Among Avatar: The Last Airbender's best episodes receives its own Magic: The Gathering collector's set.
Usually, clip shows are disliked from viewers as a pointless time filler, or sometimes accepted as a requirement in television in the age of weekly production. This wasn't always true, and Avatar: The Last Airbender proved it through "The Ember Island Players," a beloved episode in its last season now being getting a special Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair collection.
Information regarding the collector's edition
The complete Secret Lair superdrop for the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender collection was announced earlier this month. It features five distinct sets, and even though the one called "My Cabbages!" is clearly funny homage to the show's best background character, the remaining sets seem somewhat uninspired, except for one standout: "The Ember Island Players."
Drawing from installment 17 in the final season of the animated show, this collector's drop includes these specific cards:
- 1x Phantasmal Image portrayed as "Absolutely Accurate Actor"
- 1x Braid of Fire
- 1x Cursed Mirror
- 1x Mask of Memory
- 1x Thespian's Stage
What makes this installment is special
Audiences of the series clearly recall this installment, which served as a summary of the protagonist Aang and his companions' adventure before the series' finale. In contrast to other recap episodes, or "clip shows," "The Ember Island Players" did not stem from financial limitations or production issues. The show's makers specifically aimed to provide audiences an opportunity to revisit the overall plot, yet they chose to execute it with flair.
In the episode, the main characters view a theatrical performance depicting their journeys at a playhouse on Ember Island, titled The Boy in the Iceberg. The whole thing is inaccurate, melodramatic, and completely amusing. It succeeds as it plays with the characters' perception of themselves, juxtaposing them against how the world (and notably the Fire Nation) sees them. It possesses the perfect balance of introspective humor, and it becomes possibly the finest interpretation of the show we have had.
Value and cost
When it comes to cost-effectiveness, this offers a fantastic Secret Lair for one simple reason: Braid of Fire. This particular card sells between $20 and $40 through card retailers currently, and at $29.99 you can snag the full set, or $39.99 for the premium foil treatment.
Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender edition can be accessed for advance previews on Nov. 14 and debuts internationally on Nov. 21.