Of the amazing cast of characters that Avatar: The Last Airbender put forth, Uncle Iroh is one of the most interesting. He serves not only as the archetype of the supremely wise, bearded old man, but also as a form of consistent comic relief, and one of the greatest warriors of his time. He is a true master, a master of strategy, of war, of bending, and of life.
As the seasons progressed, revelations about his past, as well as his secretive dealings with strange organizations, added immensely to the complexity of Zuko’s mentor, guide, and teacher, the only man who could truly fill the father role that Prince Zuko was so clearly in need of. Here are (in a mix of wisdom and soldiery) Iroh’s best moments in the show.
The Mugging
This scene epitomizes Iroh’s entire character. When stopped at knifepoint by a potential thief, Iroh responds with curiosity and begins to criticize the man’s fighting stance. In a sudden move, he grabs the knife and shoves the man to the ground. Iroh then proceeds to teach the would-be thief proper form, then grants him advice that allows him to believe he can follow his dreams.
A combination of sage advice, surprisingly agile fighting skills, combined with an overall aura of supreme unconcern make this one of Iroh’s best moments.
Despair, Hope, and Inner Strength
On the run and stricken by poverty, Zuko remains obsessed with regaining his honor. The only way he believes this is possible is by capturing the Avatar. But when he begins to give up on that as well, Uncle Iroh is quick to step in.
“You must never give into despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road, and you surrender to your lowest instincts. In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength.”
While this scene was lacking in curtains of flame or hand-to-hand combat, it is one of the wisest and most inspirational things that Iroh has ever said, and so remains exceptionally powerful.
General Zhao’s Defeat
After a tense Agni Kai between Prince Zuko and Commander Zhao, in which Zuko scrapes a narrow victory, he shows a startling amount of mercy, ending the battle, not by scarring or killing Zhao, but by warning him not to interfere again. Zuko turns his back on Zhao, and Zhao prepares to strike a lethal blow to the unaware prince.
But Uncle Iroh is quick to intervene, not just blocking the blow, but completely preventing it – he grabs Zhao’s flaming foot, extinguishes his fire, and throws him to the ground. The ease and speed with which this old, fat man acts, especially against a younger soldier, is incredibly impressive.
Pride and Shame
When Uncle Iroh finally relents and decides to teach Zuko how to create or redirect lightning, a skill reserved for only the best firebenders, his approach is incredibly philosophical. He explains that Zuko must essentially find balance within, in order to allow the tempest that is lightning to pass through his body. He urges Zuko to let go of his shame, to which Zuko responds “I don’t feel any shame. I’m as proud as ever.” Iroh’s response is fitting with his utterly infallible wisdom.
“Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame.”
With these two short sentences, Uncle Iroh allows a rare and wise mentality to become available not only for Zuko but for us as well.
Azula’s Defeat
Early in book one, before Iroh and Zuko were marked as outcasts and sent on the run, Azula and Zuko dueled. At this point in the story, Azula’s abilities far outmatched Zuko’s, and after knocking him down, she began to draw lightning from the very air, intent on striking a killing blow. But, in a vein similar to the battle between Zuko and Zhao, Uncle Iroh intervened.
He grabbed her lightning-coated hand and directed the lightning through his own body, sending the blast into the side of a mountain. With the lightning having been drained from her, he delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to her stomach, sending her flying over the side of the ship and into the water. This was another moment where a far older, seemingly innocent and untalented man stepped selflessly into harm’s way and showcased power far greater than his opponent.
Destiny
When Zuko and Uncle Iroh are well established in the Earth Kingdom, posing as two innocent, powerless owners of a highly successful tea shop, Uncle Iroh admonishes Zuko for stirring up trouble, putting their peaceful life at risk. Zuko, hotheaded as ever, blows up, exclaiming that he wants more from life than a peaceful job and a nice apartment; he wants his destiny.
“What that means is up to you.”
Again, Iroh slams down truth and reality with just a few short words, easily curtailing Zuko’s obsession with destiny and the Avatar. But the concept he is expressing here is incredibly profound; it is the concept of free will, the idea that, whatever anyone else may say, your life is your own, and you can follow any path you choose.
Earth Kingdom Escape
When Uncle Iroh is recognized as a General of the Fire Nation, he is apprehended by Earth Kingdom soldiers. Naked and chained, his cause seems utterly hopeless. Until his quick wit convinces one of the soldiers to tighten his bonds, which he heated with a quick snort of flame. The soldier falls back screaming, and Iroh slides from the saddle, blasts fire from his feet, and rolls down the mountain, where the soldiers catch him in an avalanche.
But when they try to crush his hands to stop him from bending, Zuko makes a timely appearance and frees his uncle. Despite the odds of two versus five, Iroh swings his chains, shatters boulders, and flings rocks and fire at his enemies until they are no longer a threat. It is a moment that is a testament to Iroh’s prodigious talent as a soldier, a bender, and a thinker.
The Lotus Attack
One of the most interesting aspects of Iroh’s life is his involvement in the Order of the White Lotus, a group that is made up of elemental masters, a group that was instrumental in defeating the Fire Nation. The Order lays siege to Ba Sing Se, which was held by the Fire Nation.
While every bender in the Order showcases extreme skill, none showed greater talent than the Dragon of the West, General Iroh. He sent great balls and curtains of fire washing over the Fire Nation soldiers, overwhelming them almost instantaneously, all culminating in his poetic burning of the Fire Nation flag.
Who Are You
One of Iroh’s most impassioned and powerful speeches took place when Zuko, under the mask of the Blue Spirit, found Appa, Aang’s bison. Though Zuko is intent on capturing the beast, Iroh quickly grows angry, raising his voice for one of the few times throughout the show. At the end of his tirade, Zuko turns away, saying, “I know my own destiny, Uncle.”
“It’s time for you to look inward and begin asking yourself the big questions. Who are you, and what do you want?”
This moment was undoubtedly pivotal in Zuko’s arc of redemption. Not only did it directly lead to Zuko’s freeing of Appa, it definitely played a role in allowing Zuko to understand true morality and true honor, eventually allowing him the strength to join forces with his enemies.
The Prison Break
Of his many sage words and powerful action sequences, Iroh’s best moment is undoubtedly his escape from Fire Nation prison. Expertly playing the role of a desperate, harmless prison rat, he carefully built himself up, turning himself into an extremely muscular soldier, all while retaining his dignity.
And, when he deemed the moment to be right, he busted out of prison, leaving no trace of his escape save for the unconscious guards, the rent bars, and the deep depressions he made in the ground. “I’ve never seen anything like it. He was like a one-man army.”
