One of Avatar's top episodes gets its own MTG special card drop.
Typically, clip shows face criticism among audiences as a needless time filler, or sometimes viewed as a requirement in television in the age of weekly production. That wasn't always true, but Avatar: The Last Airbender proved it via "The Ember Island Players," a beloved episode from its final season now being receiving an exclusive Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop.
Details of the Secret Lair
The full Secret Lair superdrop for the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set was revealed recently. This includes five distinct sets, and although a set named "My Cabbages!" is an admittedly funny homage to the show's best background character, the other collections feel a bit lacking creativity, except for one standout: "The Ember Island Players."
Inspired by episode 17 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 is special
Viewers of Avatar fondly remember this particular episode, which acted as a recap of the protagonist Aang and his companions' quest before the series' finale. In contrast to standard summary installments, or "clip shows," "The Ember Island Players" was not driven due to production constraints or creative challenges. The producers truly wanted to give fans a chance to revisit the show's narrative, but they decided to execute it with flair.
Throughout the segment, the main characters watches a theatrical performance based on their journeys in a theater on Ember Island, named The Boy in the Iceberg. The entire performance is factually incorrect, over-the-top, and utterly comical. It excels because it plays on the characters' views regarding their own identities, juxtaposing them with how the world (and particularly the Fire Nation) views them. It has the right amount of introspective humor, and it ends up possibly the top rendition of Avatar available to date.
Worth and pricing
Regarding worth, this offers a fantastic Secret Lair for one simple reason: Braid of Fire. This specific card sells between $20 and $40 on online marketplaces currently, and for $29.99 you can snag the complete collection, or alternatively $39.99 for the premium foil treatment.
Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender collection is available for advance previews on Nov. 14 and debuts internationally on November 21.
