The Philosophy of Uncle Iroh: What does it mean to be a man? | The Last Airbender
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![Avatar: A Study in Worldbuilding - the Fire Nation [ The Last Airbender ]](/img/n.gif)
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Can u please make a vid on the Dragon prince season 3
"Sometimes the best way to help yourself...is to help someone else."-Iroh
:(
Can't wait for the charity stream!
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"Your uncle has gotten to you, hasn't he?"
"Yes, he has."
You forgot to add that he smiles as he said "Yes, he has"
Maybe he pass down the ways of tea and failure
And ozai gets pissed immediately
This line made me cry
charzette Brown ok Azula
Iroh holds and hugs Zuko a lot of times.
The one time Ozai touches his son is to burn his face.
& a hand on his shoulder
Ozai didn even touch Zuko to leave the scar; he did it at a range.
Also when zuko made a mistake to ozai he kneeled down and beg for forgiveness, which in turn is met with the scar on his face. But when he made a mistake to his uncle and also kneeled down and beg his forgiveness iroh gave him nothing but love
@Kamran Haq my abusive father did that to me too, it definitely is to show control, kinda like "I own you."
Rawan Almufti are you ok now?
“There is nothing wrong with letting the people who love you help you.”
-Uncle Iroh, helping me through my depression
Same my friend atleast we are not alone.
That line is when I paused the show and opened up to my girlfriend watching with me about my own issues. I've been getting better every day since. Being a man isn't making yourself known. But knowing yourself. To be great the mirror is what you must face
not that i love you i just met you
@@chasecash1363 are you still together?
@@iloathepeoplewhorestilltal2774 yes. Once we're financially stable planning on getting married
“I was never angry with you. I was sad, because I was afraid you’d lost your way.”
“I did lose my way!”
“But, you found it again.”
Uncle Iroh is my absolute favorite character. He is who we should all aspire to be.
Agreed
That is the best scene in the show for me!
For me, too. I couldn't breath for a moment. Ozai punished him for his mistake, what did Iroh do? It's not forgiveness. He didn't frame it as a mistake by Zuko, he said *I* was sad.... He didn't stop believing in Zuko and was just happy he found his way again. Ozai was expecting, Iroh was hoping.
"And you did it by yourself. And I, am so happy you've found your way here."
"I was never mad at you. I was scared that you had lost your way."
Just reading this made me cry. The build up to that scene was unbearable, but perfect as such
Cam bruno worst scene ever because when it comes on my allergies get really bad suddenly
Wow.
I'm not crying , u r.
Lol i was barely holding it together... now the dam broke because of this ughh
Losing his son was the most heartbreaking moment of Iroh's life and then he had to watch his brother treat his kids like they were utterly disposable.
+
Made sense why Iroh had to ask zuko to beat azula instead of being friends with her, that's cuz they can't , or at least not now, he had his own struggles with his own siblings so despite being such a kind gentle man...well you get the idea
Whoa! I had never thought about the comparison of needing to fight a sibling here. I had never considered Iroh's own relationship with Ozai quite that way.
He made a concerted effort to impress upon his nephew that there was more to life than what either he or his brother had been taught, and that, when and if he decided to walk a different road, the ground would be there to meet his feet. Azula did not have this luxury. Which is a large part of why she had no way of conceiving a life where she wasn't striving for power constantly.
Mind blown
I was a grown man when I watched this with my elementary aged kids. That scene of him singing that song to his dead son actually made me cry. Not just tears but a sob I couldn't hide from my kids. They got it too and we all hugged cried together for a.minute. Then laughed at how it affected us so much. And I don't typically cry at movies.
Those moments are beautiful! Blessings to you and your family.
That is such a touching story. Thank you for sharing!
You are good father! Unlike ozie
I admit it i cried to at age 30.
Damn onion ninjas. You can never see the bastards, but you know when they are around.
It touched me when Zuko confronted his father. Never thought of it as a kid, but now as an adult; Zuko was absolutely right, how can a grown man challenge a kid to a duel? Especially an agni kai, which from what I know is only concluded when someone burns the other... It made me teary when Iroh had to turn and close his eyes from this horror. Iroh and Zuko are my favorite characters in this entire series
And even worse, even if he insisted on burning Zuko, he had the choice of burning the child anywhere on his upper body, but he burns his own beautiful child's face. And Ozai is a prettyboy, so he knows how hurtful that would be.
@@Genevieve1023 part of my tries to justify with Ozai being compelled to maim his son at the conclusion of banishing his wife... considering how he is characterized in the series, I'm more inclined to believe that Ozai def did that on purpose
@@Majin_Fuu Ofcourse he did it on purpose. Zuko wasn't even moving at the time. He could've easily just burned his arm.
@@Genevieve1023 true, makes his character arc that much easier to understand. That's gonna mess you up BAD as a teenager
It's really deconstructing the thing kids do a lot, which is justify the abuse they endured, I watch this show through many phases of my life and each time I pick up something that flew over my head. When I was a kid, it was Ty Lee who said that being different was a compliment and that she didn't intend to fit in. The line of him asking who would physically burn and scar their 13 year old child like that, it hit me differently, I was 13 and half the size I am now I could never hurt someone that looks so fragile and innocent the way my parents handled me.
*What does it mean to be a man?*
_A real man watches Avatar past his bedtime_
To be a miserable little pile of secrets!
Yeah!
Wait with out parents saying it's ok?
Did this during sleepless hours after my son was first born and the final episodes were being released. Now Avatar is something that we share together as he grows up.
Dude you are everywhere. Do you even sleep?
Yep, that's me watching Avatar relate video at 3 A.M.
The truest measure of Iroh's kindness is that on the way to mourn his son, he took time to help the children of the people who killed him.
I think Iroh may not even see them as that, he seems to more blame himself for his failings as a father with being unable to help him or instill the same morals that he did even for the mugger.
But yeah even though Ba Sing Se is what killed his son he is so compassionate he approaches everyone with understanding and empathy not seeing a point in more violence or hate given it just consumes what he loves.
I think iroh has the wisdom to understand that the feelings he experienced and the way he viewed war is not unique to him and that others, including his enemies, at the time felt the same way. Even if not, he could still justify them as trying to desperately protect their homeland and their lives. Either way, he would view the situation not as though the people of Ba Sing Se killed his son, but that he did by throwing his son down into that battle.
Iroh would never blame the children for the sins of their ancestors. Too bad most of the older people in our society do not hold the same belief. If they were like Iroh, it would be a much different world.
I think it was also mourning the people he killed
To be fair, Iroh was responsible for a lot of death their families may have experienced. That said, the deaths would've been covered up because of the Fascist police state.
Tales of Ba Sing Se meanings:
Toph: Insecurity
Katara: Compassion/Sympathy
Aang: Freedom
Zuko: Love
Sokka: Proving worth
Iroh: Fatherhood
How could you forget Momo???
@@Madi_Ernar Fair, fair
Toph: Insecurity
Aang: Destiny
Zuko: Honor
Soka: Leadership
Iroh: Fatherhood
@@AFPLJohnny Not you too!!!
@@Madi_Ernar I guess Momo would be “Kindness comes around?” I dunno, he honestly just faffed about for a while until he and those animals got caught by that chef and he broke them out (despite them attacking Momo first) and in turn they led him to Appa’s footprint
I think it's important to note that Iroh had the same kind of father-figure that Zuko had. He himself never had a good father, but he became one to Zuko. So you might never have an Uncle Iroh in your life, but you might become one yourself for others.
Excuse me while I go cry about this ;_; that's so beautiful
This has been my philosophy with my nephews. Even though I'll never be their father, and may never be one myself, I can be a positive masculine alternative they can always turn to.
@@JackTulsen77 This is an awesome mindset to have. I don’t have anyone close to me I could be that role model for, but I will still try to become a man similar to iroh, and my father. Both of them are not the macho manly man type, but are 10x better men than anyone that adheres to the hyper-masculine macho stereotype.
@@matthewgoodson9275There is the Big-Brother&Big-Sister program, when you’re ready if interested.
“pride is not the opposite of shame, but it’s source. True humility is the only antidote to shame.”
- uncle iroh
Pure Gold
I still haven't understood why that is.
@@davecullins1606 if you think you're #1, and something happens to you that makes you doubt that, you're forced to confront the flimsiness of your preconceived greatness. thinking you're the toughest guy on your block and getting your ass handed to you, for example. it's hard not to feel ashamed when somebody hurts your pride, so the only way to cure shame is to stop being prideful altogether.
@@papaspooks8531 Ahh, makes sense - thanks!
@French Bryan definitely, there's a balance to everything.
The painful irony of the greatest father in the series being sonless
damn
To quote an HxH meme I know: The loneliest people are the kindest, the saddest people smile the brightest, and the most damaged people are the wisest. All because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer the way that they do.
Tomas O Suilleabhain omg yes....😭
Yeah it's pretty iroh-nic
I like to think of it like this:
Iroh begins the series with the loss of his son, and ends in gaining a son.
"Often the best way to solve your problems is to help someone with their own." ~Iroh
"A wise man fears 3 things, the sea at storm, a moonless night, and the fury of a gentle man"
I never got that second one.
@@toe_sucker_4165 I think it's referencing zao killing the moon spirit so a moonless night
@@toe_sucker_4165 night is dark, moon brings light to the dark, no moon means no light
@@BasiliskDark536 ah, that makes sense.
Wait, is this Avatar-related as well? In the Kingkiller Chronicles there is "There are three things all wise men fear: The sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man."
He lets people choose. He never forces anything on Zuko. He tells him who is he,and what does he want. He even let admiral zhao pick if he wanted to kill yin. He tells him he will hurt him,but waits for his choice.
Its not yin and yang. Its tui and la. Push and pull.
@@GameyRaccoon I think calling her Yin is reasonable. They clearly formed a yin yang and she was the female half.
Actually yin is the black half, while yang is the white half.
Not really important, but many people mix this up.
He quite literally tells zuko to choose good which azula criticizes and is kind of the reason zuko chooses bad. Because he never got the chance to learn to do good for himself but because Iroh was always telling him the right thing to do. and that Zhao bit is a reach and he literally threatens to kill Zhao
I feel like he didn't attack Zhao straight away because that might've made Zhao kill the fish out of panic, not because he needs to choose or anything you don't let a guy choose whether the friggin moon gets destroyed or not
Iroh is everyone's dad... Or the dad every child deserves.
Or the Grandfather that every child deserves.
Or the Uncle every kid deserves
Iroh is the family member every one needs.
Grandfather, yes. Father, no. Learn from your mistakes, and seek a mentor to learn from theirs.
Otherwise, we stay as the Father he was, rather than the Grandfather he wished he could have been.
Uncle
Be the person Uncle Iroh knows you can be...
Yes, I love this.
The firelord of the United States of America.
inspiring
I am not crying...you are crying....
Be the person Mr. Rogers knows you can be...
Two of the most profound quotes ever:
“Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame”
And
“Hope is something we give ourselves in the darkest of times, that is the meaning of ‘inner strength’”
The series ended when I was around 12. And Irohs words still carry me. "Who are YOU?! And what do you WANT?!" The sheer power and emotion in that one line has brought me to who I am now. I grew up with Iroh as my uncle.
I wish I had uncle iroh, but I think it's better to be someone's uncle iroh than to hope for one.
@@bharatsadhnani4370 I agree. I aspire to be someone like him, for someone else
Best quote of Iroh
“I know your not supposed to cry over spilled tea... but its just so sad”
Facts
Top ten saddest moments in anime, no. 1
Bear オリバー more like anime betrays how dare zuko
"Whatever you do to that spirit, i will do to you tenfold! Let it go now!"
The anger of a good man is more destructive than the rage of a thousand demons.
@@eliasvenaas1685 General iroh a goe
The Dragon of the West...the wisest man of his time
*the wisest man of ALL time
We need an iroh book in the same style as Rise of Kyoshi. I want to see more of his inner thoughts when he was younger and before he lost his son
Creepy Closet brilliant!
Of all time in my opinion ; what I'd give to have someone like this in my life :'(
"He came like the wind. Like the Wind touched everything. And like the Wind was gone."
“While it is always best to believe in Oneself, A little help from someone can be a blessing”- Uncle Iroh
This show and especially Uncle Iroh helped me understand somethings that I mentally couldn't. I was about 5 when I saw this for the first time. And at the time my mother was abusing and neglecting me. When I saw the character Uncle Iroh for the first time, and when he said "Who are you and what do YOU want." I almost cried. I remember almost crying a lot when watching this show. Cuz I wished these characters where real and I wished Uncle Iroh was real so I could talk with him. I remember that. And the song that goes "Little solider boy comes marching home." I remember that song made me cry yet I loved it. Anyway! I know probably no one cares but it's nice to be able to talk about this stuff sometimes.
Of course we care! It's just harder for some of us to put that impression into words. I'm glad he had that impact on you, and I'm sorry to hear about how your mother treated you. I had a similar experience, but I was a few years older than you when it happened for me
I'm sorry to hear of your mistreatment. I heartily agree: everyone wants an uncle iroh in their lives. However, I also maintain that you should strive to be the uncle iroh in your own and other people's lives
I was also abused growing up. I always questioned what I did wrong and how I could be the perfect daughter for my father. I had a bit of a journey on my own and didn’t realize the abuse I was dealing with until I was 18. I ended up in a mental health facility and that’s where I realized I wasn’t the problem and everything I’d known was a lie. I found Avatar a few years ago as an adult and so much of Zuko’s story is relatable to me - especially that intense desire to please your parent. The first time I watched the scene where Iroh asks “Who are you and what do you want?” I cried. I saw so much of myself in Zuko and hearing those words made me question myself. No one had ever asked me what I wanted out of life. Honestly I still don’t have an answer, but every day is another step closer to healing
@@katieb9428 Thank you for sharing your story! I got away from my mother at age 16. But before that I still had to go through everything she did to me. I hope it gives you a little peace of mind that someone can relate to you and that you're not alone. I'm happy I got to somewhat chat with you!
@@emilyzee7483 Thank you for sharing your story too. In a strange way it is nice to relate to someone, but it’s also sad that you and I and so many other people have had to deal with it in the first place. I wish you all the best ❤️
I love how we Call Iroh "Uncle Iroh" because deep down we know he is our uncle too.
@@ZLunas for a second i forgot who he was😅 I'm becoming old like them
And grunkle stan
@Jet Lall wait it isn't his name?
We all _want_ him to be.
It’s true really.
Wow, I never picked up that the people Iroh meets in the "Tales of Ba Sing Se" mirror the stages of life of his son, man that is some seriously awesome writing.
@@celestialgatekeeper5136 obvious troll is obvious
@@chemicaltuber5492 you would be great at cinema sins! If that wasn't a reference, sorry.
It just pains me that the same people also wrote korra and thought that was a good idea.
@@IntimacyMN Didn't only one of the two main writers return for Korra?
Well it all starts from the moment he pull the flower into the shadow, the moment the flower opens can symbolize the born of a person... Always that I look this episode From that moment I know the cycle started.
Iroh was a prince and a general, but his greatest achievement was being an uncle.
The character of Iroh is without question the best “wise old man” in any work of fiction ever. The show never hides his past mistakes and the character never feels the need to apologize for making them. He knows who he is, what he’s done, and what he will do now.
One thing that was missed: Iroh first helps the blooming flower. Flowers are often used as symbols of birth and life, and if we take this episode as “ways that Iroh wished he could have helped his son”, then Iroh moving the flower to a different spot where it can thrive could represent Iroh’s wish that he could have raised his son outside of the militaristic environment of the fire nation where his son could have been free to flourish as whatever he wanted to be instead of dying as a conscripted soldier.
It would also fit the timeline established by the episode, the flower representing Lu Ten as a fetus or newborn and coming directly before the toddler that Iroh comforts.
The fact that the flower was wilting and dying before being moved could symbolize the fact that Lu Ten was always fated to die if Iroh and his family stayed in the fire nation.
I’ve seen a tumblr post by JakeEnglish I rather like, “the fact that both of zuko’s abusers used lightning against zuko and instead of learning to use lightning himself like he could have, he learned how to redirect the lightning and let it pass through him and then clean out of him... do you ever think about how that is literally representing how instead of absorbing his father’s and sister’s abuse, he lets it pass through him, and instead of soaking in it and letting it destroy him, he redirects it away from himself... I just want some peace in my life.”
That is a beautiful way to look at it. Thank you for that
The only problem is that he did try to learn lightning bending but failed. I believe iroh said it was because of his inner anger that kept him from shooting lightning.
@@Stevethe11th I thought he also learns it later in the comics.
@@MrGksarathy I never read the comics so I'm not sure. I just finished rewatching the show though and I think it was somewhere in season 2 where zuko tries and fails to learn it.
Pretty nice, but a bit of a stretch for me sorry
I always cry when Zuko and Iroh are reunited in book 3, because this time, his little soldier boy did come marching home.
Oh fuck that nearly brought tears to my eyes great job dude and your right
Jesus fuck man, the scene is a tearjerker as it is and you just had to go ahead an frame it like that 😭
Come on why you make me cry like this?????
The only word left on my mind between all that emotion was "fuck". Once again.
This is the best comment ever😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Iroh may've been that General warlord, but notice that he doesn't belittle his adversaries like the Firelord does. "Ba sing Se must be something to behold", "Note the inscription and the superior craftsmanship". The Firelord would solely call them cowards and have zero interest in their customs in the slightest, he does not see beauty in what exists, only fear and dominance, where Iroh can and has the proclivity to behold what he finds brilliant.
Prior to watching ATLA, Aragorn was my go-to for an example of "wholesome" masculinity in film. He was descended from kings yet didn't view others as lesser than him, only taking up the mantle of king to heal Middle Earth. He was mighty yet only used that might it for noble purposes. He was mentally strong without fearing to show his emotions. Iroh represents all of these traits yet we get a far greater insight into *why* he is the way he is and thus a better understanding of him as a man.
It’s sad to think that it was almost necessary for Iroh’s son to die in order for him to become who he was in ATLA. Had his son not died in battle, Iroh may never have been so compassionate.
Connor Grynol and neither would Zuko
Dragon’s Touch exactly!
idk he lied about killing that dragon so it makes me think he had some softness and deception before
@@maudi_uwu He lied about killing the last dragon to protect the ones hiding in the Sun Warriors' civilization (discouraging hunters from finding them). So, in a way, that lie derived from the compassion he gained after losing his son.
@@racheldavid3819 zuko had mentioned in that episode that the last dragons were killed by his uncle before he was born. So that is before Lu Ten's death.
"Being male means being strong, but being strong doesn't mean being emotionless or cruel, it means being empathetic, understanding, and wise."
Damn right. But be prepared for people to defend that stereotypical bullshit.
@Rising Horizon Gaming You should watch the video again and really listen this time.
@Rising Horizon Gaming You've misunderstood the OP if you truly believe what you are saying.
Want to walk about what it means to be a man In our modern world?
@Rising Horizon Gaming men and women are more then our sexual organs - you have a very black and white, reductionist overview of men and women; we are both inherently different, physiologically and mentally, and there is nothing wrong with that.
@Rising Horizon Gaming yeah my guy, you're forgetting about hormones and their affect on us completely. Although i kinda agree, that you should judge them on the person, not the gender.
I cry when I hear I hear Iroh say "Happy birthday, my son. If only I could have helped you." Because I only need to change one word to relate. "Happy birthday, my friend. If only I could have helped you."
Irohs story and his character influenced me more than I really knew as a kid, as an adult now, I know that he was the realest man in the show, but only because he’s known pain and failure but didn’t let it destroy him.
"Leaves from the vine"
My brain: dont cry
My body: Don't Cry
My eyes: *THE DAMS HAVE BROKEN*
Must’ve been Jet
TheSicarius Thats what I was gonna say!! 😂
*the first note*
oh God
*leaves from the vine*
oh God
*little solider boy*
and I'm crying
Just water bending from the eyes
IM TEARBENDING
If no one knew Iroh’s voice actor mako created “leaves from
The vine” when he found out he was passing from cancer hence the pain in his voice was real from the start, the picture of his son is actually Mako as a young man, they don’t make em like this anymore.
wow
I rewatched Avatar last week for the first time since I was a kid and when, at the end of the episode it said “In memory of Mako” I looked it up and learned this. It made that scene so much more meaningful. Rest In Peace Mako.
I can't find anything to confirm this beyond a meme with nothing to back it up.
Damn....
Ink and Vinegar stuff that’s verifiable 1 Mako died of cancer 2 this was the last episode of any show that Mako recorded
Iroh and Zuko are unquestionably the greatest characters of the Avatar series. Their scars aren't badges of honor, or excuses to act the victim, but the smaller parts of their characters that they grew around, like a potato plant following a pinhole of light. Even when the box is removed, the shape of the potato plant reflects the struggle it went through to get to the pinhole.
When I grow up to be an old man, I want to be someone like Iroh. An old man who is always there for you when you need him, who enjoys the simple things in life like a board game or a nice cup of tea, who is one of the silliest people you will meet, who is full of wisdom and will give exactly the kind of advice that you need when you're in a bad place, and who will only show aggression to those who truly deserve it.
The scene of him getting robbed and then giving the robber advice on how to be better at robbing people, only to then inspire the robber to follow his dreams and persue a honest career in massage is one of the most powerful scenes in any show I've watched. Who knows how many lives he changed just with that one cup of tea and conversation. How many people did he prevent from being robbed? How did he change that man's family by giving him new direction in life? It's hard to truly grasp just how large of an impact he might have had with just that one moment of kindness.
How many lives can we change in our world by doing similar things?
“In the darkest time, Hope is something we give ourselves. That is the meaning of inner strength!”
-Uncle Iroh.
One of my favorite quotes
Take my like before I start crying again
Thanks Skeletor
Even reading that is going to make me cry
I make ya comment 1k
"I know your not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but it’s just so sad!"
I think we're ignoring one of Uncle Iroh's best quotes
@Dan Nguyen you're lucky you're not my nephew bro
🤣I still say those more often than I should
@@xcalibour1278 you should say it every day man
Lu Ten isn't give much , if any, characterization. From the one picture we see and the scene of him and Iroh on the beach, I always got the impression that he was a lot like the Iroh we know. Kind, funny, a little eccentric and always means well.
But considering this video, I'm beginning to think that wasn't the case. I think Lu Ten was a lot more like Zuko, before his dreaded Agni Kai and banishment. Ursa and Iroh were both good parents (as much as they could be as the royal family of their warmongering nation) (much better than Ozai at least) who loved their children dearly and their children knew and could feel that love. With Zuko, we see a turn to anger and shame because of his relationship with his father, but if that had never happened, if Ursa had continued to shield him, he would have probably been a lot like Azula. Minus the crazy. From a young age, he would be commanding battleships, taking over cities, and chasing enemies of the Fire Nation. While that wasn't reality for Zuko, I think it was for Lu Ten. Lu Ten, crown prince of the Fire Nation, entrusted with blazing down enemies and "sharing the their greatness".
With that in mind, Iroh's sorrow from his son's death probably doesn't just come from losing him, but also for letting him walk a path of violence.
"While it is always best to believe in oneself, a little help from others can be a great blessing." - Uncle Iroh.
“Happy birthday my son, if only I could have helped you”- Iroh
This single line over a decade later carries more weight then some whole shows.
Meditate
Hold your breath
Count to Three
Make a wish
Like the disgrace LOK
It was a great show
my eyes water just READING it
For me, Iroh will always be one of the most important fictional Characters ever created.
Me too brother
He is the person I try and model myself after
Iroh is the surrogate father many anime fans need.
He is!
iroh is the best fictional character even better than romeo
I think something interesting to note is that we see later on in the show that he always had this part of him inside himself. We learn in the episode of the sun warriors that iroh lied about killing the last dragon in order to save the remaining few. it just shows in itself that, just like zuko, he was constantly fighting a war within himself, a war between the good man he truly is and the bad man he's been forced to become in order to fit into his father's exceptions
I love how almost every episode is a beautifully-crafted dual story that perfectly reflect each other from opposite sides. For example, Aang finding out about Roku's history while Zuko reads about Roku's history from the opposite perspective.
"I'm tired of ATLA videos." - No one ever
Had us on the first half ngl
@@alexp113 he really did
Who disliked the video😠
Legend of Korra issa different story😬😬
My mom would say that
Next up: “The philosophy of Cabbage Merchant”
This made me almost spit my drink out
NOT MY CABBAGES
I feel so bad for him
Cheekie Creations no
Cheekie Creations
czcams.com/video/dQw4w9WgXcQ/video.html
what I love about Uncle Iroh is that while he tries to be loving, he's not a pacifist.
it honestly helped me personally with my temper. I had to understand my anger isn't wrong as an emotion, only that I need to know when my anger is needed to be used at that level. that anger, and the other emotions, like fire, are more than just destruction but a sign of beautiful passion of many different colors.
Iroh and the Japanese book the Life Giving Sword.
A big part of Iroh for me is that he wasn't written as an untained Saint but instead a deeply repentant old man who was so caring and loving because he knew he had made mistakes in his past that he could never fix but if he could prevent Zuko from doing the same then maybe he could at least stop history from repeating itself
'Who are you and what do YOU want?' When i heard that as a 13 year old kid it shook me to my core.
It may sound sad or weird to some, but I never had that calm voice of humility for my masculinity. I grew up in a toxic household where submission was respect and independence was weakness.
I just wanted to be whoever my parents wanted me to be. When I heard Iroh speak it was like I was listening to my unlce. I felt Zuko, I got inner anger, and I honestly believe listening to Uncle Iroh he taught me so much about how to be a man.
It sounds weird, I know maybe lol worthy, but Uncle Iroh set me on the path to be the man I wanted to be and am today as a married man.
He taught me much and I hope Mako knows he has impacted my life in a profound way.
R.I.P. Mako
that scene was so powerful it really made me look inside myself and self reflect. I have never watched another show that will be quite as powerful as avatar
that scene was so powerful it really made me look inside myself and self reflect. I have never watched another show that will be quite as powerful as avatar
The whole series especially everything Iroh has shaped me as a human being in ways I can't even understand. Now rewatching the series as an adult I begin to understand how many lessons Iroh has taught me. Everytime i see him onscreen i begin to cry lol. Thank you for everything Uncle Iroh.
Your comment just made me start crying honestly. Its great to see a work like this have such a positive impact on peoples life and from what I've heard of Mako it seems like he would be proud of the legacy he left in this character and be proud of the impact Iroh has had on people.
I wish I'd been able to see Avatar as a child rather than when I was older but even so its one of my favorite shows and can teach people a lot even when their already an adult
Iroh was an uncle to all of us
It’s amazing how a show made over 10 years ago can still generate so much interesting discussion.
It's a timeless work of art
Tal Sheynkman touché
Tal Sheynkman it really is. Avatar is a favourite of millions for a reason. I even wrote my mid-semester essay on it describing why it is such a powerful work of art, and all the aspects that contributed to its success.
I mean i guess u can resonate it with music it kinda stood the test of time
Avatar is truly beautiful
Say what you want, but this is a master class in storytelling. They were able to get a compelling narrative through to the audience in 4 minutes, where some films cant do this in a couple hours.
When i become a father or if i could teach my nephews something, I'll teach Iroh's philosophy. Everyone should know his teachings and know that life shouldn't be about violence, money or pride, but learning compassion and humility
What it means to be a man?
It means being as swift as a coursing river!
With all the force of a great typhoon.
With all the strength of a raging fire!
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon!
Samini the B well hell you beat me to it
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
BE A MAN
to be a man is to be strong in vulnerability
I thought, it means to crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women?
Iroh's get his redemption and helps deal with his loss when he teaches Zuko.
"Sometimes the best way to help yourself is to help someone else" - Iroh
He said this to Baby Korra in the spirit world right?
John Miguel Sadiasa Yes
I've wanted to do a group Avatar cosplay with some of my friends. Whenever I ask people who I should be, I'm always honored by the unanimous vote for Iroh.
You're doing something right, then. Congratulations! I'm sure you'd make a splendid Uncle Iroh!
Man, even just having Leaves From the Vine mentioned while seeing a short clip of Iroh crying has me tearing up
Uncle irohs masculine expressions is not a "new form" it's always been there. It's a true healthy expression of it that many religions and philosophies have taught.
ENeRGY WiZARD My religion has
RazorO2Productions what religion would be that? Jw
@@celestialgatekeeper5136 religions as well lol quit it.
@@urielgaldava9582 He believes in the God-Emperor of Mankind.
@@RazorO2Productions i'm also quite curious what religion it is
Iroh is who everyone should strive to be. He is truly the paragon of kindness
Imo he's up their with Mr Rogers and Bob Ross. Super chill and super wise
true, but he only became that way through pain and loss. He was as bad as Ozai at one point. We need to learn from Iroh's story, so we won't make the mistakes he did.
@@jeangentry6656 I wouldn't say he was ever as bad as Ozai. Iroh loved his son, whereas Ozai only viewed them as tools and manipulated them, creating the mess that was Azula.
Copper isn't so bad either
I strive to be _silver!_
Iroh helped so many. So he helped his son. His son's death allowed him to help so many others. Iroh is truly based dad.
The first time I watched atla none of the characters really made an impression, I was extremely young. Rewatching recently, Uncle Iroh and Zuko hit the deepest because of my family life. I needed to see that masculinity could be expressed even through tears and softer methods, as well as the lesson that family does not make us who we are.
Positive masculinity really is something great. I wish you the best of luck in life, it's not easy to let go of abuse and rise above our parents. Keep trying your hardest, I am almost out of that pit, and I hope you will soon get out too!
I dont like this episode. Screen gets all blurry and I cant see anything.
Check your eyes. Are they leaking?
@@EliteWarrior1026 are they waterbending?*
@@Kok3roz are they tearbending?*
you lucky i was about to jump through your screen and fuck you up if you didnt like this episode
Yeah, I don’t get it- every version I’ve seen is like that too..
I have a abusive father my self. My new step dad is my iroh and i love him for it
Instead of tea its coffee whit him. Thanks all if you ever need some one to talk to i am here.
try tea though, i'd suggest Earl Grey (Twinings brand for me) with 3 or more spoons of sugar. Tea is the superior drink.
Otherwise, good for you, everyone deserves a path to happiness.
@@tylermech66 If they enjoy coffee together, then coffee is the superior drink.
@@tylermech66 careful with the tea is the superior drink talk. Or else it will end up in an ice filled harbor.
@@IdleDrifter Nooooooo! MY TEA!!
I NEVER VOTED FOR THIS, WHY!!!
Since ppl are talking about trying out tea, how about something in between? Ever tried matcha latte? I’m not too fond of green tea since it’s bitter (it’s gotta be accompanied w/ lemon and honey) or coffee for the same reason (sweet cream is where it’s at), but this is pretty good. Definitely recommend if you haven’t tried it before. 😁🍵
Upon learning that his son, Lu Ten, was killed in action, Iroh realizes that despite the pride as being Fire Nation royalty and an accomplished General and a fire bender master, a proud man like him isn't exempt from misfortune!
I know I’m late to this video but I identified a lot with zuko as a kid when I was 9 my dad walked out of my life and for so long I was angry and hurt by it and I wanted nothing more than for my father to love and accept me and to this day watching the show over the years he is one of my favorite characters ever written and this episode along with zuko confronting his father I always cry even as a grown man this show will always have a special place in my heart and Iroh will always be a father figure to me in a way
too the 696 people who disliked this:
We are not angry at you
We are just sad to see that you have lost your way and we hope you'll find it again
Probably just misclicked
Mark B. Yeah, they couldn’t see through the tears
Hahahaha I love that
The perfect response lol
well played my friend, well played
“He May have been your father boy, but he wasn’t your daddy”
Yondo
Hes death scene got me man
I’m mary poppins y’all!
Now I had the idea to play “leaves from the vine” during Yondu’s death. There now you’re all as depressed as I usually am.
I know that you meant it in a bittersweet way but the only thing that came up to my mind was “ay Papi”
Aaaahhhh. Another scene I can watch.
If only there were more humble men like Iroh, many children who yearned for a father figure deserve that.
Iroh is a monster, a monster that knows how to control his strength. Which is why we love characters like him.
There will be a day when I can watch leaves from the vine without crying... but it is not this day.
I totally know what you mean, even just seeing it here made me tear up again...
This day we cry.
That is not something to hope for.
We all cry not just you
@@reveranttangent1771 Right. I hope you never ever do. I hope none of us ever do.
Azula: Toxic Femininity
Ozai: Toxic Masculinity
Uncle Iroh: Positive Masculinity
Katara: Positive Femininity
I think Katara is also pretty toxic
Hikikomori _ She can be at times, especially when she loses her temper but I think that’s within the bounds of normal human behavior.
I get Azula is toxic, but why you say toxic femininity?
@@marlucy7463 probably more to the stereotypes of manipulation and disregard for others feelings and wants.
Shut up libtard
Iroh is a strong candidate for the best father figure in media as a whole. His humble, selfless and simple world view is a lens of contentment that many people are missing nowadays.
What I most like about essay videos dissecting one of my favourite series is different perspectives brought by different experiences. I watched Tales of Ba Sing Se a thousand times and for me Iroh helping others as a attempt of dealing with the helpless feeling of losing his son was quite clear. However I never realized the characters he helped being an analogy for Lu Ten's life stages. It made me want to visit the episode again, to chill with the robber's dialogue and to see more of the father/son relation they had. I wonder what dreams Lu Ten had, what drove him to joy the army and fight. There are a lot of sides in Iroh's story we don't know and make his character so fascinating. Thank you for the video.
I’m glad that Iroh shows Zuko that he didn’t deserve abuse. Zuko standing up to his father and telling his dad that challenging a child to an Agni Kai was wrong. That moment meant a lot to me, someone who was abused as a child. We all need Uncle Iroh in our lives.
I've watched that scene so many times, and I still cry everytime I watch it again
We need to *be* that Uncle, friend. Because everyone deserves an Uncle Iroh.
General Iroh
I will see you again after gaining victory.
Your loyal son,
Lu Ten.
𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼
@@Crackedcripple fuck you man, now im crying again
Mark B.
Sorry bro
@@Crackedcripple holy Im drowning!😭
@@Crackedcripple oh... oh no...
I feel like people always forget that Iroh wasn't only the top fire nation general. He was literally the rightful heir to the fire nation throne, Azulon's first born. And only ended up where he was because of Ozai's betrayal, because even after abandoning the siege he didn't lost his birthright in the eyes of his father
Iroh is such a well written and imporrant character he passively paved the path for so many characters. Im usually not the type of guy who cries at shows or movies, i feel with the characters and understand their pain but the scene where Zuko meets Iroh in the tent in front of Ba Sing Se and he waits there before his bed while thinking about everything hes sorry for and what hes gonna say but Iroh just takes him into his arms and geniuenly just feels happy for Zuko to finally find back to his inner self...that secene really made me tear up.
Iroh is more than just the uncle of Zuko but a emotional and moral Navigator throughout ter Story
When I first noticed the heaviness of Iroh's guilt in the line "If only I could've helped you", it choked me up. He's not just saying he was unable to help his son. He had endorsed that war, and believed in his son's taking part in it. When you think about the fact that he realizes all of that, it makes it so incredible that he was able to accept what had happened and live with it.
Leaves from the vine
Falling so slow
Like fragile tiny shells
Drifting in the foam
Little soldier boy
Come marching home
Brave soldier boy
Comes marching home
I don't know if there is any song that can match this one in it's emotional power
Even with it being so short
i know that it's just lyrics but i feel like crying
it's because of the fact the emotional distress in his voice when he sings it is genuine
Mako, the voice actor, wrote the song himself when he found out he was dying from cancer
that's why it's so heartbreaking
it's _real_
I think there are a few that get straight at me and trigger the waterworks just hearing them not matter how many times I've heard them before. Might+U hits me pretty hard despite the questionable lyrics. Questionable as in very poor grammar, not perverse. Example: "Your gift isn't futile to be."
@@robinthrush9672 might+u is nice but not anywhere near this greatness lets be honest =P
I love that you pointed out that Iroh being the epitome of a man doesn’t mean he’s a pacifist, but rather is ready and able to fight when it is needed or just rather than for control.
i've been crying for half an hour now because i just found out Mako (voice actor for Iroh) has already died.
Ready to cry some more?
The "Leaves from the Vine" song was one of the last things Mako recorded for the show before he passed. He knew he was on his way out and that was his way of saying goodbye to the Avatar show and fans.
My wife says to me, "Have you been crying?"
Me "A little".
W "Are you okay?"
M "Yeah, I'll be fine."
W "So, why have you been crying?"
So I sing a little "Leaves on the vine, falling so slow"
She tears up. She understands now.
Dorkseid wonderful woman
Sounds like a good marriage!
@@ginq8 she really is. I made her some tea and talked about the video. She's an English teacher and loves the show so I'm sure she will be watching it herself when she has time.
@@dorkseid5874 this is so wholesome, I hope y'all are happy together and that I can achieve it too
@@SouthernGothicYT Thank you. I like to think we are. We've been together for fourteen years and have a seven year old boy. I think we're doing all right.
It’s unbelievable how large of an emotional connection i feel to this television show. if i am to see clips of zuko and iroh’s reconciliation, or iroh paying homage to his son i’m triggered into chills. crazy
A hero isn't the one who always wins, he's the one who always tries.
I always felt like there was a bit of irony in the dagger Iroh gave Zuko. It said, "Never give up without a fight." but it was literally taken from a general who surrendered. I feel like it was symbolic when he gave the dagger to that little boy from the Earth Kingdom. He lived by the words on that dagger and saw a lot of himself in that little boy. By giving him the dagger, he was fully turning his back on his father. He meant for him to use it fight back against his father and his army. Zuko no longer wanted his father's approval, he wanted to stop him from hurting more little boys. I think it took a while longer for him to realize that consciously, but he gave away the notion of "Never Give up without a fight." in that moment. Iroh gave Zuko that dagger before he underwent his spiritual awakening and he spent years trying to undo his mistake and teach Zuko that it's ok to walk away from a fight when the fight will only hurt your soul.
I like how even during his time as a general, he still remarked on some things he admired about the Earth Kingdom. Ozai and Azula, by contrast, never seem to appreciate anything about non-Fire Nation culture.
Rewatching season 2 finale, Azula did admire how powerful the dai lee was, however I guess that’s just her admiring power which is what she wants to have
@@crystaldee7185 She says: ''They are earth benders, but they have a killer instinct thats sooo fire bender''. This sounds to me like even though these earth benders have something great, saying its soo fire bender like, implies only the fire people can have it in true form by nature or something. Like saying ''I like this Scottish person, because he thinks like an Englishman'' Implying you think this one Scott is not as dumb as you assume the Scottish are by nature.
It might be a little far fetched out of a single sentence but it lines up in my head with Azula's way of thinking (= racist).
Broaz Well a Scott thinking like an Englishman is bizarre. It’s like an English Canadian thinking like a French Canadian. It’s an affront to nature lol
@Luc Germain This is so truly ignorant, pandering, and downright sad. Behavior is a combination of both nature and nurture. A dog's first instinct is to bite and fight, yet they can still be trained to behave.
The scene with seeing the baby Ozai was meant to demonstrate that no one is born truly evil, and that we are all equally capable of good as we are of evil.
Monsters are made, not born.
Even people born with a pathological lack of empathy can know to how to be kind and caring and model citizens.
@Luc Germain Clearly, from my comment, I acknowledge that there exists people who lack the ability to feel empathy or remorse or other emotions, but to then go on to say that such people are incapable of learning morals is downright bigoted.
Morals is a social construct and changes with society. And it's been shown that learning the faux pas of everyday life is something that people who lack empathy and other emotions excel at.
Your comments are downright ignorant, frankly pessimistic, and sadly bigoted.
More than being a men or women, iroh, to me represent how to be a human with dignity and humility.
This really rings with me. I’m 16 and I used to be extremely weak and thin. I decided I was sick and tired of being that way, so I began exercising vigorously. Through this, I learned the ability of knowing when to pick my battles and the value of being kind and respectful
"tales of ba sing se" has one of the saddest stories in the show, but "appas lost days" made me cry more
Uncle Iroh was the only good male role model I had for a lot of my youth, and I’ll forever be grateful to the writers of Tales of Ba Sing Se for Iroh’s story. Makes me want to be the best man I can be.
I was around 8 years old when I watched this episode. I still remember it vividly. The scene that hit me the most his when he help the man trying to rob him. This thought me to see through people's actions and try to understand why they're doing them. This taught me to understand before judging.
"There comes a day thief when the gems cease to sparkle, the gold loses its luster, the throne room becomes a prison and all that remains is a father's love for his daughter." from Conan
Conan was so awesomr
@@albertschoise8091 my only problem with it is that he and that girl fall in love too quickly
Honestly the only two conans I can think of are Arthur conan doyle and detective conan. What're you talking about? Sounds interesting
@@fatimaalaa2659 Conan the Barbarian, I believe
It's a shame the amazon series was canceled for being "too masculine."
"Sometimes, the best way to solve your problems....Is to help someone else". 🍵😌
iroh's philosophy isn't just one that helps zuko in the series. it helps so many lost young people, regardless of gender, overcome the corrupted idea of "strength" that society pushes on everyone, especially young men. it helps those from abusive households to learn that you can become, healthier than those who came before you, and that you can learn from those around you instead of just "doing it on your own". it helps you learn that you must make your own morals, morals that feel right to you, not to your family, your friends, but a moral compass unique to you and you alone. he's part of the reason i treat children with respect, regardless of their behavior. he's part of the reason i turn a blind eye to people stealing food or drink. he's part of the reason i want to help the younger people around me learn to make their own decisions, not just the path their family laid out for them. he's part of the reason i study spirituality to become more in tune with myself and the world around me. he's part of the reason i try to differentiate facts from propaganda, and expand both my intelligence and emotional wisdom. he's part of the reason i want to never repeat the mistakes of the generation before me. and he's 100% the reason i was freaking sobbing throughout this entire video, wishing that an actual adult in my life had treated me with that sort of respect and kindness as a child, and why i wish to be the adult that shows people that very respect.
god... seeing iroh at his son's memorial... it always makes me tear up. this was truly one of the most moving and amazing moments in the series
DarkValorWolf when Zuko reunited with Iroh in book 3 always makes me cry
I honestly feel like it's one of the most amazing moments in all of tv. It's just so powerful, there's not much really like it
Every damn time, man.
Iron was so impactful for me in my life, being a model of kindness, wisdom and loving life. When I graduated college, I was to sing a final song of my choice with my singing group. To mark such a moment in my life, there was of course only one song that could do it.
How many people said "no fair..."
so you sang let it go, right?
❤️
Yes? WELL? *WHAT WAS IT?*
@@bb2fiddler Darude- Sandstorm
Iroh's chapter in Tales of Ba Sing Se truly is a perfect short. A completely self-contained story that requires no additional context.