LEGO Lord of the Rings: Building The Shire, Epic Quest Begins

LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga have a new treasure to look forward to with the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Shire. Mark your calendars for April 2 if you're a LEGO Insider, as you'll get early access to this enchanting set. The general public can join the fun on April 5. This release marks the third LEGO Lord of the Rings set in the past three years, following the impressive 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the towering 5,471-piece Barad-dûr in 2024.

Out April 5

LEGO LOTR: The Shire, the Beginning of an Epic Quest

3See it at LEGO Store

The new 2,017-piece Shire set brings to life the cozy charm of Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole with meticulous detail. Every wall is rounded or curved, and each surface is adorned with accessories, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. IGN had the pleasure of testing this set, and while its charm is undeniable, the set's price point is disproportionately high for its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Set #10354 recreates Bilbo's home as seen on his "eleventy-first" birthday, featuring nine minifigures: Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey. The set is built into a green-bricked hillside, offering a cutaway view of three distinct rooms: the main foyer with its iconic round door, a study to the left, and a dining and sitting area to the right.

These rooms are constructed separately and connected with clamps, creating a seamless exterior hillside while maintaining a cohesive interior living space. The design captures the essence of Bilbo's cozy home, complete with patterned rugs, letters from well-wishers, and food tucked into every nook and cranny. Highlights include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace, a loaf of bread and libations on the windowsill, and artifacts from Bilbo's adventures, such as the Mithril Coat and a well-worn map.

The set features a single mechanical element utilizing LEGO Technic to change the fireplace display between a charred envelope and the One Ring, a nod to a pivotal scene from The Fellowship of the Ring. The rooms are wider than they are tall, reflecting the hobbit architecture and creating a sense of open space. While the interior construction is straightforward, the exterior's curved design requires careful attention to detail.

Building The Shire evokes a tactile pleasure similar to running one's hand over a detailed globe, with the natural ebb and flow of the hillside crafted from multiple curved green pieces. This design choice underscores the hobbits' harmony with their environment, a theme central to Tolkien's work. The set is crowned with a tree, its branches extending over the hilltop.

The set also includes freestanding exterior elements that enhance the storytelling, such as a birthday cake, a Party Tree with lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage with swappable leg positions for Frodo and Gandalf, and a group of barrels with a disappearing mechanism for Bilbo.

Overall, the LEGO Shire set is simpler than its predecessors, Rivendell and Barad-dûr, which aligns with the hobbits' modest lifestyle. However, its simplicity does not justify its steep price, which is 34% above the standard 10 cents per brick metric. At $270 for 2,017 pieces, it feels more like a $200 set. Even LEGO Star Wars sets, known for their higher price points, don't typically see such a discrepancy.

Ironically, this set remains the most affordable option for Lord of the Rings fans unable to justify the cost of Rivendell or Barad-dûr. Yet, those larger sets offer better value per brick. While piece count alone may not fully dictate pricing, the question remains whether LEGO's goodwill and the enduring love for Lord of the Rings can sustain this pricing model. The set's aesthetic appeal, however, is undeniable.

Don't miss the LEGO mini-movie showcasing this set:

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