One of Avatar: The Last Airbender's most beloved episodes receives a dedicated MTG collector's set.
Typically, clip shows are disliked by fans as a pointless diversion, or perhaps tolerated as a requirement in television in the age of weekly production. This wasn't always true, and Avatar: The Last Airbender proved it through "The Ember Island Players," a cherished episode during its concluding run that is now getting an exclusive Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop.
Information regarding the Secret Lair
The full Secret Lair superdrop for the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set was unveiled on November 4. Containing five distinct sets, and while one titled "My Cabbages!" is an admittedly funny homage to the show's best background character, the remaining sets seem somewhat less imaginative, except for one standout: "The Ember Island Players."
Inspired by the seventeenth episode in the final season of the beloved series, this special set contains the following cards:
- 1x Phantasmal Image represented as "Absolutely Accurate Actor"
- 1x Braid of Fire
- 1x Cursed Mirror
- 1x Mask of Memory
- 1x Thespian's Stage
What makes this installment stands out
Viewers of the show clearly recall this episode, which served as a recap of the protagonist Aang and his friends' quest before the series' finale. In contrast to other recap episodes, or "clip shows," "The Ember Island Players" did not stem by budget restrictions or creative challenges. The creators truly wanted to give fans a chance to reflect on the overall plot, yet they chose to do it creatively.
In the episode, the main characters view a theatrical performance depicting their journeys on a stage on Ember Island, named The Boy in the Iceberg. The whole thing is factually incorrect, over-the-top, and completely amusing. It succeeds as it plays on the characters' views about themselves, setting them against against how the world (and especially the Fire Nation citizens) sees them. It has the perfect balance of self-awareness, and it results in perhaps the finest interpretation of the show available to date.
Value and pricing
Regarding worth, this represents an excellent Secret Lair because of one major element: Braid of Fire. This particular card sells between $20 and $40 on various platforms as of now, and for $29.99 you can acquire the entire Secret Lair, or alternatively $39.99 for the shiny edition.
Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender edition will be available for advance previews starting November 14 and releases worldwide on Nov. 21.