A standout among Avatar's top episodes is honored with a dedicated Magic: The Gathering collector's set.
Ordinarily, summary installments are disliked by fans as a pointless time filler, or perhaps viewed as a requirement for series during the period of episodic releases. This wasn't always the case, though Avatar: The Last Airbender proved it via "The Ember Island Players," a popular segment during its concluding run now being getting an exclusive Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair release.
Information regarding the collector's edition
The entire Secret Lair superdrop for the soon-to-release Avatar: The Last Airbender edition was revealed on November 4. This includes five separate collections, and although the one called "My Cabbages!" is an admittedly funny homage to Avatar's beloved recurring figure, the remaining sets appear slightly lacking creativity, with one notable exception: "The Ember Island Players."
Inspired by episode 17 from season 3 of the beloved series, this collector's drop contains 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
The reason this segment remains memorable
Audiences of Avatar fondly remember this episode, which served as a recap of Aang and the group's adventure before the series' finale. Different from typical clip shows, or compilation episodes, "The Ember Island Players" wasn't motivated by budget restrictions or creative challenges. The creators genuinely intended to offer viewers a moment to revisit the overall plot, yet they chose to execute it with flair.
In the episode, the crew observe a theatrical performance inspired by their exploits at a playhouse on Ember Island, titled The Boy in the Iceberg. The whole thing is factually incorrect, over-the-top, and utterly comical. It excels as it plays on the characters' views regarding their own identities, juxtaposing them against how the world (and especially the Fire Nation) views them. It has the right amount of self-awareness, and it ends up possibly the finest interpretation of the show available to date.
Appeal and pricing
Regarding worth, this represents an excellent Secret Lair for one simple reason: Braid of Fire. This card trades for $20 and $40 on various platforms currently, and for $29.99 you can obtain the complete collection, or alternatively $39.99 for the premium foil treatment.
Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender set will be available for advance previews starting November 14 and debuts internationally come November 21.
