Avatar: Here’s Why Iroh Went With Zuko!

Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the popular Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series is finally here, and we on Fiction Horizon are going to be covering the series, explaining all the changes from the original animated series, as well as some crucial story elements that you might be wondering about. The live-action series told us the story of Iroh and Zuko early on. This story developed over time in the animated series, but the live-action adaptation introduced us to them early on. In this article, we are going to reveal why Uncle Iroh went with Zuko in the series, and just what the nature of their relationship is.

Iroh and Zuko became very close early on

Avatar: The Last Airbender is known for the effort that the authors put into crafting the interpersonal relationships between the characters. And while the live-action series simply builds on that, it still succeeds in creating a world of its own, where known images have received a refreshing new depiction. The relationship between Iroh and Zuko was one of the best ones in the whole series, and the live-action series is seemingly doing it justice. In this section, we are going to explain the exact nature of the relationship between Iroh and Zuko.

Iroh is Zuko’s uncle, which means that Zuko is Iroh’s nephew. But, while they were closely related members of the same family, their relationship was much deeper than that, as they were connected by more than just blood. Namely, Iroh had lost his son before, and this was a very traumatic experience that scarred him significantly, which is only natural, really. Losing a child is always a tragic event, and we can fully understand why Iroh was so traumatized by this event.

On the other hand, Zuko did not lose a member of his family, but his relationship with his father was more than problematic. Not only was Ozai emotionally distant from his son, but he also abused him both mentally and physically, which scarred the boy. Zuko, thus, did not have a real father and was significantly handicapped in that aspect.

And this is actually how the two of them bonded. Iroh found in Zuko the son he had lost, while Zuko found in Iroh the father he never had. Iroh thus became a mentor and a father figure to Zuko, who finally had someone he could rely on without expecting to be hurt. This is how deep their bond went, i.e., how closely related they were, despite all the circumstances. Having said this, we can now discuss what happened between them.

Iroh chose to stay by Zuko’s side regardless of the circumstances

Namely, the path that both Iroh and Zuko chose at one point was a complex and problematic one. They both stood up to Ozai and were, as such, labeled as traitors. They did not support his tyrannical expansionism, nor did they support his homicidal quest for the Avatar; they wanted to stay out of it, as they knew they couldn’t dissuade Ozai from what he wanted to do.

Both Zuko and Iroh, at one point, found themselves outside the Fire Nation, away from Ozai, but at that point, Zuko decided to take his own path. Although the two of them had stuck together until that moment, Zuko realized that they should go their separate ways and left Iroh at one point. But Iroh did not fully respect his wishes, and he kept tagging along, just in case Zuko needed him at any point during his journey. This shows just how much Iroh cared for Zuko and it also explains why he went with him.

To Iroh, Zuko was his only family member. He treated him like a son, and while he was his mentor, he was also his father in a metaphorical sense, and that is why he decided to remain at his side no matter what.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!