#3. Katara

Among all the girl power icons, Katara is the OG. She may have been pegged as the “mother friend” of the group at first, but that’s not all there is to her. She’s also passionate, brave, and a leader.

She shows time and time again that she’s not afraid to fight for her ideals and loved ones, stemming from taking over the roles of her mother and tribe leader at a young age.

However, her best moments in the series were not the perfect ones, but the ones where she showed vulnerability. When faced with the choice to kill or spare the person who murdered her mother, she chose to stick to her principles. That complexity in her character places her high on our list.

#2. Zuko

Zuko probably has one of the best character growth in the history of animation, and this is why he’s number two on our list. Zuko is introduced as the hot-headed antagonist hellbent on looking for Aang even at the cost of his crew. However, as the show goes on, we discover that his true nature was fair and kind before his father destroyed those parts of him.

With a multitude of crossroads laid in front of him and the weight of each choice he has to make, Zuko suffers some missteps along the way. Eventually, though, he becomes a person that embodies the good that was in him all along. The only reason he’s number two is because he wouldn’t have been that person without…

#1. Iroh

Uncle Iroh is easily everyone’s top pick. Or top three at the very least.

This retired Fire Nation general, former crown prince of the Fire Nation, and White Lotus Grandmaster had a complicated past, to say the least. But our first introduction to him was as a wise mentor to his nephew, Zuko.

Zuko’s growth has always been heavily influenced by Iroh; every good choice he makes has Iroh’s mark on it. However, you don’t gain wisdom without going through pain. In Iroh’s case, his triumphs, mistakes, and lessons echo throughout the series, affecting not only the characters but also the viewers.

Even a decade later, long-time fans still look up his advice when they need it the most.

Special Mention: Toph Beifong

We just couldn’t decide where to place everybody’s favourite, Toph Bei Fong. Skills-wise, she’s the strongest Earth-bender in the entire show, using Earth-bending to sense vibrations in order to see, but also developed Metal-bending when everyone thought it was impossible.

But besides those triumphs, her character is one of the most underdeveloped. She may have grown from a solo act to a team player – thanks to a tea-drinking session with Iroh – but she never got the closure she needed with her parents, which is a major stumbling block for her character. But with all that’s said and done, we can both agree: We still want to be as cool as her.