Among Avatar's top episodes receives an exclusive Magic: The Gathering collector's set.
Ordinarily, recap episodes are loathed by fans as an unnecessary time filler, or perhaps accepted as a requirement for series in the age of episodic releases. That wasn't always the situation, though Avatar: The Last Airbender showed it via "The Ember Island Players," a cherished segment from its final season that is now granted a dedicated Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair collection.
Highlights regarding the collector's edition
The full Secret Lair superdrop for the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender edition was unveiled on November 4. It features five separate collections, and although a set named "My Cabbages!" is an admittedly amusing nod to Avatar's beloved recurring figure, the other collections feel a bit less imaginative, aside from one remarkable entry: "The Ember Island Players."
Drawing from the seventeenth episode of the third season of the beloved series, this collector's drop includes 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
Why this installment remains memorable
Viewers of the show fondly remember this installment, which acted as a summary of the hero Aang and his friends' adventure prior to the final episode. In contrast to other recap episodes, or compilation episodes, "The Ember Island Players" was not driven by budget restrictions or scheduling problems. The show's makers truly wanted to provide audiences an opportunity to reflect on the show's narrative, however, they opted to execute it with flair.
In the episode, the crew observe a stage show based on their exploits at a playhouse set on Ember Island, called The Boy in the Iceberg. The play itself is wildly exaggerated, melodramatic, and overall hilarious. It succeeds since it plays on the characters' views about themselves, contrasting them with how the world (and notably the antagonist nation) sees them. It possesses the perfect balance of meta-commentary, and it results in possibly the finest interpretation of the show released so far.
Appeal and availability
In terms of value, this is a great Secret Lair for one simple reason: Braid of Fire. This card sells between $20 and $40 on various platforms currently, and for $29.99 you can obtain the entire Secret Lair, or alternatively $39.99 for the shiny edition.
Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender set can be accessed during early access events beginning November 14 and releases worldwide on November 21.
