One of Avatar: The Last Airbender's best episodes gets an exclusive Magic: The Gathering collector's set.
Typically, clip shows are disliked among audiences as an unnecessary waste of time, or at best viewed as a necessity in television in the era of regular broadcasts. That wasn't always the situation, though Avatar: The Last Airbender showed it via "The Ember Island Players," a beloved installment during its concluding run which is now receiving a dedicated Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair release.
Details regarding the collector's edition
The complete Secret Lair superdrop for the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender edition was unveiled earlier this month. This includes five Secret Lairs, and while a set named "My Cabbages!" is clearly humorous tribute to the series' most famous minor character, the remaining sets seem somewhat uninspired, aside from one remarkable entry: "The Ember Island Players."
Inspired by the seventeenth episode from season 3 of the animated show, this special set includes these specific cards:
- 1x Phantasmal Image as "Absolutely Accurate Actor"
- 1x Braid of Fire
- 1x Cursed Mirror
- 1x Mask of Memory
- 1x Thespian's Stage
Why this episode stands out
Viewers of the show fondly remember this installment, which served as a recap of the hero Aang and the group's journey prior to the final episode. Different from typical clip shows, or "clip shows," "The Ember Island Players" did not stem by budget restrictions or scheduling problems. The show's makers genuinely intended to provide audiences a chance to recap the overall plot, however, they opted to do it creatively.
In the episode, the main characters observe a theatrical performance depicting their journeys on a stage on Ember Island, titled The Boy in the Iceberg. The entire performance is inaccurate, melodramatic, and completely amusing. It succeeds because it plays on the characters' views about themselves, juxtaposing them against how the world (and notably the Fire Nation citizens) views them. It possesses an ideal level of self-awareness, and it ends up perhaps the finest interpretation of the series we have had.
Worth and pricing
When it comes to cost-effectiveness, this offers a fantastic Secret Lair due to one key factor: Braid of Fire. This card is valued between $20 and $40 through card retailers currently, and at $29.99 you can obtain the complete collection, or for $39.99 for the premium foil treatment.
Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender edition can be accessed for pre-release events starting November 14 and releases worldwide on November 21.