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Ordinarily, clip shows are disliked by fans as an unnecessary time filler, or at best accepted as a necessity in television in the era of episodic releases. However, this wasn't the case, and Avatar: The Last Airbender proved 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 about the collector's edition

The entire Secret Lair superdrop for the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set was announced on November 4. It features five Secret Lairs, and even though one titled "My Cabbages!" is clearly funny homage to the show's most famous minor character, the remaining sets seem somewhat less imaginative, except for one standout: "The Ember Island Players."

Inspired by episode 17 of the third season of the beloved series, this special set 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 is special

Audiences of the show clearly recall this installment, which served as a review of the protagonist Aang and his companions' adventure before the series' finale. Different from typical clip shows, or compilation episodes, "The Ember Island Players" was not driven by budget restrictions or creative challenges. The show's makers truly wanted to provide audiences a moment to recap the show's narrative, but they decided to execute it with flair.

Throughout the segment, the main characters observe a theatrical performance inspired by their journeys in a theater located on Ember Island, titled The Boy in the Iceberg. The play itself is wildly exaggerated, over-the-top, and overall hilarious. It works since it plays with the characters' perception of themselves, setting them against against how the world (and notably the Fire Nation) perceives them. It has an ideal level of self-awareness, and it becomes perhaps the finest interpretation of the show available to date.

Worth and pricing

In terms of value, this offers a fantastic Secret Lair due to one key factor: Braid of Fire. This particular card is valued between $20 and $40 on various platforms currently, while for $29.99 you can obtain the full set, or $39.99 for the foil version.

Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender edition is available for advance previews on Nov. 14 and releases worldwide on November 21.