Every day I regret saying those things

I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but...*sniff*...that's just so sad!

For much of the series, Zuko is pretty much a jerk to Iroh, which has more to do with his own lack of patience and his parental issues than how he actually feels about Iroh. Iroh, for his part, is infinitely patient and supportive. He quite literally has Zuko's back, as when Zhao tries to attack Zuko after losing to him in an agni kai, and Iroh stops him (S01E03, "The Southern Air Temple"). Iroh's next line to Zhao—"Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you"—shows only the tip of the iceberg of how deeply Iroh cares about Zuko. (Incidentally, the expression on Zuko's face at that point really says all there is to say about how much he really loves—and is totally embarrassed by—Iroh.)

Iroh is constantly trying to get Zuko to relax, which both annoys and embarrasses Zuko to no end. While Iroh obviously loves freaking Zuko out, he also really just wants his nephew to get a grip already. Which leads to extreme high comedy involving hot springs and hitting on customs officials.

In some ways I suppose Iroh seems like a pushover where Zuko is concerned, but I think, as with everything involving Iroh, there's a reason behind it. Iroh more or less passively sits by while Zuko irritates, insults, and even betrays him. And yet, despite it all, Iroh never stops loving Zuko. Iroh realizes what a crappy childhood Zuko's had, and more than than any other character (including Zuko himself), Iroh sees what good Zuko is capable of and realizes that, in order to help Zuko come into that goodness, he's going to need a soft sort of resistance. So no matter what craziness Zuko throws at him, Iroh manages to transform it with his wit, charm, and basic decency. Iroh is not only Zuko's teacher and uncle, but basically his real father…and it only takes Zuko three seasons to figure this out.

Iroh knows right off the bat that everything Zuko's fighting for—finding the Avatar, bringing him home, and making his father love him—is never going to happen, and it kills him to see Zuko so obsessed, both with Aang and with the idea that somehow there's something Zuko can do to make his dad stop hating him.

Iroh obviously hates that his brother Ozai treats Zuko like dirt, but interestingly, Iroh doesn't do a whole lot about it directly. When Zuko is forced into the agni kai which earns him his scar, Iroh doesn't interfere, and in fact looks away when Ozai burns Zuko (S01E12, "The Storm"). Iroh also tells the men on Zuko's ship (and later Zuko himself) that no matter what Zuko does, Ozai will never love him. But Iroh leaves it to Zuko to come to terms with this and actually does very little to overtly protect Zuko. Everything Iroh does for his nephew is small, understated, and supportive in a way that an angry, often thoughtless kid like Zuko doesn't always get.

Iroh supports Zuko's desire to make his own decisions, but unfortunately, Iroh pushes a little too hard in the end. He tells Zuko it's time to "choose good"—so Zuko, like any properly annoying teenager, chooses the opposite (S02E20, "The Crossroads of Destiny"). This is the beginning of a truly heartbreaking rift between Iroh and Zuko. Sure, they've had arguments before; but now Iroh is locked up in prison, and Zuko is given everything he thinks he wants.

Zuko really needs that time on his own, though, to figure out who he is and what he actually wants. By the time he finally meets up with Iroh again, he deeply regrets betraying Iroh and needs a peptalk from Katara before he can work up the courage to face Iroh and ask for his forgiveness (S03E19, "Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters").

Which leads to what is quite possibly the best scene in the entire series, wherein Zuko finally expresses his huge regret about the way he's treated Iroh, and Iroh, ever the awesomest awesome that ever awesomed, forgives Zuko without hesitation, realizing Zuko's finally gotten himself together.

There are plenty of delightful, complicated relationships in Avatar world, but I would like to humbly suggest that Iroh's and Zuko's relationship is BY FAR THE AWESOMEST ZOMG.


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