One of Avatar's most beloved installments is honored with a dedicated MTG collector's set.

Typically, clip shows face criticism among audiences as a pointless time filler, or sometimes viewed as a requirement for shows in the era of weekly production. That wasn't always the situation, and Avatar: The Last Airbender showed it via "The Ember Island Players," a cherished episode from its final season which is now receiving a special Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop.

Highlights about the special release

The full Secret Lair superdrop for the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set was announced on November 4. Containing five Secret Lairs, and although one titled "My Cabbages!" is certainly amusing nod to Avatar's best background character, the remaining sets seem somewhat lacking creativity, aside from one remarkable entry: "The Ember Island Players."

Inspired by the seventeenth episode from season 3 of the beloved series, this Secret Lair includes the following cards:

• 1x Phantasmal Image as "Absolutely Accurate Actor"
• 1x Braid of Fire
• 1x Cursed Mirror
• 1x Mask of Memory
• 1x Thespian's Stage

The reason this episode stands out

Audiences of the show fondly remember this particular episode, which served as a summary of the hero Aang and his companions' quest prior to the final episode. Different from typical clip shows, or retrospective segments, "The Ember Island Players" did not stem from financial limitations or creative challenges. The show's makers specifically aimed to offer viewers an opportunity to recap the series' story, yet they chose to approach it inventively.

Throughout the segment, the heroes watches a play inspired by their exploits on a stage on Ember Island, named The Boy in the Iceberg. The entire performance is inaccurate, over-the-top, and utterly comical. It succeeds because it plays with the heroes' understanding about themselves, juxtaposing them with how the world (and especially the antagonist nation) perceives them. It has an ideal level of self-awareness, and it ends up possibly the finest interpretation of Avatar we have had.

Value and availability

When it comes to cost-effectiveness, this is a great Secret Lair for one simple reason: Braid of Fire. This specific card trades for $20 and $40 on various platforms currently, and for $29.99 you can snag the full set, or $39.99 for the foil version.

Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender edition will be available for advance previews starting November 14 and debuts internationally on November 21.