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Ordinarily, clip shows face criticism from viewers as a needless diversion, or sometimes accepted as essential in television in the era of regular broadcasts. That wasn't always true, but Avatar: The Last Airbender demonstrated this with "The Ember Island Players," a cherished episode during its concluding run now being granted an exclusive Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop.

Highlights about the collector's edition

The full Secret Lair superdrop for the soon-to-release Avatar: The Last Airbender collection was announced on November 4. Containing five distinct sets, and even though the one called "My Cabbages!" is clearly humorous tribute to Avatar's most famous minor character, the remaining sets feel a bit lacking creativity, with one notable exception: "The Ember Island Players."

Inspired by installment 17 of the third season of the animated show, 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 segment remains memorable

Fans of Avatar warmly cherish this installment, which acted as a summary of the hero Aang and his friends' quest leading up to the conclusion. Unlike typical clip shows, or retrospective segments, "The Ember Island Players" was not driven by budget restrictions or scheduling problems. The producers specifically aimed to give fans a moment to reflect on the series' story, yet they chose to do it creatively.

During the installment, the crew observe a stage show inspired by their adventures on a stage set on Ember Island, called The Boy in the Iceberg. The play itself is factually incorrect, cheesy, and overall hilarious. It works because it plays on the characters' views about themselves, contrasting them with how the world (and particularly the Fire Nation citizens) views them. It contains an ideal level of introspective humor, and it becomes possibly the best adaptation of the show we have had.

Worth and availability

In terms of value, this is a great Secret Lair because of one major element: Braid of Fire. This specific card trades for $20 and $40 through card retailers as of now, while for $29.99 you can obtain the complete collection, or alternatively $39.99 for the premium foil treatment.

Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender edition can be accessed during early access events beginning November 14 and launches globally on November 21.