So everyone is baffled about him being Zuko's father. That's what we know until proven otherwise.
Many think that by doing this Bryke spoiled Zuko's character - he having two lineages Avatar and Firelord and he chosing the good side even though his family has a history of being the bad guys. Or the fact that all his struggle from ATLA is no longer valid because of this. All this is wrong.
In my humble opinion Zuko was confused in more ways than one. He was even confused about his own father/family. First he starts as the father pleaser and then throughout the series he goes through such an emotional struggle that he doesn't see Ozai as his father anymore.
About Ikem.
Nobody took into account the fact that he could see spirits. The spirit of the Wolf.
Sure when spirits want to they can be seen such as when Hei Bai was seen by all the villagers whose homes he was destroying but as we also know from ATLA a few select people can see spirits even when they don't want to be seen. ( Iroh - saw Fang and Aang) So that rises some questions:
-What is Ikem's connection with the spirit?
-Why can he see spirits?
-Why has the spirit chose to reveal itself to him? Besides Team Avatar. He could have chosen not to.
That tells us a great deal about his character.
We don't know his background his lineage and we judge and some say he shouldn't be the father.
Frankly when I saw him trying to bring Ursa back with that sword it instanty reminded me of Zuko and his swords.