Paul Sun-Hyung Lee took his job as Uncle Iroh seriously.

Avatar: The Last Airbender seems to have been cursed with disappointing adaptations, as its viewers have been subjected to the same not once but twice. The recent Netflix adaptation, although better than the 2010 film, has been getting a fair deal of criticism from all directions. From the way the characters were written to the storytelling, to even the VFX, nothing met the audience’s expectations.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Some fans went as far as to accuse the cast and the creators of not taking their responsibilities seriously enough. Straying away from the source material quite a lot, the latest adaption has resulted in fans getting upset, to say the least.

However, it would seem that there was one actor who understood the honor that he was given and did everything in his power to do the character he was playing justice; Paul Sun-Hyung as Uncle Iroh.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee Understood His Responsibility to Avatar: The Last Airbender Fans

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee recently gave an interview with The Wrap, where he spoke on all things related to the recently released Avatar: The Last Airbender Netflix adaptation. He specifically talked about what his approach was when he took on the role of Uncle Iroh. Lee is a very well-known actor, having a lot of range due to his years in the industry.
Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender
It is safe to assume that he knew what he was doing when he joined the cast of the series. However, it would seem that despite his experience, he understood that the role he was taking up was not a walk in the park.

“There was a big desire to not mess this one up,” he went on, “I didn’t take that task lightly.”

Avatar: The Last Airbender
The actor revealed that he had a very innate desire to not do a bad job as Iroh. He did not want to disappoint the fans, so he did not take the opportunity he was given lightly. Having a nonchalant approach towards characters is one of the biggest reasons why many adaptations fail, and Lee seems to have understood this and did not want history to repeat itself.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee Knew the Significance of Uncle Iroh

On top of understanding the weight of being a part of the Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee also understood the responsibility he had when playing a character like Iroh. The retired Fire Nation general is one of the most beloved characters in the entire series.
Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender

“He’s a beloved character. He’s an iconic character and one that a lot of people draw a lot of comfort from and inspiration from.” said Lee. 
He acted as a father figure for Zuko through his journey, and his words of wisdom were impactful even outside the series. To say that fans are protective of him would be an understatement. Lee understood this and wanted to do Iroh’s character justice in the way he portrayed him.