To track the exact journey of Uncle Iroh would be a feat
only the knowledge spirit could do. So let's check out the master tea
maker' most important pit stops. Destination one: The home of Iroh's youth,
the Fire Nation Capitol. He was the grandson to Sozin,
the first son of Zulan, and the original heir
to the Fire Nation throne. As evidence from his nephew
Zuko's childhood, the royal family raised their offspring
under extreme pressure. I'd like to demonstrate
what I've been learning. Ugh, I failed. In a similar vein, Iroh
described his own childhood as heat, but no warmth. Take, for example, his relationship
with his younger brother Ozai. My brother is not
the understanding type. Ozai and Iroh were
extremely competitive, as Iroh would later recount, even games of Pai Sho
would end in violence. Ozai's capacity for destruction
and hate worried Iroh from the start. The eldest brother knew this
path would burn them all eventually. It seems as if that notion is what
had Iroh yearning for enlightenment. He left the Fire Nation capital
seeking insight from other benders, and one major outcome
is what he learned from water benders. Water benders deal with a flow of energy. A water bender lets their defense
become their offense, turning their opponents'
energy against them. I learned a way to do this with lightning. It's likely that Iroh learned this
in the northern water tribe, possibly even studying
alongside Master Paku. That could be how Iroh and Paku
who developed a secret friendship that would stem into the Order
of the White Lotus. Welcome, brother. The White Lotus opens wide
to those who know our secrets. What are you old gasbags talking about? I always try to tell you that Pai Sho
is more than just a game. During his journeys,
Iroh also found himself among the ancient sun warriors
and the original fire benders, Ran and Shaw. Here he learned the true
meaning of fire bending. It was not an art of destruction,
but life. Power in fire bending comes from the breath, not the muscles. The Sun Warriors themselves
taught Iroh how to breathe fire. Back home, he earned the title
of the Dragon of the West for slaying Ran and Shaw. But we know that wasn't true. I can't believe there are still
living dragons. My uncle Iroh said that he faced
the last dragon and killed it. So your uncle lied. Actually, it was the total lie. Iroh was the last outsider
to face the masters. They deemed him worthy, and passed secret all to him as well. He must have lied to protect them
so no one else would hunt them. Eventually, Iroh had a son, Lu Ten. The two shared a close familial bond. Memories of the two visiting Ember Island with the rest of the
royal family were held dear. Heh, I got you Dad! Iroh had it all. Family, enlightenment, power,
until the siege of Ba Sing Se. if the city is as magnificent as its wall
Ba Sing Se must be something to behold. I hope you all may see it someday
if we don't burn it to the ground first. [evil laugh] Taking control of the impenetrable city
should have been an epic accomplishment, especially since Lu Ten
was now fighting alongside Iroh. That's right, a father and son
entered the battlefield, but only a Father returned. Iroh has lost his son. Your cousin Lu Ten
did not survive the battle. Losing Lu Ten
had killed off a part of Iroh. He lost the will to fight and
the siege of Ba Sing Se failed. My beloved Lu Ten,
I will see you again. Sometime after losing his son, Iroh
found his way to the spirit world in hopes of reconnecting with Lu Ten. But how, exactly? It's the center of all
spiritually energy in our land. Well, if Iroh had already spent time
in the Northern Water tribe then it's likely he knew
about their spirit oasis. For the sake of mapping his journey,
we'll place his entrance into the spirit world here.
Now Iroh never found his son, and as if adding salt to the wound,
he returned home only to be met with the death
of his own father, Firelord Azulon, a death that came with an unexpected wish. Grandfather of Lu Ten now passed,
grandfather of Zuko and Azula. We lay you to rest,
as was your dying wish, you are now succeeded
by your second son. Hail Fire Lord Ozai! The loss of the throne
added to Cairo's feeling of failure. So Iroh remained on the sidelines
of the Fire Nation Army until yet again, he witnessed a member of his own family
burned by their toxic culture. This time it was his nephew, Prince Zuko. The Fire Lord said that Zuko
had shown shameful weakness. As punishment, he was banished, and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then could he return
with his honor. Iroh joined Zuko in banishment. As they searched high and low
for the Avatar, Iroh tried to share his enlightened
wisdom with the future Fire Lord. Zuko, it's only very a week
since your banishment. You should take some time
to heal and rest. What else would I expect to hear
from the laziest man in the Fire Nation? After nearly three years, they made their
way through the Southern Water Tribe. In one very fateful encounter,
the Avatar revealed himself, and suddenly their hunt
would turn into a chase. There have been multiple
sightings of the Avatar, but he is impossible to track down. Iroh and Zuko followed a chaotic
and unpredictable path, though some stops would still be
of major significance. In one pit stop at some hot springs
in Earth Kingdom territory, Iroh was captured, taken hostage. This is the Fire Lord's brother, the Dragon of the West,
the once great General Iroh. But now he's our prisoner. This moment of failure
could be seen as a gift, because just for a moment,
Zuko saw that some things in life were more important
than capturing the Avatar. Iroh's influence on its nephew
seemed to be leaving an impact. Excellent form, Prince Zuko. You taught me well. For more encounters with the Avatar, Iroh found himself back
in the Northern Water Tribe. He had hitched a ride with the Fire Nation
Army, who prepared an invasion. But despite returning
to his title as General, Iroh found himself
at odds with his home nation. The spirits are not
to be trifled with! Yes, yes, I know you
fear the spirits, Iroh. I've heard rumors about your journey
into the spirit world that Ocean and Moon
gave up their immortality to become a part of our world. And now they will face the consequences. Iroh's venture into
the spirit world years earlier may not have delivered him to Lu Ten, however, it could have provided him
the insight to save the moon spirit. You have been touched
by the moon spirit. -Some of its life is in you.
-Yes, you're right. It gave me life. Maybe I can give it back. After the siege
of the North, Iroh and Zuko regrouped at a Fire Nation Spa
in Earth Kingdom territory. Ah, this is what I've been missing. Who knew floating on a piece of driftwood
for three weeks with no food or water and sea vultures waiting to pluck out
your liver could make one so tense. Thanks to a brief reunion
with his niece, Azula, that spa was cut short, Iroh and Zuko
rescinded their Fire Nation identity and embarked on a new leg
of their journey as refugees, a chapter that did not often
play into their favor. I know we've had some
difficult times lately. We've had to struggle just to get by,
but it's nothing to be ashamed of. There is a simple honor in poverty. Their travels into the Earth
Kingdom continued. Zuko even went on his own one point,
but once reunited, they made their way into Ba Sing Se. Who would have thought
after all these years, I'd return to the scene
of my greatest military disgrace as a tourist! Look around,
we're not tourists, we're refugees. Strangely enough, the sight of Iroh's
greatest failure eventually became a home. He landed a job in a local tea shop,
where he'd brew quite the impression. So you're the genius
behind this incredible brew. The whole city is buzzing about you. I hope Pao pays you well. Good tea is its own reward,
but it doesn't have to be the only reward. How would you like to have
your own tea shop? My own tea shop?
This is a dream come true! For a time, Iroh was able to enjoy
the good life in Ba Sing Se. It even allowed Iroh
to mourn his son properly. If only I could have helped you. Come home, solider boy,
come marching home. β« Brave soldier boy β« β« Comes marching home β« As he honored his son, Iroh's niece
made her own impact on the city. Azula snuck in, began to collude
with the corrupt Earth Kingdom army, and before you know it, Iroh was back in the Fire Nation
Capitol as a prisoner. You brought this on yourself, you know,
we could have returned together! You could have been a hero! You're a crazy old man! You're crazy!
And if you weren't in jail, you'd be sleeping in the gutter! Being one of the smartest people around, he wouldn't be held captive for long. When left alone, he exercised his body, preparing for an explosive
and unexpected escape. -Where is my uncle?
-He's gone. He busted himself out. I've never seen anything like it,
he was like a one man army! Iroh began his trek
to Ba Sing Se once again, not for his tea shop or his son,
but for a grander reason. When I was a boy, I had a vision
that I would one day take Ba Sing Se, only now do I see that my destiny
is to take it back from the Fire nation. Iroh would prepare to do so
with a different kind of army, an army made of balance,
benders of all types, The Order of the White Lotus. A white lotus has always been about
philosophy and beauty and truth. But about a month ago, a call went out that we were needed
for something important. It came from a grand Lotus. Your uncle, Iroh of the Fire Nation. With the Order of
the White Lotus at his side, Iroh was ready to power
through Sozin's comet and liberate the Earth Kingdom
from his brother's army. So if I'm going to be Fire Lord
after the war is over, what are you going to do? After I reconquer Ba Sing Se, I'm going to reconquer my tea shop and I'm going to play
Pai Sho every day. The hundred year war came to an end. And the man that Iroh treated
like a son, Prince Zuko, became Fire Lord Zuko. I promised my uncle that I would restore
the honor of the Fire Nation, and I will. The road ahead of us is challenging. One hundred years of fighting
has left the world scarred and divided. But with the Avatar's help,
we can get it back on the right path and begin a new era of love and peace. Iroh remained in Ba Sing Se
for the most part, except for a quick stint
as interim Fire Lord, though his tea shop,
the Jasmine Dragon, remained home. At my age there is really
only one big surprise left. And I'd just as soon
leave it a mystery. Iroh eventually closed
his tea shop one final time... and opened a new tea shop
in the spirit world. I had always enjoyed
the company of the spirits. So when my work was done
in the material world, I chose to leave my body behind
and come to the spirit world. It can be a wonderful place,
and I've made so many friends. Iroh continued to serve tea
and advice to passersby like Avatar Aang's successor. I'm glad you came to visit us
in the spirit world, Korra. We're having a little tea party
to celebrate Mei Jian's wedding. The spirit world
is very mysterious, but so is love. Help yourself to some tea and cakes. And if you have any advice for us, it might be to hurry up
and finish your tea because that covers the most
important moments in Iroh's journey. What was your favorite location? Comment below and keep watching
for all things Avatar. Life happens wherever you are,
whether you make it or not.
