Among Avatar's top installments gets its own MTG collector's set.

Usually, summary installments face criticism by fans as a pointless time filler, or perhaps accepted as a requirement for shows in the age of episodic releases. That wasn't always the situation, and Avatar: The Last Airbender showed it via "The Ember Island Players," a popular installment in its last season which is now getting an exclusive Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair collection.

Highlights of the Secret Lair

The entire Secret Lair superdrop for the soon-to-release Avatar: The Last Airbender collection was revealed recently. It features five Secret Lairs, and while the one called "My Cabbages!" is clearly funny homage to the show's most famous minor character, the other collections seem somewhat uninspired, aside from one remarkable entry: "The Ember Island Players."

Based on installment 17 from season 3 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, this collector's drop contains 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

The reason this episode is special

Audiences of the series fondly remember this installment, which served as a review of Aang and his companions' adventure leading up to the conclusion. In contrast to typical clip shows, or retrospective segments, "The Ember Island Players" did not stem due to production constraints or production issues. The creators specifically aimed to give fans a moment to recap the show's narrative, yet they chose to execute it with flair.

In the episode, the main characters watches a play depicting their journeys in a theater located on Ember Island, called The Boy in the Iceberg. The entire performance is inaccurate, melodramatic, and utterly comical. It excels since it plays with the heroes' understanding regarding their own identities, juxtaposing them compared to how society (and particularly the Fire Nation citizens) views them. It contains an ideal level of introspective humor, and it becomes perhaps the best adaptation of the show released so far.

Appeal and pricing

In terms of value, this offers a fantastic Secret Lair for one simple reason: Braid of Fire. This card is valued between $20 and $40 through card retailers currently, while for $29.99 you can acquire the complete collection, or $39.99 for the premium foil treatment.

Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender collection is available during early access events on Nov. 14 and releases worldwide on November 21.