When a character with the most iconic name in the Avatar franchise finally showed up at the end of The Legend of Korra Book One, fans lost their minds. Seeing a young, sharp-jawed man standing on the deck of a United Forces battleship was one thing. Hearing him speak with the unmistakable, raspy charisma of Dante Basco—the voice of Prince Zuko himself—was another thing entirely.
But then, the confusion set in.
Wait. Is this Zuko? Is it his son? Why does he look like a Fire Nation model but fight like a Republic City soldier? Honestly, the introduction of Legend of Korra General Iroh (specifically Iroh II) is one of the coolest, most under-discussed legacy beats in the sequel series. He isn't just a cameo. He is the living embodiment of how much the world changed between Aang’s time and Korra’s era.
Who Exactly Is General Iroh II?
Let’s clear up the family tree first. It’s simpler than people make it out to be.
General Iroh is the son of Fire Lord Izumi and the grandson of the legendary Fire Lord Zuko. This makes him the great-grandnephew of the original Uncle Iroh, the tea-loving Dragon of the West. He was named after his great-granduncle to honor the man who arguably saved the Fire Nation's soul.
He's a prince. A literal Royal. But he isn't sitting in a palace in the Fire Nation Capital sipping tea. Instead, he serves as the youngest general in the history of the United Forces.
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Think about that for a second. The grandson of the man who spent his youth trying to "capture the Avatar" to regain his honor is now the man the Avatar calls when she needs a literal army. Talk about a full-circle moment.
The United Forces and a New Kind of Hero
One of the weirdest things about Iroh II is his job. He’s the commander of the First Division of the United Forces.
Why is he in a "Foreign" Military?
Some fans find it bizarre that the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation is a general for the United Republic of Nations. It feels like a conflict of interest. But if you look at the history Zuko and Aang built, it makes total sense.
The United Republic was designed to be a place where all nations could coexist. By putting his own grandson in the leadership of the United Forces, Zuko (and later Izumi) signaled that the Fire Nation was 100% committed to global peace. It wasn't about conquest anymore. It was about service.
That Voice: The Dante Basco Factor
We have to talk about the voice. Bringing back Dante Basco to voice General Iroh was a stroke of genius, but it was also a massive "troll" move by the creators.
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For the first few seconds of his screen time, you almost want to call him Zuko. The cadence is the same. That "Honor" vibe is baked into every syllable. But Iroh II is much more composed than Zuko ever was at that age. He’s got the discipline of a soldier and the confidence of a man who never had to go on a three-year banishment quest to find himself.
He's basically what Zuko would have been if Ozai hadn't been a monster. He is Zuko, but without the trauma.
Combat Prowess: Not Just a Pretty Face
Iroh II doesn't get enough credit for his bending. In the Season 1 finale, "Skeletons in the Closet," we see him do things with fire that would make most masters sweat.
- Aerial Combat: He basically turns himself into a human jet. He uses fire propulsion to chase down Equalist high-speed aircraft.
- Instant Lightning: Unlike the original Iroh or Zuko, who needed a lot of "circular motion" and setup to generate lightning, Iroh II can fire it off almost instantly.
- Physicality: He’s a tank. He survived a plane crash, took out a fleet of mecha-tanks, and still had the energy to coordinate a counter-attack.
He represents the "modern" style of firebending. It's leaner. It's faster. It's designed for the cramped, high-tech battlefields of Republic City rather than the sprawling battlefields of the Hundred Year War.
The Most Overlooked Detail: His Relationship with Bumi
One of the best "blink and you'll miss it" dynamics in the show is Iroh’s friendship with Commander Bumi (Aang’s eldest son).
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Iroh is precise, stoic, and tactical. Bumi is... well, Bumi. He’s a wild card who claims to have won battles using nothing but a flute and a bag of sour plums. Seeing these two lead the United Forces together is comedy gold. It also shows that the "New Team Avatar" isn't just Korra and her friends—it's the entire next generation of the world's leaders working in sync.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Iroh II is "boring" compared to his namesake.
Look, nobody is going to beat Uncle Iroh in a "Best Character" contest. It's impossible. But General Iroh II isn't trying to be a philosopher. He’s a man of action. While the original Iroh was a general who became a sage, Iroh II is a prince who chose to be a soldier.
He doesn't have a tragic backstory because the previous generation fixed the world for him. His "boredom" is actually the greatest testament to Zuko’s success as a father and a leader.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Lore Buffs
If you're revisiting the series or writing your own fan theories, keep these specific details in mind regarding General Iroh:
- Check the Rank: He is a General of the United Forces, not the Fire Nation Army. This is a crucial distinction for the geopolitics of Korra’s world.
- Study the Bending: Watch his fight against the bi-planes again. Notice how he uses fire as a utility for movement, not just a weapon. This is the peak of modern firebending tech.
- The Succession Mystery: Since he is the Crown Prince, his continued service in Republic City suggests that Fire Lord Izumi is either very healthy or that the Fire Nation has significantly decentralized its power.
- Legacy over Mimicry: He carries the name and the voice, but his personality is actually more similar to a young Piandao or a disciplined Zhao (without the crazy).
General Iroh II serves as a bridge. He connects the high-stakes royal drama of The Last Airbender to the gritty, urban conflict of The Legend of Korra. He might not have much screen time, but every second he’s there, he proves that the Fire Nation’s legacy of "honor" finally means what it was always supposed to: protecting the world, not ruling it.
Start paying attention to the background details in the United Forces scenes. You'll notice that Iroh's leadership style is actually a blend of Water Tribe naval tactics and Fire Nation aggression—a perfect mix for the grandson of the man who helped unite the world.