A standout among Avatar: The Last Airbender's most beloved episodes gets its own MTG Secret Lair.
Typically, clip shows are disliked by fans as a pointless time filler, or at best accepted as a requirement for series in the era of weekly production. However, this wasn't true, and Avatar: The Last Airbender proved it with "The Ember Island Players," a popular segment in its last season that is now receiving an exclusive Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop.
Details regarding the Secret Lair
The entire Secret Lair superdrop for the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender edition was unveiled earlier this month. Containing five Secret Lairs, and although one titled "My Cabbages!" is clearly funny homage to the series' most famous minor character, the remaining sets feel a bit less imaginative, aside from one remarkable entry: "The Ember Island Players."
Drawing from installment 17 from season 3 of the beloved series, 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 installment remains memorable
Fans of Avatar clearly recall this particular episode, which served as a review of the hero Aang and the group's quest before the series' finale. In contrast to standard summary installments, or compilation episodes, "The Ember Island Players" did not stem by budget restrictions or production issues. The creators specifically aimed to give fans a chance to recap the series' story, however, they opted to approach it inventively.
During the installment, the main characters observe a stage show depicting their exploits at a playhouse set on Ember Island, named The Boy in the Iceberg. The whole thing is wildly exaggerated, over-the-top, and utterly comical. It excels because it plays with the heroes' understanding regarding their own identities, contrasting them compared to how society (and notably the antagonist nation) perceives them. It has the right amount of introspective humor, and it ends up perhaps the top rendition of the series released so far.
Value and cost
Regarding worth, this represents an excellent Secret Lair due to one key factor: Braid of Fire. This particular card trades for $20 and $40 on online marketplaces as of now, while for $29.99 you can snag the complete collection, or for $39.99 for the shiny edition.
Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender edition will be available for advance previews on Nov. 14 and launches globally come November 21.
