General Iroh. The Dragon of the West... is back.

[Astronomy]

Actually, I'm really surprised that Iroh didn't wait for Zuko before busting out of prison. I thought for sure that they would join the gaang together.

[Zenjamin]

im not surprised at all. Iroh had such an intricate past and too important character to do nothing other then to hold zuko's hand all series, with no viable development...

further, If zuko wasnt able to redeem himself at the end without people pushing... it would have cheapened the moment...

sylvacoer.deviantart.com/art/quot-About-Time-quot-SPOILER-70628897

[yiceman]

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that some of the meaning is lost to me if Iroh reverts back to being a battle-leader after what happened to his son. Even maintaining his personality...Iroh was still a friendly and wise man from what we've seen, but he put aside being a general for a reason. Now I definitely see that he might do this, but I still retain a smidgen of doubt. He just seems like he's put his glory days behind him.

I would rather see Aang or Zuko rally the Fire Nation citizens, if anyone had to. They're the future after all.

And Zen I still don't get your fixation on Iroh's muscles. Being physically strong is largely irrelevant in being both a general and a ruler.

Muscles are also not that important in firebending...that was literally the first thing we hear Iroh teaching Zuko. It's all about breath. So it only makes sense to assume he busted out during the eclipse, right?

[Zenjamin]

"He just seems like he's put his glory days behind him"

I agree 100%, but if Iroh were to come out of retirement, it would have nothing to do with glory, he would be fighting for completely different reasons. he would be a different general, because his development would not be lost.

also, the gaang just has way too much to do without convincing the FN to rise agains Ozi. and they would be ill-fitted to do it.
plus, nobody has as much FN respect and prestige as Iroh.


Iagree taht the muscles are not very significant... anything Iroh could do, he could do without them... but the creators did give Iroh a new bod for a reason... and to only logical reason so far is that his new very impressive look will help to recruit troops and inspire confidence that a uprising lead, in part, by Iroh could succeed.
i was thinking before that, Iroh would use the eclipse to fight his bro with martial arts, and be surprised to find aang there... but obviously, that didnt happen... and we do have evidence of firebending during the breakout... and it looked like the guards had been tied up for a while before zuko got there.

ok, im way tired now... night.

[yiceman]

I don't think any reasons of the gAang being busy or being not up to the task stand up to how powerful a plot line it would be if they DID succeed. I still firmly believe that Zuko will be the next Fire Lord, not Iroh, and I believe he could start gaining support by leading an army.

So...Iroh got buff so he could look good? ;p

[Zenjamin]

ya... i know that sounds like a lame excuse... but wouldnt you want to follow this, this, or this into battle?
So now that we know he escaped befor the eclipse started, what suggestion do you have for why he bulked up?

the gaant already has connections within the 3 nations,it would take them at least the remainder of the series to get the FN on their side... iroh is much better positioned to do it.
the gaang still has to get the north pole, remaining earth benders, kioshi warriors (if sokka will allow it), and they have to teach aang fire bending.

"while it is always best to believe in oneself, a little help from others
can be a great blessing"

[tg]

benjamin said:

ya... i know that sounds like a lame excuse... but wouldnt you want to follow this, this, or this into battle?

That is definitely some wicked Iroh fan art. Wicked!!

Especially, the one with Iroh and lightning. Except, that fan artist got it wrong. Iroh can't make lightning. He can only re-direct it. (Which is actually better than bending lightning anyways. To re-direct lightning is a sign of defense and to protect something/yourself. To bend lightning is a sign of offense.)

Looking forward to when he does make his appearance. ^_^ I bet he re-grouped with OWL somewhere and probably plan to help join the fight during "The Eclipse" parts 1-4. If there is going to be an episode titled "The White Lotus", most likely, he should be there. Edit: As for Iroh becoming a "general" again, I don't think that'll happen. He doesn't need a "title" to help maintain an OWL resistance group. Just himself and his commitment to help restore balance.

And that's my thoughts into what could happen with Iroh.

[SpiritBender]

^^Iroh can make lightning. Didn't you see Bitter Work in season 2 where he tries to teach Zuko how to do it, and Crossroads of Destiny where he blasts the hole in the palace wall when escaping from the Dai Li?!?

[thelastavatar]

he can both bend lightning and redirect it. He has now *successfully* been able to pass on the redirecting technique to Zuko, and as we have seen in The Eclipse, that move saved his life.

[Zenjamin]

the others beat me to it... but still, how could you think that there was something that iroh couldnt do?

shame

[SpiritBender]

^^Seriously. Iroh is the greatest firebender in the world, and any who remain doubters will soon be silenced!!!

[tg]

spiritbender said:

^^Iroh can make lightning. Didn't you see Bitter Work in season 2 where he tries to teach Zuko how to do it, and Crossroads of Destiny where he blasts the hole in the palace wall when escaping from the Dai Li?!?

Oh yea, that's right. Forgot about that scene. ^^; Yeah, he can bend lightning.

[yiceman]

Yes, Iroh would be in a better position to rally troops, but from a narrative standpoint, since I think Zuko needs to be the new hope for the Fire Nation, it would be much more meaningful if he was responsible for rallying his nation. Simple as that.

I love that Iroh's now apparently charging into battle...shirtless. That is a really, really bad idea. One thing for a general to lead a mounted charge in full battle gear, but running around in a fight makes you unable to see the whole battlefield and make decisions.

I really think that Iroh worked out for a better reason than to look good.

[Zenjamin]

who said anything about him going into battle shirtless? please dont put words in people's mouths.

and if you have a better idea other then inspiration, feel free to suggest it.

because we already konw that it wasnt to break out of prison, for the reasons already discussed above

... and i know that link wasnt what anyone was thinking... its just funny.

[thelastavatar]

Rofl, if Iroh went into battle, everyone who previously knew him would stare and go, "What the...Is that really Iroh?" He went from fat, chubby, jolly guy to serious, beastly guy who still is jolly but knows that right now he needs to be serious. Personally, I think it's going to help his firebending. To take down Azula, he needs to move faster, and he couldn't do that carrying extra "junk in his trunk".