Iroh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Avatar: The Last Airbender character | |
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| Iroh | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Fire Nation  |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair color | Grey |
| Eye color | Hazel |
| Age | mid 50's |
| Position | Firebending Master/Former Heir to the Fire Nation throne/grand Pai Sho master/General (retired)/Tea shop owner/wanted |
| First appearance | "The Boy in the Iceberg" |
| Voiced by | Mako 2005-2006 |
General "Uncle" Iroh is a fictional character voiced by Mako on the American animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The elderly Iroh is a Firebender, former Crown Prince and heir to the Fire Nation throne, a retired General of the Fire Nation, and older brother of Fire Lord Ozai. He now accompanies his exiled nephew Zuko in his quest to capture Aang, the long-lost Avatar, in order to restore the young prince's honor and right to the throne.
In July 2006, Mako died of esophageal cancer. It has been confirmed that another voice actor has been selected; although no names were mentioned, the new voice actor studied underneath Mako on a Broadway show they did together and eventually served as Mako's successor upon his depature from the stage show. The creators feel that Iroh's new voice actor really captures Mako's spirit and acting [1]. In Chapter 15 of Book 2, "The Tales of Ba Sing Se", the short story "The Tale of Iroh" was dedicated "In Honor of Mako."
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[edit] History
Iroh was the firstborn son of Fire Lord Azulon and Fire Lady Ilah. He was destined to succeed him as Fire Lord of the Fire Nation, but due to the mysterious events surrounding Azulon's death, and Iroh's abandonment of the siege on Ba Sing Se to grieve for his son Lu Ten, his younger brother Ozai succeeded their father to the throne.
Three years before the start of the series, an indulgent Iroh allowed his beloved nephew to observe a meeting of his father's war room, a mistake he would soon come to regret. In the council, Zuko spoke out against a General who planned to sacrifice an entire division of novice troops in battle as a diversionary tactic. Though Iroh silently agreed with young Zuko's assessment, the Fire Lord demanded that Zuko participate in a fire duel, the Agni Kai, for his insubordination. Zuko accepted, under the mistaken impression he would be dueling the General he'd insulted. However, because Zuko had spoken out in his father's war room, it was his father whom he had disrespected. Iroh bore witness in the audience when Zuko fell to his knees in the arena, pleading for forgiveness and refusing to duel his own father. When Iroh's brother badly burned his own son's face, permanently scarring him as punishment for his cowardice and disrespect, Iroh looked away, unable to stand the sight.
Zuko was afterward stripped of his birthright and exiled from the Fire Nation. However, there was one possible condition to restore his honor and throne and return home. Zuko was given a mission: find and capture the Avatar. The Avatar was a perpetually reincarnated spirit of the planet manifested in human form, master of all four elements and maintainer of balance between the Four Nations. This powerful being was the only threat to the Fire Nation's victory in its imperialist war against the other nations. Yet he had vanished a century ago, shortly before the Fire Nation's first strike. Three generations had conducted fruitless searches, and now it was Zuko's turn to be sent on a quest that seemed little more than a fool's errand.
Undeterred, Zuko sought to do the impossible, and Iroh accompanied him. The pair spent two years at sea, searching in vain for any sign of the centenarian Airbender the Fire Sages had described. Though Iroh was resigned to the futility of their mission, and wiled away his days with games, there finally came a day when a strange beacon lit the skies off the coast of the South Pole. When Zuko investigated, he discovered that the Avatar had reappeared at last. Improbably, the long-sought old man was actually Aang, a twelve-year-old boy recently woken from a hundred years of suspended animation. Thrown off-guard, Zuko underestimated the boy, who managed to escape his grasp. Zuko and Iroh quickly engaged in hot pursuit, tracking the Avatar and his friends across the globe.
As of Season Two, Iroh and Zuko have been branded traitors of the Fire Nation. After a confrontation with Azula, Iroh and Zuko learn of a plot to retrieve them and return them home imprisoned. After escaping from Azula's near victorious set-up, Iroh and Zuko cut their hair to symbolize their new life as fugitives unable to return home (perhaps the tradition occurred during the feudal era of Japan, when the cutting off of a topknot symbolized exile from one's home, as seen in the Japanese Muromachi period film, Princess Mononoke). The two are later seen taking refuge in random Earth Kingdom towns acting as homeless beggars. While Iroh is able to adjust to a life of simplicity, humility, and poverty, Zuko is not and Iroh soon suspects that Zuko has been obtaining items for their day-to-day life by theft. The older man attempts to persuade his nephew that those who maintain hope in the face of adversity are the ones with true strength. However, Zuko thinks otherwise and the two separate. The two are soon reunited, as Iroh covertly follows Zuko in case he needs assistance. When Zuko gets in over his head in a three-way battle with Aang and Azula, Iroh intervenes, as do Aang's companions. The six of them confront Azula together, but she manages to wound Iroh with a fire blast to the chest and escape.
After recovering from his injury, Iroh decides to teach Zuko the advanced Firebending techniques he will need to defeat Azula. He first tries to teach Zuko how to create lightning, but his nephew's emotional turmoil prevents him from making progress with the difficult art. Instead, Iroh teaches Zuko a technique of his own creation, to absorb and redirect lightning, which he developed after studying Waterbenders. Zuko soon demands that Iroh attack him with lightning so that he can redirect it, but Iroh refuses to perform such a dangerous test.
He is a grand master of the secret society, the Order of the White Lotus, although what the group represents or does has yet to be seen. The Order of the White Lotus has members spread far and wide across the world, even in desolate remote villages of the Earth country. He and Zuko sought their aid in avoiding the bounty hunters Master Yu and Xin Fu who decided to temporarily seek the two fugitives from the Firebending nation rather than pursue the Avatar and Toph. Since the people who protected him appeared to be of the Earth Kingdom, the organization of the group may itself be independent of any particular nation.
With the White Lotus Order's help, Iroh and Zuko are able to make their way to Ba Sing Se as refugees. Once inside, Iroh gets them jobs at a tea shop. During the episode "The Tales of Ba Sing Se", Iroh spends a day shopping in the city. In this episode, Iroh is displayed as a teacher as he grants wisdom and help to all those he encounters during his day of shopping. He later holds a small memorial service for Lu Ten, marking his late son's birthday, and tearfully noting he wished he could have helped him.
After weeks in Ba Sing Se, Iroh is given the chance to run his own tea shop, but Zuko has other plans. When Zuko attempts to capture Appa, Iroh confronts him and tells him rather bluntly to stop trying to live the life people say he has to live, and live the one he wants. He convinces Zuko to give up his alias as the Blue Spirit, and takes care of his nephew when Zuko is stricken by the negative effects of a mental metamorphosis caused by his actions. Iroh remains confident in Zuko, and believes that he will become the prince he was meant to be.
[edit] Personality
Easygoing and dryly good-humored, Iroh tends to treat his self-imposed exile as though it were an extended vacation.
Something of a hedonist in his old age, he's focuses more on the pursuit of relaxation and amusements than on the pursuit of the Avatar. He's particularly fond of a good cup of tea, the strategy game Pai Sho, and pleasant music. He founded a music night for the ship's crew, (among whom he is popular) where he both sings and plays instruments. He later displays skill at playing the liuqin, singing lullabies to pacify a crying child.
Most likely due to his love of tea, he has shown himself to be a partial botanist with knowledge of many plants found in the Avatar world. His morals (with the exception of honor) are slightly lax. however, as he once pocketed perfumes from an abbey. Iroh can be quite the lady charmer when the need arises. He also demonstrates a respect and appreciation for all cultures, a rarity for those of the Fire Nation.
Yet beneath this easy going exterior disguises a wise man experienced in the world, a formidable warrior, a crafty and brutal strategist and a powerful Firebending master. So impressive is his firebending that he has displayed mastery of lightning, developed a new firebending technique, defeated multiple Earthbenders and even a full squad of Fire Nation royal guards accompanying Azula with ease.
[edit] The Veteran
In his younger days, Iroh was a great General and war hero, once known among his enemies as the "Dragon of the West". Though he still commands a great deal of respect, he fell from grace with his one great failure. In a bid for final victory against the Earth Kingdom, he and his men laid siege to the capital city of Ba Sing Se for six hundred days. At one point, Iroh's forces even managed to penetrate the allegedly unbreakable walls, but were soon driven back. Iroh gave up the assault when his son died. While many, including Iroh, view this failure as a disgrace, Iroh believes he did the right thing, later claiming that he and his men were tired after the long siege. As a result of his long service in the military, Iroh knows many of the Fire Nation soldiers personally.
In addition, Iroh has endured other trials, including a journey to the Spirit World which has left him with respect for the other world and the ability to see spirits, and the death of his son, which may have initially motivated the pilgrimage.
Iroh is also the inventor of a unique Firebending technique involving the absorption and redirection of lightning. This technique is seen in "The Storm", "The Avatar State" and "Bitter Work". He learned the technique from observing Waterbenders, who use their techniques to redirect enemy attacks back at the sender. Iroh teaches the technique to Zuko, but does not let him practice it with real lightning.
[edit] Family
[edit] Prince Zuko
To his nephew, Iroh is a mentor, Firebending teacher, adviser, caretaker, and most simply, "Uncle." The tolerant and even-keeled foil to Zuko's impulsiveness and disrespect, Iroh tempers Zuko's anger with practical words of wisdom and a wry sense of humor. Though Iroh is a hard instructor, his merciless drilling in Firebending basics has served to improve Zuko's skill.
Due to his own status as a failure in the eyes of his country, Iroh has much sympathy for Zuko, and pleads that he not be so relentless in his search. Although he often teases his nephew, who impatiently balks at his advice, they care deeply about each other. Iroh even thinks of Zuko as his surrogate child in place of his lost son, and worries over him accordingly. In turn, Zuko deeply loves his uncle, and is greatly touched when Iroh indirectly praises him. When Zuko was once confronted with the choice of tracking the Avatar or saving a kidnapped Iroh, he chose the latter with little hesitation.
At first, both depended on each other in exile, becoming practically inseparable. However, as of the episode "Avatar Day," Zuko separated from his uncle to travel on his own. When Zuko and Iroh reunited in "The Chase," Iroh was severely injured by Azula, and Zuko became emotionally devastated, showing his deep concern for his uncle. Shortly after recovering, Iroh demonstrates to Zuko a technique he invented from observing Waterbenders on redirecting lightning-based attacks, but would not let him practice using it with real lightning, seeing the risk as too great.
[edit] Fire Lord Ozai
Though little is known of Iroh's past relationship with his brother, his present feelings toward the Fire Lord seem cool at best. Quietly disapproving of his brother's methods in war, he knows his brother is not a man given to understanding. Thus he is far more sympathetic to Ozai's son Zuko, whose punishment at Ozai's hands was far too cruel for his liking. For his part, Ozai considers Iroh a traitor for his recent actions during the failed invasion of the Northern Water Tribe.
Iroh is actually Ozai's older brother - their father, Fire Lord Azulon (son of Sozin), apparently favored Iroh and wished for him to inherit the throne. However, when Iroh's only son died, Ozai argued that Iroh should be set aside, considering Iroh had failed to capture Ba Sing Se (the Earth Kingdom capital) due to weakness and that since Iroh's son was dead, the bloodline would not continue. Azulon, enraged, threatened to inflict a great punishment on Ozai (the death of Zuko, according to Azula in another flashback), but mysteriously died before anything happened. Iroh was too broken to challenge his younger brother as Ozai was crowned Fire Lord.
[edit] Princess Azula
Princess Azula, Zuko's younger sister, Iroh's niece, and a Firebending prodigy, has been tasked with the capture of her brother and uncle, now considered traitors to their country. Vindictive and ruthless, Azula has no sympathy for her quarry, regardless of family ties, even going as far as severely injuring her uncle. Iroh and Zuko likewise appear to return little affection. While Zuko, despite his rough attitude and constant irritation, respects Iroh, Azula thinks nothing of talking down to Iroh and giving him orders. This attitude was present even as a child; after another victory in battle, Iroh sends gifts to both Azula and Zuko, but Azula quickly burns the doll he had given her. Iroh seems to see her as a spoiled brat with a shorter fuse than Zuko, but also knows that she is quite deadly in combat. He confides in Zuko that "She's crazy and she needs to go down." The only thing Iroh has in common with Azula appears to be their proficiency in Firebending - they are the only two characters so far who have demonstrated creating lightning.
[edit] Prince Lu Ten
Though initially not named in "Siege of the North, Part I", the name of Iroh's son was revealed as Lu Ten in the episode "Zuko Alone." Apparently Lu Ten fought alongside his father on the front lines and died in the Battle of Ba Sing Se. The picture that Iroh leaves under a tree in "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" describe him as a "Fallen General". With the loss of his son, Iroh collapsed emotionally and ended the six-hundred day siege of the Earth Kingdom capital.
After the death of Iroh's son, Ozai tried to convince Fire Lord Azulon to let him inherit the throne in the place of Iroh, who was his older brother. Because Lu Ten had been Iroh's only son (and only child), the bloodline would die following Iroh's own death. Iroh, likely emotionally defeated by Lu Ten's death, did not challenge Ozai's claim to the throne and came to see Ozai's neglected son, Zuko, as a surrogate son of his own.
A young version of Lu Ten is seen in a memory Iroh has during the episode "Bitter Work." They seemed to have a good relationship. Another memory in the same episode places Iroh at the grave of his deceased son, where Iroh states that he will meet with Lu Ten again. During the episode "The Tales of Ba Sing Se", Iroh goes on a picnic alone, and holds a small memorial for Lu Ten on his late son's birthday. The Chinese characters on the picture (洛將軍 得勝再見 忠心的兒子路騰), when read in the traditional right and vertical way, translates roughly into "General Luo (aka Iroh), we'll meet again after victory is ours. Your loyal son, Lu Ten." 路騰 ( Lù T'éng ) means "road to gallop over."
[edit] Fire Lord Azulon
Not much is known about the relationship between Iroh and his father, other than that Azulon vigorously defended Iroh's birthright to the throne after Ozai suggested to Azulon that he name Ozai as his successor instead of Iroh.
[edit] Relationships
[edit] Admiral Zhao
Iroh viewed Admiral Zhao, Zuko's ruthless rival for capture of the Avatar, as being less honorable than his nephew, ever since Zhao lashed out in anger after Zuko defeated him in an Agni Kai; an opinion which he shared with Zuko as a form of praise. Zhao himself outwardly respected Iroh as a national hero (while taking every opportunity to antagonize Zuko).
Zhao once offered Iroh a position as his General and military adviser when he commandeered Zuko's crew for an invasion of the Northern Water Tribe. After Zhao secretly engineered the apparent assassination of Zuko, Iroh even accepted so as to provide support for the (Still alive) Zuko, who was hiding aboard Zhao's own ship. Yet once Iroh was in his service, Zhao revealed a genuine contempt for Iroh's failure at Ba Sing Se and his reverence of the spirits. He ignored Iroh's sage advice not to trifle in the matters of the Spirit World, and in truth, doubted Iroh's loyalty. When Zhao threatened the Moon Spirit, Iroh turned traitor, promising that whatever Zhao used against the spirit, Iroh would return to him tenfold.
[edit] June
Iroh developed something of an unrequited schoolboy crush on the bounty hunter June. Reduced to a chuckling admirer in the face of her beauty and sneering insults, Iroh was not totally without guile. When she was temporarily paralyzed in battle, he managed to get close to her by catching her so she was lying on top of him while pretending to be paralyzed himself. He's since seen little potential for romance, aside from passing flirtations with the fortuneteller Aunt Wu and the ticket vendor at the ferry to Ba Sing Se.
[edit] Toph
When Toph temporarily left the team in "The Chase," she felt Iroh's presence and attacked him with Earthbending, to which he simply responds, "That really hurt my tail bone!" Apparently Toph apologizes, as Iroh is seen next making tea for Toph while he mentions how she is like his nephew, Zuko (even though he never names him). When Toph understands what Iroh meant by trying to do too much alone, they say good-bye and Toph returns to Aang's team. Iroh sees Toph again later in the episode when she, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko pin Azula in a corner during a fight. Distracted by seeing her again, he is struck by Azula's attack and is rendered unconscious for the rest of the episode and a small part of the next.
[edit] Trivia
- In "The Desert," Iroh's name was listed on a Fire Nation wanted poster in Chinese as 艾洛(Ai Luo). 艾(Ai) is the medicinal herb Chinese mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), while 洛(Luo) is a name of a river in Shanxi province. Mugwort are the dried herbs set aflame on the ends of acupuncture needles.
- Iroh's one true love is tea, and he gets very upset in "The Drill" when Zuko throws his tea on the ground and Iroh responds " I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea. But, it's just so sad." Also, Iroh is angry in "City of Walls and Secrets" when he complains that the poorly made tea of the shop is simply "hot leaf juice". When Zuko says that all tea is just that, "hot leaf juice", Iroh mumbles that no relative of his would say that.
- The sign in front of the shop seem to read "包氏茶館" (bāo shì chá guǎn) which means 'Bao clan's teahouse.' 包, probably the owner's lastname, means 'to cover.'
- Since "The Cave of Two Lovers," Iroh and Zuko are known as travelers Mushi and Lee. As a Chinese surname, Li (李) means 'plum,' which goes with the Mushi meaning of 'priest' because both are associated with the legendary founding of Shingon Japanese sect of Buddhism. However, because Zuko had been on a physical journey since his banishment and an emotional one since his mother's abandonment, Li can be 里 for 'mile.' Lee or Li also means 'Strength' in Chinese. Mushi is a Japanese word for 'insect.'
- Iroh is one of only three known characters in the series to have entered and returned from the Spirit World; the other two are Aang and Sokka.
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| Episodes · Media information · Guest voices · Trading cards · Video game Water Tribe · Earth Kingdom · Fire Nation · Air Nomads · Spirit World |
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| Characters | |||
| Aang · Katara · Sokka · Appa · Toph · Zuko · Iroh · Azula Major secondary characters · Minor secondary characters · Creatures Waterbender · Earthbender · Firebender · Airbender |
