🔗 Share this article

Ordinarily, summary installments are disliked among audiences as a needless time filler, or perhaps accepted as a necessity for series during the period of regular broadcasts. That wasn't always true, though Avatar: The Last Airbender proved it via "The Ember Island Players," a beloved episode in its last season which is now receiving a special Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair release.

Information about the collector's edition

The full Secret Lair superdrop for the soon-to-release Avatar: The Last Airbender collection was revealed earlier this month. Containing five separate collections, and although the one called "My Cabbages!" is an admittedly funny homage to the show's most famous minor character, the other collections feel a bit uninspired, with one notable exception: "The Ember Island Players."

Drawing from installment 17 from season 3 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, this special set includes these specific 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 segment is special

Viewers of Avatar clearly recall this particular episode, which served as a summary of the protagonist Aang and his companions' journey leading up to the conclusion. Unlike standard summary installments, or retrospective segments, "The Ember Island Players" was not driven from financial limitations or production issues. The show's makers truly wanted to provide audiences an opportunity to revisit the series' story, however, they opted to do it creatively.

During the installment, the heroes observe a play based on their exploits on a stage on Ember Island, titled The Boy in the Iceberg. The entire performance is wildly exaggerated, melodramatic, and completely amusing. It works since it plays with the heroes' understanding about themselves, juxtaposing them with how the world (and notably the antagonist nation) sees them. It has the right amount of introspective humor, and it results in arguably the finest interpretation of the show we have had.

Worth and pricing

In terms of value, this represents an excellent Secret Lair for one simple reason: Braid of Fire. This card is valued between $20 and $40 on online marketplaces as of now, while for $29.99 you can acquire the full set, or alternatively $39.99 for the shiny edition.

Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender collection will be available for pre-release events beginning November 14 and debuts internationally on November 21.