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Ordinarily, summary installments are disliked among audiences as a needless diversion, or at best accepted as a necessity for series in the era of regular broadcasts. That wasn't always the case, but Avatar: The Last Airbender showed it via "The Ember Island Players," a popular installment from its final season now being granted a dedicated Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair release.

Details regarding the collector's edition

The full Secret Lair superdrop for the soon-to-release Avatar: The Last Airbender collection was revealed earlier this month. It features five separate collections, and although the one called "My Cabbages!" is an admittedly humorous tribute to Avatar's beloved recurring figure, the other collections feel a bit less imaginative, aside from one remarkable entry: "The Ember Island Players."

Inspired by the seventeenth episode of the third season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, this special set includes 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 stands out

Audiences of the series clearly recall this installment, which served as a review of Aang and his friends' adventure prior to the final episode. In contrast to typical clip shows, or retrospective segments, "The Ember Island Players" wasn't motivated from financial limitations or scheduling problems. The creators truly wanted to give fans an opportunity to reflect on the series' story, yet they chose to execute it with flair.

Throughout the segment, the heroes observe a theatrical performance based on their exploits in a theater set on Ember Island, titled The Boy in the Iceberg. The play itself is inaccurate, over-the-top, and completely amusing. It works as it plays on the characters' views about themselves, setting them against against how the world (and particularly the Fire Nation) perceives them. It has the perfect balance of self-awareness, and it becomes arguably the finest interpretation of the series we have had.

Value and pricing

When it comes to cost-effectiveness, this represents an excellent Secret Lair due to one key factor: Braid of Fire. This card trades for $20 and $40 on various platforms as of now, and at $29.99 you can acquire the entire Secret Lair, or alternatively $39.99 for the foil version.

Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender collection can be accessed for advance previews on Nov. 14 and releases worldwide come November 21.