever fate Zhao subjected Tui to and demanded Tui to be released back into the Oasis pond. Zhao agreed at first, but driven by his violent anger, relentlessly killed Tui and destroyed the Moon, to Iroh's shock. Immediately, Iroh attacked Zhao, incapacitating the latter's guards. Zhao was terrified by Iroh's demonstration of firebending so that Zhao's ambition evolved into cowardice. Fearing the old man, Zhao scarpered for his life. That was the last Iroh and Zhao saw of each other because shortly after this event, La sought revenge on Zhao for killing his wife, which sadly caused the evil admiral to die. Zuko tried to save him but Zhao just would not accept the help of such an enemy and no longer wanted to live after Tui was restored to life by Princess Yue's sacrifice.