Out of all the what ifs
in the world of Avatar, there's one that changes everything. So today, thanks to your votes,
we're answering this one simple question. What if Iroh was the Fire Lord? Before we dive in,
be sure to subscribe and click the notification bell
so you never miss a video. Now it's hard to imagine Iroh,
Zuko's wise, tea loving, peaceful uncle, as... this guy. [roaring] But as the first born son of Azulon, Iroh was next in line
to become the Fire Lord until it all fell apart in Ba Sing Se. Iroh has lost his son.
Lu Ten did not survive the battle. After Lu Ten's death, Ozai's scheming
cut Iroh out of the line of succession. But if Lu Ten had survived,
it's safe to assume that Iroh would have become the Fire Lord. Now, if Iroh doesn't leave the front
the day his army breaches the outer wall, it seems like his forces would have taken
all of the Earth Kingdom's capital. After all, he was on the verge of victory
when his son died. 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. [laughing] Iroh has admitted that war and destruction
were a part of the family business. And he really wanted to succeed
in the eyes of his father. Plus, he believed
that conquest was his destiny. When I was a boy, I had a vision
that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. So winning this battle with his son
at his side would fulfill this destiny. And make Iroh even more confident
in the Fire Nation's mission to take over the world. With the Earth Kingdom capital conquered,
Iroh would probably leave his son, Lu Ten in charge of Ba Sing Se,
before returning to the Fire Nation. And he would receive a hero's welcome. If Iroh is the first born,
the Dragon of the West, the hero of the Fire Nation,
the conqueror of Ba Sing Se, and the father
of a living heir to the throne, Ozai would have no way to argue that he should be crowned Fire Lord,
not Iroh. My brother abandoned the siege
of Ba Sing Se. But I am here father
and my children are alive. Revoke Iroh's birthright. Then Azulon would have no reason
to tell Ozai to kill Zuko. Grandfather said
dad's punishment should fit his crime. "You must know the pain of losing
a first born son, by sacrificing your own!" And Ursa and Ozai would have no reason
to poison Fire Lord Azulon. Your mother did vicious,
treasonous things that night. So, Azulon would live out his reign and conquer the rest of the Earth Kingdom
with General Iroh's help. While it's possible that Azulon
could survive until Aang unfreezes, let's be real,
he looks a little... past his prime here. Fire Lord Azulon,
can't you just call him grandfather? He's not exactly
the powerful Fire Lord he used to be. Someone will probably end up
taking his place soon. So, Iroh probably wouldn't have long
to wait before being crowned the next Fire Lord. In a world where the Earth Kingdom
is under his control, the Air Nomads are believed to be
completely wiped out. And the Water Tribes
are the only resistance. What would Fire Lord Iroh
do with his power? Well, Iroh, himself said that back then the mantle of Fire Lord was in his blood,
which boiled with desire for conquest. That doesn't sound like
the Uncle Iroh we know. And even after the war,
he wrote in a letter to Zuko, "Even now, I can picture the path
not taken Iroh: the Fire Lord, scourge of the Fire Nation!
How the world would fear me!" That's pretty intense. He also said that it was losing Lou Ten that changed the course
of his entire life. He gave up his desire for power and went into the Spirit World
to search for his son. So, in a timeline where Lu Ten survived
and Iroh never went to the Spirit World, he would definitely become
a tyrannical Fire Lord, just like Ozai. Right? And he would continue the war and wipe out the Water Tribes
and the world would fear him. And he'd never stop
until they conquered the Four Nations. Right? Uh, maybe... or maybe not. Because even back then,
there was more to Iroh than just a desire for conquest. At this point, Fire Lord Iroh
would have two sides at war inside him. On one hand,
he would wanna make his father proud by leading the Fire Nation
to conquer the world. Just call it,
taking over the family business. On the other hand, Iroh's experiences
as a young man traveling the world had already taught him
about balance and peace. He had already joined
the Order of the White Lotus at this point
and lied to protect the last dragons. Hang on. An inner conflict
between seeking the destiny the Father Lord sets out for you... You mean the Fire Lord. ...or finding balance and peace
while traveling the Four Nations and meeting Ran and Shaw. Now, who does that remind you of? Hello. Zuko here. I'm just saying...
the parallels are uncanny. Anyways, the world would settle
into an uneasy, conquered peace under Fire Nation rule... until the return of the Avatar. Now, Fire Lord Iroh wouldn't think
the Avatar is coming back any time soon. Even if you're right
and the Avatar is alive, you won't find him. Your father, grandfather and great grandfather all tried
and failed. And in this timeline, Ozai
is never running a war council meeting because Ozai never becomes Fire Lord. Little 13 year old Zuko
might be invited to these war meetings, but he'd never end up
fighting his uncle in an Agni Kai. So, Zuko would never be banished
and sent to hunt for the Avatar. With nobody trying to hunt him down,
Aang would be able to thaw out in peace. Uh! Now, because all the Waterbenders
were taken from the Southern Water Tribe before Iroh's reign,
Katara would still need to go with Aang to find a waterbending master
at the North Pole. Katara, we're going to find you a master. But without Zuko tracking them,
Aang, Katara and Sokka would be able to travel without getting
the Fire Nation's attention. [screaming] My name is-- Check this out. [screaming] I'm the Avatar. Ah, scratch that.
Fire Lord Iroh would definitely hear about the return of the Avatar,
whether from his fellow White Lotus members
or from the Fire Sages. We are the Fire Sages,
guardians of the temple of the Avatar. Great. I am the Avatar. We know. Even in this timeline,
where he conquered the Earth Kingdom and became Fire Lord,
Iroh would still have a lot of respect for the Avatar. It is the combination
of the four elements in one person
that makes the Avatar so powerful. So, at some point during the journey
to the North Pole, Aang would probably receive an invitation
to tea with Fire Lord Iroh. Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger
is one of life's true delights. And the Avatar's big confrontation
with the Fire Lord would be less like this. I have all the power in the world! And more like this. Why don't you enjoy a cup
of calming jasmine tea? Their discussion would probably be a lot
like what happens in The Promise, but with Fire Lord Iroh
instead of Fire Lord Zuko. Iroh would argue that the Fire Nation should keep control of the lands
it conquered in the Earth Kingdom. While Aang would want to restore balance
among all four nations. And there's no telling
how that one would turn out. So-- Maybe Fire Lord Iroh would use
a strategic genius to out argue Aang. Maybe Aang would go all
Avatar State on him. Or maybe Iroh's respect for balance
among the Four Nations would lead him to agree with Aang and end
the Fire Nation's 100 year quest to rule the world... permanently. Understanding others, the other elements and the other nations
will help you become whole. But that's assuming that Iroh becomes the
Fire Lord because Lu Ten survives. What if there was another way
for Iroh to become the Fire Lord? Say Lu Ten doesn't survive the siege. Everything could play out
the way it does in the show, But Iroh's destiny doesn't just depend
on Lu Ten's death. It also depends on Azulon's. So, what if Lu Ten didn't survive
but Azulon did? In his letters to Zuko
in the Legacy of the Fire Nation, Iroh writes that his spirit
wouldn't allow him to become the Fire Lord after the loss of both his son
and his father. So, say that when he hears
about Lu Ten's death, Ozai still asks to take Iroh's place
as heir to the throne. Azulon would refuse, as we know,
and he would tell Ozai to kill Zuko. Ozai would try to poison Azulon.
But it's possible that as a firebender, Azulon's inner fire could weaken
the effect of Ursa's poison, keeping him alive. Then what? Well, Ozai would probably have to take
Zuko's life just like Azulon ordered. Maybe Zuko could catch up
with his mother and go into hiding. But either way, Zuko would be gone. Then Azulon would want to punish Ozai
for trying to poison him. He might put him in prison. Or he might... banish Ozai and tell him
he can only return to the Fire Nation and win back his honor
if he captures the Avatar. Oh, man. Can you imagine Ozai
out on a boat freezing his beard off, looking for 112 year old kid
in an ice cube? I would love to see that. Azulon, meanwhile, would call
his only loyal heir back to the Fire Nation. So, Iroh probably wouldn't have the chance
to enter the Spirit World and grieve for his son
the way he does in the timeline that we know. This Fire Lord Iroh, who lost his son
but stayed by Azulon's side, might seek revenge for Lou Ten's death
at Ba Sing Se. How? Well, he might use Sozin's Comet
to burn down the entire Earth Kingdom. And as for the Avatar...
with Ozai on his trail in a world mostly conquered
by the Fire Nation... Run! ...and without Iroh's help in Ba Sing Se, or Zuko's firebending lessons
or the Blue Spirit's help, or Appa's escape from Lake Laogai, he might not be able
to stop Fire Lord Iroh, the Dragon of the West,
from seeking revenge on the Earth Kingdom. Wow, Fire Lord Iroh
in this timeline is terrifying. Good thing the real Iroh is, well, Iroh. Now let's make these people some tea. Yes. Let's make some tea. Yeah, it's really hard to imagine
Iroh burning down the Earth Kingdom, especially because we actually do find out what would happen
if Uncle Iroh was the Fire Lord. After the war,
Zuko names him interim Fire Lord while he leaves to search for his mom. And the first thing Uncle Iroh does
with his Fire Lord power is...
declare a National Tea Appreciation Day. Best interim Fire Lord ever. Looking at these alternate timelines,
two things are clear. One, losing his father,
his son and his throne might actually have been the best thing
for Iroh and the world. Someone new must take the throne; an idealist with a pure heart
and unquestionable honor. And to, if he did take the throne,
Fire Lord Iroh would have to face a conflict within himself; follow the path his father set out
for him or find his own destiny. It's time for you to look inward and begin asking yourself
the big questions. Who are you and what do you want? Ever wonder what Avatar would be like if
Aang never ran away? Or if Ursa didn't disappear? Or if there was no cabbage merchant? Oh, my cabbages! What what if questions
should we explore next? Tell us in the comments.
Vote in the community tab. And be sure to like and subscribe for more alternate timelines
in the world of Avatar.
