Although taking place seventy years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra features and references characters from the original show, such as Toph, Katara, and Uncle Iroh. Because they were such a big part of what made the first animated series great, quite a few characters in The Legend of Korra are related to the old generation and the original Team Avatar. One example is General Iroh, who was named after Zuko’s Uncle Iroh. But how are these two characters related?
Uncle Iroh was Zuko’s greatest ally and closest family member. During Zuko’s darkest moments, Iroh was there to help guide and support the young Fire Nation prince. Although Zuko didn’t always listen or agreed with his uncle, Iroh was a major influence in his life and the reason why he decided to go against his father and join Aang. After the defeat of the Fire Nation and Ozai’s arrest, Zuko became the new Fire Lord, and Iroh opened a tea shop, but the two remained close. Iroh was even Fire Lord for a time, while Zuko was on a quest to find his mother, Ursa. Fittingly, Iroh’s first act as Fire Lord was to enact a holiday dedicated to tea.
Iroh continued to guide and help Zuko and Aang, supporting his family and working in his tea shop, the Jasmine Dragon, until the end of his days. Eventually, he passed away, but Iroh’s spirit went to the Spirit World, where he built a new tea shop and made plenty of friends there. Even after death, Iroh still offered wisdom to those he encountered in the Spirit World, including a young and lost Korra. The two met in season 2 and 3 of The Legend of Korra.
![How Legend of Korra’s General Iroh Is Related To Zuko’s Uncle](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/How-Legend-of-Korra-General-Iroh-Is-Related-To-Zuko-Uncle-Korra-Meets-Uncle-Iroh-in-the-Spirit-World.jpg)
At some point after Avatar: The Last Airbender, Zuko had a daughter named Izumi. Later, Izumi had two children: a boy and a girl. She named the boy after Zuko’s uncle, Iroh. This means the original Iroh is the great-granduncle of the younger Iroh. As an adult, Iroh became the youngest general in the United Forces navy. As part of the United Republic of Nations’ military force, Iroh’s main goal was to protect Republic City and maintain peace. He helped Korra multiple times, joining her to stop Amon and the Equalists, but also fighting against Kuvira and, later, Tokuga in the sequel comics.
Zuko and General Iroh were very close, and their relationship seemed similar to Zuko’s and his uncle’s, with Zuko now the mentor and guide to the younger Iroh. General Iroh also was friends with Bumi, Aang’s firstborn son and a commander in the United Forces. Just as Uncle Iroh and King Bumi were both members of the Order of the White Lotus, General Iroh and Commander Bumi fought side by side in the United Forces navy. It’s unclear if Uncle Iroh ever met General Iroh, but if he did, he no doubt was proud of his great-grandnephew.