One of Avatar: The Last Airbender's most beloved episodes gets an exclusive MTG special card drop.
Ordinarily, summary installments face criticism from viewers as a pointless waste of time, or perhaps tolerated as a requirement for series during the period of weekly production. That wasn't always true, and Avatar: The Last Airbender proved it with "The Ember Island Players," a cherished episode from its final season which is now granted a dedicated Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair collection.
Details of the special release
The full Secret Lair superdrop for the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender collection was announced on November 4. Containing five distinct sets, and even though the one called "My Cabbages!" is an admittedly amusing nod to the series' most famous minor character, the remaining sets appear slightly uninspired, with one notable exception: "The Ember Island Players."
Inspired by episode 17 of the third season of the animated show, this Secret Lair features 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 episode remains memorable
Fans of the show fondly remember this particular episode, which acted as a review of Aang and the group's quest prior to the final episode. Different from other recap episodes, or "clip shows," "The Ember Island Players" did not stem from financial limitations or scheduling problems. The producers specifically aimed to provide audiences an opportunity to recap the series' story, however, they opted to execute it with flair.
During the installment, the main characters watches a stage show depicting their adventures on a stage on Ember Island, called The Boy in the Iceberg. The whole thing is factually incorrect, cheesy, and overall hilarious. It succeeds because it plays on the characters' views about themselves, juxtaposing them with how the world (and especially the Fire Nation citizens) perceives them. It has the perfect balance of self-awareness, and it becomes possibly the top rendition of Avatar released so far.
Value and availability
When it comes to cost-effectiveness, this offers a fantastic Secret Lair because of one major element: Braid of Fire. This particular card trades for $20 and $40 on online marketplaces as of now, while for $29.99 you can acquire the full set, or for $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 releases worldwide come November 21.
