Iroh was once the heir apparent to Fire Lord Azulon, celebrated general of the Fire Nation and the infamous “Dragon of the West”. While little is known about his childhood growing up with his brother Ozai, one can assume that Iroh himself had some unusual influences upon him. Unlike his brother, he was a jovial man even during his siege of Ba Sing Se, joking in the letters and gifts he sent home to his family.
However, Iroh's life, and perhaps the fate of the world itself, changed completely when during the battle to take the great Earth Kingdom capital, he lost his son and only child Lu Ten. Iroh was completely devastated by his son's death, returning home shortly afterwards and putting an end to the six hundred day siege. During this time, his brother approached their father in a bid to grab the right of succession, an act which spawned detrimental outcomes for his family and Ozai's children. Though Azulon is shown clearly and vehemently protesting the idea of betraying his first born, somehow Ozai does indeed become Fire Lord after his father's death and Iroh is seen never attempting to take back his birth right.
(Note: Never stated, but popular fan theory believes that Iroh willingly abdicated his crown to Ozai by virtue of Ozai having a lineage to bequeath to the throne. This is the headcanon I'm going with.)
Fast forward several years later.
Ozai has banished Zuko, the crown prince, and has sent him on the believed to be wild goose chase of finding and capturing the Avatar. Iroh accompanies his conflicted nephew into his exile, acting as an advisor and father-figure to Zuko. Through out the first book, Iroh often grates against his nephew's zealotry for regaining his father's love and his honor by capturing Aang, but never waivers in supporting Zuko emotionally and physically whenever he can. Going so far as to help Zuko sneak aboard General Zhao's invasion fleet as they try to conquer the Northern Water Tribe. However, General Zhao's blind ambition nearly destroys the delicate spiritual balance of the world when he kills the Moon Spirit. Iroh, enraged at Zhao's carelessness and greed, attacks him. He is branded a traitor and the reason for the failure of the invasion.
Book Two finds Iroh and Zuko as wanted criminals, dodging the Fire Nation by hiding amongst the thousands of refugees migrating to Omashu and Ba Sing Se. As Zuko's bugfuck crazy sister Azula enters the story, Iroh decides to try and teach Zuko more advanced Firebending techniques for confrontation between brother and sister was inevitable. Eventually, they settle in Ba Sing Se under aliases and Iroh's adoration for the tea making arts lands them a comfortable life as proprietors of a tea shop. For a while, Zuko seemed like he was content with his new life till Azula showed up. Azula capitalizes on Zuko's desire for his father's love and approval and Zuko betrays Iroh in the caverns below Ba Sing Se as Iroh tries to protect the Avatar and Katara.
Book Three has Iroh in prison for defending the Avatar. Zuko's betrayal leaves a wide rift between them, Iroh refusing to speak to him when he is visited in prison. While in jail, Iroh feigns mental feebleness, fooling his guards into believing him harmless and broken. Behind their backs and under their noses, Iroh begins to exercise and work out to the point that he has to stuff his clothes to keep up the guise of his large belly. Whither this trim down was purely for the purpose of preparing to escape or a means of keeping his sanity while locked up remains debatable. During the Day of Black Sun, Iroh escapes and is not seen till near the very end of season when Zuko and the Avatar's group joins the Order of the White Lotus's camp outside Ba Sing Se. Iroh and Zuko reunite and Zuko begs for forgiveness, which his uncle gives without hesitation. Later on, as Zuko moves to stop Azula and Aang “Pheonix King Ozai”, Iroh and the White Lotus liberate Ba Sing Se from Fire Nation occupation.
The finale shows the cast relaxing at Iroh's tea shop.
Re: Iroh | Avatar the Last Airbender | Reapp
Iroh was once the heir apparent to Fire Lord Azulon, celebrated general of the Fire Nation and the infamous “Dragon of the West”. While little is known about his childhood growing up with his brother Ozai, one can assume that Iroh himself had some unusual influences upon him. Unlike his brother, he was a jovial man even during his siege of Ba Sing Se, joking in the letters and gifts he sent home to his family.
However, Iroh's life, and perhaps the fate of the world itself, changed completely when during the battle to take the great Earth Kingdom capital, he lost his son and only child Lu Ten. Iroh was completely devastated by his son's death, returning home shortly afterwards and putting an end to the six hundred day siege. During this time, his brother approached their father in a bid to grab the right of succession, an act which spawned detrimental outcomes for his family and Ozai's children. Though Azulon is shown clearly and vehemently protesting the idea of betraying his first born, somehow Ozai does indeed become Fire Lord after his father's death and Iroh is seen never attempting to take back his birth right.
(Note: Never stated, but popular fan theory believes that Iroh willingly abdicated his crown to Ozai by virtue of Ozai having a lineage to bequeath to the throne. This is the headcanon I'm going with.)
Fast forward several years later.
Ozai has banished Zuko, the crown prince, and has sent him on the believed to be wild goose chase of finding and capturing the Avatar. Iroh accompanies his conflicted nephew into his exile, acting as an advisor and father-figure to Zuko. Through out the first book, Iroh often grates against his nephew's zealotry for regaining his father's love and his honor by capturing Aang, but never waivers in supporting Zuko emotionally and physically whenever he can. Going so far as to help Zuko sneak aboard General Zhao's invasion fleet as they try to conquer the Northern Water Tribe. However, General Zhao's blind ambition nearly destroys the delicate spiritual balance of the world when he kills the Moon Spirit. Iroh, enraged at Zhao's carelessness and greed, attacks him. He is branded a traitor and the reason for the failure of the invasion.
Book Two finds Iroh and Zuko as wanted criminals, dodging the Fire Nation by hiding amongst the thousands of refugees migrating to Omashu and Ba Sing Se. As Zuko's bugfuck crazy sister Azula enters the story, Iroh decides to try and teach Zuko more advanced Firebending techniques for confrontation between brother and sister was inevitable. Eventually, they settle in Ba Sing Se under aliases and Iroh's adoration for the tea making arts lands them a comfortable life as proprietors of a tea shop. For a while, Zuko seemed like he was content with his new life till Azula showed up. Azula capitalizes on Zuko's desire for his father's love and approval and Zuko betrays Iroh in the caverns below Ba Sing Se as Iroh tries to protect the Avatar and Katara.
Book Three has Iroh in prison for defending the Avatar. Zuko's betrayal leaves a wide rift between them, Iroh refusing to speak to him when he is visited in prison. While in jail, Iroh feigns mental feebleness, fooling his guards into believing him harmless and broken. Behind their backs and under their noses, Iroh begins to exercise and work out to the point that he has to stuff his clothes to keep up the guise of his large belly. Whither this trim down was purely for the purpose of preparing to escape or a means of keeping his sanity while locked up remains debatable. During the Day of Black Sun, Iroh escapes and is not seen till near the very end of season when Zuko and the Avatar's group joins the Order of the White Lotus's camp outside Ba Sing Se. Iroh and Zuko reunite and Zuko begs for forgiveness, which his uncle gives without hesitation. Later on, as Zuko moves to stop Azula and Aang “Pheonix King Ozai”, Iroh and the White Lotus liberate Ba Sing Se from Fire Nation occupation.
The finale shows the cast relaxing at Iroh's tea shop.