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Typically, summary installments are disliked from viewers as a needless waste of time, or sometimes tolerated as a necessity in television in the era of regular broadcasts. However, this wasn't true, and Avatar: The Last Airbender showed it with "The Ember Island Players," a beloved installment in its last season now being granted a dedicated Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair collection.

Highlights of the Secret Lair

The entire Secret Lair superdrop for the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set was announced recently. Containing five Secret Lairs, and although the one called "My Cabbages!" is certainly funny homage to Avatar's most famous minor character, the remaining sets appear slightly uninspired, aside from one remarkable entry: "The Ember Island Players."

Inspired by episode 17 of the third season of the animated show, this collector's drop contains these particular cards:

• 1x Phantasmal Image represented 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

Viewers of the series warmly cherish this installment, which acted as a review of Aang and the group's quest before the series' finale. Unlike other recap episodes, or compilation episodes, "The Ember Island Players" wasn't motivated by budget restrictions or production issues. The show's makers truly wanted to offer viewers a chance to revisit the overall plot, but they decided to do it creatively.

During the installment, the crew watches a theatrical performance depicting their journeys at a playhouse on Ember Island, called The Boy in the Iceberg. The whole thing is inaccurate, melodramatic, and completely amusing. It succeeds as it plays with the heroes' understanding of themselves, juxtaposing them compared to how society (and especially the Fire Nation citizens) views them. It has the right amount of meta-commentary, and it results in perhaps the finest interpretation of the show we have had.

Appeal and pricing

In terms of value, this offers a fantastic Secret Lair due to one key factor: Braid of Fire. This particular card is valued between $20 and $40 on various platforms currently, while for $29.99 you can obtain the full set, or $39.99 for the premium foil treatment.

Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender edition will be available during early access events beginning November 14 and releases worldwide come November 21.