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Typically, summary installments are loathed among audiences as an unnecessary diversion, or at best accepted as essential for shows in the age of weekly production. This wasn't always the situation, and Avatar: The Last Airbender showed it with "The Ember Island Players," a cherished installment from its final season that is now granted a dedicated Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop.

Details of the Secret Lair

The full Secret Lair superdrop for the soon-to-release Avatar: The Last Airbender set was announced on November 4. It features five distinct sets, and while a set named "My Cabbages!" is clearly amusing nod to the show's most famous minor character, the remaining sets appear slightly lacking creativity, aside from one remarkable entry: "The Ember Island Players."

Based on episode 17 from season 3 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, this Secret Lair includes these particular 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 stands out

Audiences of the show fondly remember this installment, which served as a review of the protagonist Aang and the group's quest before the series' finale. Different from standard summary installments, or "clip shows," "The Ember Island Players" was not driven due to production constraints or production issues. The producers specifically aimed to provide audiences a moment to reflect on the series' story, but they decided to approach it inventively.

In the episode, the heroes observe a stage show depicting their exploits in a theater on Ember Island, titled The Boy in the Iceberg. The entire performance is factually incorrect, melodramatic, and overall hilarious. It excels as it plays on the characters' views of themselves, setting them against compared to how society (and particularly the Fire Nation) perceives them. It contains the right amount of self-awareness, and it ends up possibly the finest interpretation of the show we have had.

Worth and pricing

In terms of value, this offers a fantastic Secret Lair due to one key factor: Braid of Fire. This specific card is valued between $20 and $40 through card retailers currently, while for $29.99 you can snag the complete collection, or alternatively $39.99 for the foil version.

Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender collection is available for pre-release events starting November 14 and releases worldwide come November 21.