Zuko and Iroh's TOXIC Relationship?! | Avatar The Last Airbender Episode 1 Uncle Iroh Explained

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Zuko is Iroh’s BIGGEST Regret.
Is Zuko and Iroh relationship a toxic one.. you see I’ve seen a lot of comments about their relationship being best described as one of codependency.. Because Iroh, who had just lost his son, came to his banished nephew and all but forced him to become Lu Ten’s replacement. And Zuko, who had just been banished from his home and had no one to turn to, saw his uncle as his only option.. And also in a lot of ways Zuko represents Iroh’s chance at a better father, son relationship.. Because understandably as a parent he blames himself for his son's death. He doesn’t want it to happen again, but at the same time he can see Zuko’s ambition and anger as a mirror to his past.. He knows the path Zuko walks, because it's the same one he, himself, went down, it's one that only leads to pain, suffering and death.. Like I think Iroh’s decision to follow Zuko was completely selfish.. He did it out of regret rather than love.. But there was still love included in this decision. sure It was first and foremost one to make himself feel better, but does that make it a bad decision or a bad relationship.. Because imo their relationship soon became one about healing from the past rather than dwelling in it. So..
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[the_Ikar]

Don't you dare question absolutely gorgeous uncle Iroh

[zaspirite]

Selfish? It was selfless to me. He saw his nephew in need and his brother was a POS. He has been at odds ideologically with his brother since the death of his son, going with Zuko was taking his stand and ensuring Zuko didnt go dying chasing the approval of an evil man who has no moral bindings about sending children, even his own, to DIE.

[Lou-djce]

Don't you dare slander the Goat, Papi Iroh.

[TheRoseReaper]

It was never toxic, it was just Iroh not wanting an oroboros of anger to spread especially when it would have been all for nothing. Had Iroh not stepped in, Zuko would have died trying to find Aang, cold, bitter and alone.

[Rucker]

Iroh assisted Zuko and advised him on his journey. He never forced him to do anything, only helped the best way he could.

[chubbychuckle]

Sorry, but I just find this as a ridiculous take. There was nothing selfish about Iroh going with Zuko.
1st- We see in flashbacks that they were always close, probably because Iroh and Zuko's mom were the only people in his family nice to him. He always cared for him.
2nd- Iroh had plenty of reasons not to go with Zuko, including grieving. He went because his evil brother sent his 12-14 year old nephew out on a impossible task around the world to find the dangerous Avatar. Iroh went to guide his family and gained a son.

To me, Iroh had little to gain out of going with him because he already loved Zuko and had a good relationship. He could have sat back drinking tea.

[Freelix]

To say that it makes him feel good is not the same as saying it was selfish. Especially because he never took control of Zuko's destiny for himself, but only stood by to help and guide him. He also endured a lot of pain watching Zuko struggle and even betray him. That kind of burden can only be endured with love, not selfishness. If he'd tried to force Zuko to be his son, it would have been toxic. But also then the story would not have turned out the same way.

[chubbychuckle]

Toxic gets used way to much. A toxic relationship is Zuko and his father or Toph and her parents. If Iroh and Zuko is a toxic relationship, what work is used for those?

[CoolSpaceBlade]

Honestly it could have MAYBE been selfish or toxic at first but it definitely became an actual beautiful relationship as the series progressed

[cathalmoloney]

Okay, so here’s where the misunderstanding is. Irohs decision to go with Zuko was almost completely selfish but it wasn’t a bad relationship or a bad decision selfish actions are not immediately bad actions good things can come from selfish beginnings. Their relationship is not toxic. None of the decisions he makes are toxic The relationship is not one-sided. Both of them need each other and by the time we see them the original reason why Ira went with Zucco is no longer the reason why he’s there. It’s unrealistic to expect a relationship to start from a completely altruistic beginning after all once you break it down I always only on that shit because he wants to be He’s the ex crown Prince of the Fire nation he has no duty to protect Zuko so you would need to do it out of desire for something for him it would need to be selfish, but the relationship they have is one of love and like it or not Iroh was a father without a Sun and Zuko was a son without a father Neither one of them see each other as a uncle nephew relationship despite themselves calling it that but that’s okay because they’re both on that level

[deandredukes]

Make the most of your regrets; never smother your sorrow, but tend and cherish it till it comes to have a separate and integral interest. To regret deeply is to live afresh.

[stargroup]

This guy has taught me so much more then I already knew about this series, tysm :)

[ino]

Iroh needed a son to raise well. Zuko needed a good father figure. Theres nothing toxic about that

[AluneTheShaman]

People whom never seen unhealthy relationships should not get to preach others.

[highcomputing]

it's a family relationship. wtf are you talking about

[lazyaz]

Forced forced ? Watch the show man watch it seriously

[FurikoMaru]

Okay this is like the third short I've seen from you where you take potshots at Iroh's intentions and people's affection for him, and I'm starting to wonder if this is really just ragebait or if he ghosted you after a date or something.

[whitefox]

Zuko was not a replacement son. He was his nephew and the only familial connection he had. If it was only about feeling better I can't imagine Iroh wanting to go to BaSingSei. Yet even in BaSingSei, the place where his son died, he was kind to everyone, never expressing anything even close to animosity.
And let's face it. Azula is psychotic and Ozai is a megalomaniac. I mean Iroh was willing to help an actual mugger, if he says someone "needs to be put down", you should realise how far down they are.

[okboomerbutitsacat]

The real question were asking here is basically, if youre a good person for selfish reasons, does that make you less of a good person, and in my opinion, no, it does not.

[YeahThisIsMe-zsmx]

You think Zuko cared about Iroh's motives? If you were to build an orphanage to be revered as "good" do you think the orphans will care? No, you'd still build the orphanage!