One of Avatar: The Last Airbender's top episodes receives its own Magic: The Gathering collector's set.
Ordinarily, summary installments are loathed by fans as an unnecessary diversion, or perhaps accepted as a requirement for shows during the period of weekly production. That wasn't always the situation, though Avatar: The Last Airbender proved it via "The Ember Island Players," a beloved segment during its concluding run now being receiving an exclusive Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair release.
Information about the special release
The full Secret Lair superdrop for the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set was unveiled on November 4. This includes five distinct sets, and even though a set named "My Cabbages!" is certainly amusing nod to Avatar's beloved recurring figure, the remaining sets feel a bit less imaginative, aside from one remarkable entry: "The Ember Island Players."
Based on installment 17 of the third season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, this collector's drop contains these particular cards:
- 1x Phantasmal Image as "Absolutely Accurate Actor"
- 1x Braid of Fire
- 1x Cursed Mirror
- 1x Mask of Memory
- 1x Thespian's Stage
What makes this segment stands out
Audiences of the show warmly cherish this episode, which served as a review of the protagonist Aang and his companions' journey prior to the final episode. Unlike standard summary installments, or retrospective segments, "The Ember Island Players" was not driven by budget restrictions or creative challenges. The producers genuinely intended to offer viewers a moment to reflect on the series' story, but they decided to do it creatively.
During the installment, the heroes watches a theatrical performance inspired by their journeys in a theater located on Ember Island, called The Boy in the Iceberg. The entire performance is factually incorrect, over-the-top, and overall hilarious. It succeeds as it plays on the characters' views of themselves, juxtaposing them compared to how society (and particularly the antagonist nation) sees them. It contains the right amount of introspective humor, and it ends up arguably the best adaptation of the show we have had.
Worth and availability
When it comes to cost-effectiveness, this is a great Secret Lair because of one major element: Braid of Fire. This specific card trades for $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 foil version.
Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender set is available for advance previews on Nov. 14 and launches globally come November 21.
