HxH chapters review will be on Friday this week, sorry for needing to delay it!

Iroh is the living embodiment of show, don't tell. He spends every moment of his life showing the better way to live instead of telling people how to live.

I love how the entire fandom calls him Uncle Iroh. He's everyone's Uncle.

"Sometimes the best way to deal with your own problems, is to help someone else." This line of Iroh from Legend of Korra is a great description for his own arc. Also a character analysis series is pretty interesting.

Even without the sound, just seeing that scene, where Itoh pulls Zuko in for a hug, after he asks for forgiveness, is enough to make me tear up. It's so damn beautiful

I find very interesting how Iroh's love for tea is a metaphor of the balance between the four elements. I found that analogy years ago. You set fire to make it in a pot (earth), you use water to boil and you breathe (air) when it's ready. It's a perfect combination for this interesting character. I LOVED this video and I really see him as a role model every day. Thanks Merphy!

Probably the proudest moment of my life was when my child said I was their Iro. I broke down a bit. Honestly...there's no higher praise and I'm happy I even come close to Iro.

"Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame." This is one of my favorite Iroh quotes. And like you said, Iroh is one of the greatest fictional characters of all time! It's just a fact. I'm so glad I've found someone else who sees him the same way I do. I love Avatar the Last Airbender. It's my favorite TV show, but it definitely wouldn't be without Iroh. Iroh and Zuko's relationship, growth, and journey were the heart of the show. Their reunion gets me every time! For me, that moment is the emotional climax. And I love that you brought up the parallel of Zuko begging on hands and knees in tears to his father and uncle. It's so freaking beautiful!! I'll never be over these two!!! 😭❤

I love Uncle Iroh, definitely top 5 favorite fictional character ever created to me. Even I’m trying to get a story started with one of the main characters being heavily inspired by Uncle Iroh. He just means so much to me as a person that I adopted his wise lessons.

another thing i love about iroh is that he is not always a serious character. most "mentor" characters are god-like and always very serious. but even though iroh has this deep backstory and so much wisdom, there's so many lighthearted and silly moments with him.

Something I like so much about that time uncle Iroh helped Toph is he didn't know who she was. And that little act of kindness and advice meant so much for her but also for team Avatar and the world.

It's baffling how well written Iroh is. I have made many mistakes in my life and as silly as it sounds, I always reflect on my actions and think about how Iroh would have reacted to learn from my mistakes.

I would absolutely love more of these videos, in particular Sokka. I think he's one of the best written "comic relief" characters and his growth throughout the series is just so great.

Important point someone mentioned about The Tales of Ba Sing Se: You see Iroh guide his "son" through each stage of life. He first helps a toddler, then a pre-teen/teen, and finally an adult.

It was in season 2 when Iroh breaks down singing.. The most emotional scene of the series for me

Does anybody else get teary eyed during this show in it's deep philosophical moments with Iroh and Zuko? This show is seriously one of the best shows ever made. So amazing. I loved your analysis of Iroh and my wife and I love your channel. We watch tons of your videos. Thank you for doing what you do.

I'd love to see a video about the actor, Mako, who played Iroh. It was his last role. He was pretty underrated and more important as an actor than must people know.

The most influential lesson to me that Iroh said was dueing his discourse between Zuko when they find Appa, "I'm begging you, Prince Zuko. It's time for you to look *inward* and begin asking yourself the big questions. Who are you and what do *you* want?" And later on in the Lake Laogai episode, "There's nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity. I suggest you think about what it is that you want from your life, and why." Hopefully, we all find those answers for ourselves and live long, happy, and prosperous lives💙

I feel like Zuko chasing the Avatar vs being the Blue Spirit shows the conflict within him of “this is what I have to be” vs “this is who I want to be but haven’t found how yet”. And I think Iroh sees that…and tries to show him the way Zuko is looking for even when he doesn’t know it yet.

Love Iroh!!!! ❤ Tales of Ba Sing Se breaks me down every time

The Grandpa we all deserve ;)

one of the truest depictions of unconditional love in any story.

Uncle Iroh was one of the many father figures I had found in fiction in order to help cope with my absentee one. This video perfectly captures and explains the reasons why this character, this man, so permanently left a mark on me. He showed me to be kind and vulnerable, to challenge the established "way" things are. He taught me to be a man of passion, a man who through teaching... learns himself, a man who through love gives others hope. He showed me and so many others that to be strong isn't a matter of status, wealth or power, but a matter of the heart. For those with a kind and noble heart are the truly strong. A kind heart is one open and accepting to the flaws and falts of others, and no man had more heart than uncle Iroh. Thank you for this video.

just a correction: Zuko says that Iroh slayed the last dragon before he was born, which means Iroh met the dragons while he was still in the fire nation army. Which means Iroh was always a gentle soul, but believed in the ideals of the fire nation, and what changed when his son died was the reality crashing down on him and changing his world view.

Once a month doesn’t even start to cover it, Merph! I watched ATLA because of you (you have quite the influence on me apparently lol) and I could watch your videos about it every day, honestly. If you did one a week, I’d be totally down for all of it! It’s an amazing show and you have really good insights, too! This is a combination that I could keep consuming for a VERY long time.

Iroh, was the best of us and the fact that he went through everything that Ozai did and came out the other side the man we all want to be. The father we all wish we had. His understanding to look for wisdom in all placing was transformative. He kind wise and compassion.

I feel like Iroh is one of the few fictional characters that have no haters. When i watched ATLA i couldn't stop smiling when Iroh was on the screen

I think witnessing his relationship with zuko is a crucial part of what makes him so personally endearing. That moment when he and zuko are reunited and he embraces him without hesitation showing that he was never angry and never stopped loving him, that single moment perfectly embodies the pride and acceptance and truly unconditional love everyone wants and needs from their own father, in all these precious moments with iroh we are zuko, we are that crying child, we are the street kids playing ball, and maybe some of us are lucky enough to have an Iroh in our lives he reminds us of, or maybe some of us are dealing with the trauma of an Ozai in need of the ideal paternal care that Iroh embodies, but either way he connects directly to our hearts.

This videos reminds me the phrase “You can only be peaceful when you ar capable of great harm, without it you are just harmless” Uncle iroh is a symbol to me, a representation of evolution, he could only understand the world after conquering anger and loss, he isn’t the greatest sage that he is because he was always perfect and peaceful, but because he was able to Beatle his most challenging and darkest parts and grow from them, rather than jus simply rejecting and ignoring it

I loved your analysis; I'd like to add the following In a way, Iroh is almost a surrogate avatar. After he lost his son, he began to really study everything. He tells Zuko that he learned his lightening bending technigue through studying the skills of water benders. He studies the art he already knows so well that he's one of the first to discover the true nature of fire bending in generations. Several acts of his, from his fire breath to his heating of his shackles suggests at least some study of air bending and his prison break is straight up earth bending philosophy. Even more so, we know he has a direct connection to the spirit realm. He sees spirit realm actions no one else can, but it's apparently also so famous that Admiral Zhao has heard stories about it. And as Tales of Ba Sing Se points out, he is a master at restoring balance. He's as close to an avatar as a non avatar can get.

I love Iroh. The part that drew me to him was the fact that he never gave up on Zuko. He felt deep emotional betrayal. Time and time again Zuko disregarded his advise. But he never allowed that to give up the hope that the goodness he saw in Zuko would die. And I feel like as a kid, that's what I needed. I had so much turmoil in my heart. And all I wanted was someone who would always see the best in me.

I literally only found your channel last night and found myself watching a ton of your Avatar content and reliving the show while procrastinating doing work as I'm in the middle of an all-nighter. Avatar is the show I hold nearest to my heart. You releasing this now has to be a sign for me to rewatch it again for the 27th time. Thank you and yes please more of these! P. S. I'd love to discuss Avatar with you or anybody here! I've given every aspect of this show so much thought over the last 14 years I'm always eager to talk about it. I'm still looking for an answer to the pole man in episode 4.

Iroh is such a complete person that it’s almost unbelievable that he is a fictional character. It also makes me realize how wise and morally aware the writers must have been to create a character like this. It kinda makes me want to meet them!

It’s insane how overwhelmingly emotional I get thinking about how much I love Iroh as a character.

Uncle Iroh is the father/uncle/mentor we all wish we'd had. I love the idea of more character sketches like this. And when you do Sokka's sketch, please consider that he had the potential to be the "Uncle Iroh" of the Korra series had he lived.

“Instead, he happily accepted the role of uncle, because that was the most important thing to him.” - When I tell you I burst into tears

Iroh is the best person because he sees himself as a POS trying to be better, just like everyone else. He breaks that mentor trope so well. He's not just the washed up idealist. He's the guy that went through it, he's been there. He'll tell you it's a bad idea, but he knows you won't listen, because he wouldn't have listened. So he prepares to soften the blow of your consequences as much as he can, because he knows what's about to happen, he's done it. He knows you have to learn your own lessons, and he won't judge you for that, because he had to learn his own lessons. Almost every other mentor, even if they have been through similar things, they don't act like it. They're always "holier than thou" and disown you if you make a mistake instead of realizing that they did the exact same thing and grew from it. He is a masterclass in empathy.

Wonderful, insightful analysis! I remembered Uncle Iroh is a mentor - who *does not* die! Probably because he's more than a trope.

my favorite Iroh quote is from LOK: "If you look for the light, you can often find it. But if you look for the dark, that's all you will ever see."

My love stems from the advice he gives. It’s not just proverbs, it has helped me in my actual life.

I love how in the tales of ba sing se each person was in a different stage of life, the boy(tantruming todler, the man(mugger, and the elder(flower shop keep). He was able to aid each of them with lessons hes learned on his journey. Then at the end he laments, not doing the same for his son. I wish the show runners gave us a scene of iroh reuniting with his son in Korra😢

Really hits different now that I have my own son. I never thought about how Iroh led his son down the path of fire nation supremacy. How he would have felt responsible. There are so many facets to Iroh, and you pointed out all of them and more I had never considered. Great video. I cried.

Iroh is by far the best character in all of fiction for me he is subtle, funny, and deep. He actually reminds me of my grandmother may she rest in peace.

You speak for me when it comes to Iroh. He's the best uncle ever.

Iroh reminds me of my uncle. He's a long time friend of my dad ever since they were 10-12 years old or so. My uncle isn't blood related but he is more than most my family as far as being there physically and mentally for me and people he loves. He's known me ever since I was born and moment when Iroh is joyous and funny are moments that I see my uncle. The moments that have me on the break of tears because I know that is what my uncle would do too with his endless forgiving love to those who he cares deeply for. For that reason I tear up everytime I watch the show all the way through especially the reunion of Iroh and Zuko because I see myself as Zuko if I ever strained away from the path I was meant to take.

I’ve met a few men over the years who could’ve been Iroh in another life. Very similar temperaments, goals, and to some extent pasts. Idk whether the writers based Iroh on anyone the knew, but if they didn’t I can only commend their writing even more.

This was an amazing video and I feel like you expressed so perfectly what uncle Iroh and his lessons mean for myself and others. I found myself tearing at points. Thank you.

He's that person we all need/want in our lives. A wise mentor, a steadfast friend and a loving family member who just happens to breath fire on occasion.

I'm a high school teacher, and I'm convinced the way in which I behave, my decisions... my general being as a teacher, as a mentor and as a person, is greatly influenced by Iroh (and by Kakashi). That phrase from Korrah, "the best way to solve your own problems is to help someone else", I keep this in the back of my mind everyday when I'm interacting with my students.

When I rewatched the episode that focused on Uncle Iroh, that part at the end when he made a little alter on the hill for his son’s birthday & he was crying singing a lullaby to his sons picture and the same one he sang earlier in the episode to calm the baby down I felt that because as a parent no matter how old your kid gets they’ll always be your baby and that shit hit home I cried too I’m not gonna lie and now as an adult I understand the meaning behind that episode it represents many people around the world that are broken but still try to live a positive life and keep on going despite the tragedies one has suffered it taught me to be kinder to people because you never know what someone is going thru life is hard as it is and that right there is beautiful much respect to the writers!✌🏽

I think it's quite telling that Iroh doesn't try to reclaim his royal title after the war, that side of his life he has now closed, he is still a mentor and advisory figure, but only informally. He is such a strong character and one on my list I have always wanted to give a hug (and drink tea with).

Let's go!!!! Avatar content awesome stuff merphy. Hope you and the family are doing well.

Legit teared up just seeing these clips and listening you talk about Iroh.

I'm always down for Avatar character discussions! There are so many layers to each character--they all pull their weight so much in the show without sacrificing their morals and personal truths. I've been watching Avatar since it aired on Nickelodeon, and this video made me think it's time for another rewatch. It never gets old--it's my favorite show of all time!! 💕That last quote that you gave for Iroh is my absolute favorite: "In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength." It usually gets forgotten once viewers hear the "find light at the end of the dark tunnel" quote (which is also good) but this one is just so utterly profound, I personally like it a lot more. Makes me tear up every time I hear it!

Iroh and whiteboard are among the best old people in fiction

I love Iroh and how he helped Zuko on his journey. I would love to see more character analyses!

He may have lost everything but he gained a new son in Zuko. Zuko loved, respected, and adored his uncle so much that he was greatly influenced by him. He was the father Zuko was denied. To the point Zuko own son(I think it was son I haven't watched LoK in years) was named Iroh. I'd imagine the day Zuko's uncle passed on was a hard day for Zuko and Team Aang.

The Last Airbender is such a universally loved series! I mean just look at their official KZfaq page. You should definitely continue these character analysis for team Avatar. (I recommend the master swordsman and boomerang bender himself next).

Yeaaaa, iroh is my favorite last Airbender character! He's so wise, humble, kind and just plain intelligent. But at the same time an absolute force of nature if you push him to it or feels the absolute necessity

I was tearing up listening to you talking about Iroh, would love more of these! Maybe about how Zuko has one of the best redemption arcs over the series?

What makes Iroh different from other firebenders is that he rarely ever goes on the offensive. Sure, he'll redirect his opponents attacks back at them, but the only times we see him ever going on the offensive is when he sees himself in a position where he has no other choice, such as when Zhao attacks the Moon Spirit. Iroh has learned how powerful and dangerous firebending is. He's learned to fear it and treat it with the respect it deserves. He only goes on the attack when he absolutely has to.

I honestly believe that Iroh helped me grow up to be a better person than I might otherwise have been. It’s partially because of him that I chose acceptance and open mindedness as one of my core values.

Iroh was written perfectly. He's an inspiration to us all.

Like Zuko, Uncle Iroh felt more like a father to me than my own biological one, and he isn't even a real person. What a great character. Excellent analysis, Merphy! :)

The fact that Iroh isn't just an old mentor figure who gives advice and helps Zuko but has his own story arcs and redemption journey really elevates him. While he's wise, experienced and powerful, he lives in the moment and experience the story as it plays out just as much as the other characters and not a know-it-all sage and prophet that predicts and plots the story. Much like Zuko, Iroh has to go on a redemption journey as well, one that he does not set out to do at the start but ends up doing it, which is very meaningful. Unlike Zuko who's a youth that has good in his heart but is misguided by both his terrible upbringing and Fire Nation's supremacist ideology, Iroh was actually an evil, cruel and ruthless warmonger that laughed while writing about burning Ba Sing Se in a letter to his family and only realized his own wrongdoings after suffering personal losses. And while he has become a wiser, kinder, more lovable man we all know and love at the start of the show, in hindsight he still has yet to atone for his sins and even though he doesn't like it, he still goes along with most of the evil stuffs that Zuko and the Fire Nation did and makes no effort to make amend since his only concern early on is to help Zuko. Despite being wise, he doesn't always see things coming and has to react according to whatever happens and so suffered along with Zuko as the story unfold. Iroh and Zuko's book 2 arc conclusions are sad but serve its purpose to launch them to the end of their redemption arc by destroying their attempt at leaving the past behind and live a new happy life, all the while not atoning for their sins at all. In the end, they finally atoned and completed their redemption arc by officially taking actions against the Fire Nation instead of just running away and hiding like in book 2, and not for self-serving reasons but for the greater good of the world, with Zuko helps team Avatar and Iroh liberates Ba Sing Se. Iroh has all the traits of an iconic old wise mentor figure but he is also his own character and not just Zuko's mentor and uncle. While it may sounds strange because he's old, experienced and is shown to be an overwhelmingly positive character, he still has to learn and grow up to be a better person, to find and shape his own destiny and redeem himself much like Zuko and that's what make Iroh so much more compelling along with his wisdom and personality.

I love the show and Iroh especially. He is so masterfully written. I especially love it because my own nephew was living with me at the time and we would watch the show together. I'd even go so far as to say Iroh and I were similar in age and my nephew was only a few years older than Zuko.

Nice!!! Iroh is easily my favorite Last Airbender character and way up there on my all time list. He’s awesome. Thanks, Merph!!!!

This show makes it so easy to hate the fire nation but Iroh proved that even in the most corrupt evil places people still have a chance for redemption and they can help redeem others like Zuko

Fantastic breakdown. I was lucky to enjoy this show when it came out with my young nephew. What a great example of a stellar uncle for me to take lessons from :')

Iroh and Zuko are 2 of my favourite characters in all media alone let alone as a pair enhancing each other, i have watched ATLA more times then i can count and still get goosebumps at "ITS TIME TO LOOK WITHIN AND ASK YOURSELF THE TRUE QUESTIONS, WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT"

Great voicework by Mako (and props to his sadly necessary replacement, too) certainly helped, as well. He expressed a lot of emotion when called for that, for me anyway, made it easier to connect and empathize with Iroh. Elevating him beyond, as you say, just another mentor character.

Iroh is SO unreal! My fav Iroh moment is after he is jailed by his nephew, Zuko. He's hurting, and he lets people see that. Finally, one day, he blinks and instantly starts reclaiming his power by exercising in secret. That moment really got me, and my feelings started flowing (I teared up). My second fav Iroh moment comes from the short story episode, which focuses on the supporting cast of characters. Iroh carries himself so well among the people of the city he lives in. He's happy to help each person he meets. At the story's end, he sits under a tree, pours some tea, and sings one of his son's favorite songs. It is one of the saddest songs I've ever heard. It's deeply touching. Iroh fan for life.

I don’t cry often, but some of the few things in the world that brings tears to my eyes almost always involves Uncle Iroh. The tree scene & reuniting with zuko are two scenes that come to mind. Uncle Iroh’s unconditional love was something I yearned for growing up because my parents divorced when I was young and I had no father figure for a while. It felt like I was getting that hug alongside Zuko. It felt like Uncle Iroh was missing me when he paid tribute to his son. And I needed that at a younger age. Leaves from the vine is a song that very often comes into my head when I am feeling down. ATLA is something that molded me into who I am, and Uncle Iroh helped me deal with some traumas that I didn’t understand.

Just hearing about the reconciliation scene makes me tear up

He is one of my inspirations, If I can be hald the man he was I'd be happy. Iroh was so genuine,kind,wise,goofy,fun loving, and sagely even while losing everything hes had, his son and his rights as a hier to the fire nation, he lost his status as a royal family (1st born of the previous firelord) and a high ranking general. Through all of that he never was angry bitter or violent he was always calm and happy.

The second time I watched Avatar I realized how amazing Iroh was and he became one of my favorites. And the third time I rewatch it I also realized how incredible was Sokka as a character and became another one of my favorites. I would love to watch a video as this about Sokka ♥️

I feel like Iroh means even more to me, because of how much I relate to Zuko's story... It took me years to finally break out of that angry and just terrified shell, that I got shoved into by an abusive father, and I'm still struggling with all that... Eventually I just decided that who I really want to be, isn't what everyone tries to push me to... I don't want to be my father's perfect child... I want to be the guy that you can sit down with, and who will offer you a cup of tea, and some advice.

I absolutely agree. We just finished watching Airbender for the first time. Iroh was my absolute favorite character. Like you said, he’s so unique as a mentor. Makes me want to go brew some jasmine tea now…

Zuko and irohs relationship is the best in any media every I’m loving the ATLA content

Iroh always been a great man even when his son was live, but he became an even better man when he lost his son. He got his 2nd chance with Zuko because he knew Zuko would be that fire lord that himself would be not like his own father and brother were.

Totally love that you made this video! I was lucky to watch this show when it came out with my own young nephew. What a great example Iroh was for me, a brand new uncle :)

To me, the Jasmin Dragon was a turning point. Here we have Zuko forced to confront that.. He doesn't know how to be happy. Iroh's clearly having the time of his life. If he could capture one moment of his life to relive again and again, it's right here, serving tea to strangers and making their day a little better. Ironically in the very city he had wanted to destroy.

Kinda interesting that an archetype character can take a curve ball in character development. That is usually, but not always, reserved to the main characters driving the story but iroh. He deserves it!

I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe Thanksgiving!

It's very fiting that in some of his first appearances we see Iroh warming up him tea and his bath with Fire bending, other accomplished fire benders will speak of Fire as an element of destruction but Iroh very early shows this signs of using his powers in a civilized way that leads you not to power but to live a better life

The line that makes me cry is when Ozai says to Zuko "Your uncle has gotten to you, hasn't he?" and Zuko responds with "Yes, he has." It took a long time, but Iroh's teachings did sink in and Zuko did learn from him.

tu has dicho todo lo que he interpretado de Iroh, siendo una persona que nunca tuvo una imagen paterna definida, Iroh me enseño todo lo que tenia que aprender en esta vida pero ser un buen ser humano y espero eso que viviré por sus enseñanzas

this is the perfect show for you to just dive in and analyze: everyone loves it, the options for commentary on aspects of the show are limitless, and most assumptions you can draw are correct and relevant to the story. like you could revisit topics nearly endlessly with this show.

" everything changed when the fire nation attacked" truly is true for everyone in the show in different ways. Everything changed for katara and her brother when the fire nation attacked their mom. Everything changed for zuko when the fire lord of the fire Nation attacked him (and when he realized a fire nation attack was going to lead to the deaths of his own people). Iroh had his entire life change when he led a fire nation attack on the earth kingdom capital where his son died. Every act of violence has ripple effects beyond what we can see in the moment

Uncle Iroh is wonderful, we need more characters like him.

The more avatar content, the better. I never get tired of talking about this amazing show

I grew up in a household with my father being emotionally abusive. I remember once that my dad and I were arguing and he actually said that Uncle Iroh would be disappointed in me. My dad actually thought that he was like Iroh in my life and it's hilarious to think that Iroh would have probably have had much more grace and patience with me

Iroh is Miyamoto Musashi. The enlightened warrior. He understand Tao, so he just flows with it, never against. As a warrior he understands the true essence of strength. He thinks deep of the world and low of himself. His time as a warrior is what builds him as a sage. The Book of Five Rings equivalent would have certainly be written by Iroh. I think that is what makes him such a great character. He understands the world and his place in it. The fact that we as spectators can learn from him alongside Zuko is truly something special.

Something I find very interessing about Zuko's deflecting his father's lightning is that he redirects it to the ground in front of his father and not directly at him. It is a small detail but to me it expresses in a very powerfull way what Zuko's says in the dialogue with the Fire Lord

I didn't notice until someone pointed it out, but the people he helps in "Tales of Ba Sing Se" represent his own son in different stages of life from a crying toddler to a young man.

... "isn't that the wife of that local photographer I follow?" Is the thought I had. And I was right. Small world. Good breakdown of my favorite character (who shares his name with my dog)! Definitely one of the great characters in media.

What I love about Uncle Iroh, is I have never once heard a bad thing about him. I truly thing the original Avatar is flawless.

I loved that show and I loved that character. Probably, because I relate a lot to him. Like him, I started my life following what was expected of me. It was a difficult path full of hurt, anger, sadness and resentment. Like Iroh, I had to hit rock bottom to start instrospection and finally examine my life, my choices. Slowly, I reconnected with myself and finally started to slowly live in alignment with who I really am💜 I always get so emotional with this show lol. It's an eternal favorite 🌸✨

I would love if you did more ATLA content! That would be awesome, I feel privileged to have grown up when this aired because it was such an amazing show with some many life lessons. I genuinely can’t think of a show now that’s on air that is teaching kids good life lessons like this, this show treated its audience with respect and didn’t hold back and I believe that’s why it still stands up as an amazing show today.

What a good summary of this character. Iroh meant a lot to me as well while watching the series. Binchwatching that is. Kindness and wisdom are such a powerful combination to have and behold. And you described exactly why that is.