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Ordinarily, clip shows are disliked by fans as an unnecessary diversion, or at best tolerated as essential for shows in the age of weekly production. That wasn't always true, though Avatar: The Last Airbender proved it via "The Ember Island Players," a beloved segment in its last season which is now getting an exclusive Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair release.

Highlights regarding the collector's edition

The complete Secret Lair superdrop for the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set was announced on November 4. Containing five distinct sets, and although a set named "My Cabbages!" is clearly humorous tribute to the show's beloved recurring figure, the other collections seem somewhat lacking creativity, except for one standout: "The Ember Island Players."

Inspired by installment 17 in the final season of the beloved series, this special set contains the following cards:

• 1x Phantasmal Image represented as "Absolutely Accurate Actor"
• 1x Braid of Fire
• 1x Cursed Mirror
• 1x Mask of Memory
• 1x Thespian's Stage

Why this episode stands out

Audiences of the show warmly cherish this particular episode, which acted as a review of the hero Aang and his companions' adventure before the series' finale. Different from standard summary installments, or compilation episodes, "The Ember Island Players" wasn't motivated from financial limitations or scheduling problems. The show's makers specifically aimed to provide audiences a moment to recap the overall plot, yet they chose to execute it with flair.

Throughout the segment, the crew view a theatrical performance depicting their adventures on a stage on Ember Island, titled The Boy in the Iceberg. The play itself is wildly exaggerated, melodramatic, and overall hilarious. It works because it plays with the characters' perception about themselves, setting them against compared to how society (and especially the Fire Nation) sees them. It contains an ideal level of introspective humor, and it results in possibly the best adaptation of the show we have had.

Appeal 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 on various platforms currently, and for $29.99 you can acquire the entire Secret Lair, or for $39.99 for the shiny edition.

Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender set can be accessed for advance previews on Nov. 14 and launches globally on November 21.