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Usually, recap episodes face criticism from viewers as an unnecessary diversion, or perhaps viewed as a necessity for series in the age of regular broadcasts. This wasn't always the situation, but Avatar: The Last Airbender demonstrated this with "The Ember Island Players," a popular segment from its final season now being receiving a special Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair collection.

Details of the collector's edition

The entire Secret Lair superdrop for the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender collection was revealed earlier this month. Containing five distinct sets, and even though a set named "My Cabbages!" is an admittedly humorous tribute to the show's beloved recurring figure, the other collections seem somewhat uninspired, with one notable exception: "The Ember Island Players."

Inspired by episode 17 of the third season of the beloved series, this Secret Lair features 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 installment stands out

Fans of the series warmly cherish this episode, which functioned as a review of the hero Aang and the group's adventure before the series' finale. Different from typical clip shows, or "clip shows," "The Ember Island Players" did not stem from financial limitations or production issues. The show's makers truly wanted to offer viewers an opportunity to recap the overall plot, but they decided to execute it with flair.

During the installment, the main characters observe a theatrical performance inspired by their adventures in a theater located on Ember Island, called The Boy in the Iceberg. The whole thing is factually incorrect, melodramatic, and completely amusing. It succeeds because it plays on the characters' views of themselves, setting them against compared to how society (and notably the Fire Nation citizens) sees them. It possesses the perfect balance of meta-commentary, and it results in possibly the top rendition of the show available to date.

Worth and pricing

When it comes to cost-effectiveness, this offers a fantastic Secret Lair due to one key factor: Braid of Fire. This specific card trades for $20 and $40 through card retailers as of now, and for $29.99 you can obtain the entire Secret Lair, or $39.99 for the foil version.

Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender edition is available for advance previews starting November 14 and launches globally come November 21.