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

LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary world rejoice! The much-anticipated LEGO Lord of the Rings: The Shire set is set to launch on April 2 for LEGO Insiders, and on April 5 for the general public. This release marks the third installment in the LEGO LOTR series within the last three years, following the impressive 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the monumental 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 LEGO The Shire set is a meticulously crafted representation of the iconic hobbit-hole of Bilbo Baggins, as seen during his "eleventy-first" birthday celebration. This set is filled with charming details that truly capture the essence of the Shire. From the rounded and curved walls to the meticulously placed accessories, every element contributes to an immersive experience. LEGO provided IGN with a copy of The Shire for a test build, and while it perfectly encapsulates the warmth and charm of its subject, it comes with a price tag that may feel disproportionately expensive for its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Set #10354 brings to life the cozy hobbit-hole with an array of nine minifigures including Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey. The set showcases a home built into a green-bricked hillside, featuring a cutaway back that allows a peek into three distinct rooms: the main foyer, a study, and a dining and sitting area. These rooms are built separately and connected using clamps, ensuring a seamless exterior and a cohesive interior living space.

The designers have gone to great lengths to evoke the coziness of Bilbo's home, with varied patterned rugs, letters scattered about, and food tucked away in every nook and cranny. Notable touches include a wedge of cheese over the fireplace, a loaf of bread and libations on the windowsill, and a variety of artifacts from Bilbo's youthful adventures. A Mithril Coat can be found in a chest by the door, while a worn map and a sword are displayed prominently in the home.

A unique feature of this set is a single mechanical element that uses LEGO Technic to allow users to change the display in the fireplace, showcasing either a charred envelope or the One Ring—a homage to a critical scene in the Fellowship of the Ring. The rooms, wider than they are tall, create a sense of open space, and while the interior construction is straightforward, the exterior demands more attention to achieve its flowing, natural curves.

Building The Shire evokes a tactile pleasure similar to running one's hand over a detailed globe, with the use of multiple curved green pieces to create a natural landscape. This design communicates the seamless integration of hobbits with their environment, as depicted in the books and films. The set is crowned with a tree, its branches extending over the hilltop, further enhancing the scene.

Several freestanding elements enhance the set's playability and storytelling potential. These include a birthday cake, a Party Tree with multi-colored lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage with adjustable minifigure legs, and a set of barrels rigged with gears to simulate Bilbo's disappearing act at his party.

While LEGO The Shire is simpler in design compared to the more intricate LEGO Rivendell and LEGO Barad-dûr, it stays true to the simple lives of hobbits. However, the set's pricing raises some eyebrows. At 2,017 pieces for $270, it falls 34% above the traditional pricing metric of 10 cents per brick. This is in stark contrast to the more reasonably priced LEGO Star Wars sets, which, despite their "Disney tax," offer better value for money. For instance, the 2024 Jabba's Sail Barge set, with 3,943 pieces, is priced at $500, which is 27% above the metric but still feels more justified.

Ironically, this set remains the most affordable entry point for Lord of the Rings fans unable to commit to the larger sets. Yet, on a per-brick basis, Rivendell and Barad-dûr offer better value. The question of whether LEGO's goodwill and the beloved nature of Lord of the Rings can sustain such pricing remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the set's aesthetic appeal is undeniable.

For those interested, LEGO has also released a mini-movie featuring this set:

LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, Set #10354, retails for $269.99, and it is composed of 2,017 pieces. It is available at the LEGO Store beginning on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and on April 5 for the general public.

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