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

LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic world are in for a treat with the upcoming release of LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, set to hit the shelves on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public. This set marks the third Lord of the Rings-themed release in the last three years, following the impressive 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the colossal 5,471-piece Barad-dûr in 2024.

Out April 5### LEGO LOTR: The Shire, the Beginning of an Epic Quest

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The new 2,017-piece set, The Shire, captures the essence of Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole with meticulous detail. Every wall is rounded or curved, and the surfaces are adorned with numerous accessories, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. LEGO provided IGN with a copy for a test build, and while the set is charming and true to its source material, it comes with a disproportionately high price tag for its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Set #10354 beautifully recreates Bilbo Baggins' home as seen during his "eleventy-first" birthday celebration. The set includes nine minifigures: Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey. The hobbit-hole, nestled into a green-bricked hillside, is designed with a cutaway back, allowing a view into three distinct rooms: the main foyer, a study, and a dining and sitting area.

These rooms are built separately and then connected using clamps, ensuring a seamless exterior and a cohesive interior living space. The designers have gone to great lengths to capture the cozy feel of Bilbo's home, with patterned rugs, letters from well-wishers, and food items scattered throughout. Notable details include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace, a loaf of bread, and libations on the windowsill.

The set is also rich with artifacts from Bilbo's adventures, such as the Mithril Coat in a chest by the door and a well-worn map on a table near the teapot. An umbrella stand by the door holds a sword and a parasol, adding to the home's charm.

A single mechanical feature, utilizing LEGO Technic, allows you to change the display in the fireplace between a charred envelope and the One Ring, referencing a key scene from The Fellowship of the Ring.

The rooms are wider than they are tall, reflecting the hobbit-hole's design and creating a sense of spaciousness. The interior construction is straightforward, but the exterior requires careful attention to achieve the flowing curves of the hillside.

Building The Shire evokes a tactile pleasure similar to running a hand over a relief map, with multiple curved green pieces creating a natural landscape. This design choice underscores the hobbits' connection to their environment, with the hilltop crowned by a tree with gnarled branches.

Several standalone exterior elements enhance the set's playability and scene-setting potential. These include a birthday cake, a Party Tree with lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage, and a group of barrels with interlocking gears that allow Bilbo to "disappear" as he did at his party.

While The Shire is a simpler set compared to Rivendell and Barad-dûr, its simplicity aligns well with the hobbits' lifestyle. However, the set's price of $270 for 2,017 pieces is significantly higher than the traditional 10 cents per brick metric, making it feel more like a $200 set. This pricing is notably higher than even some LEGO Star Wars sets, such as Jabba's Sail Barge, which, despite being a licensed property, is less disproportionate in its pricing.

Despite its high cost, The Shire remains the most affordable option for Lord of the Rings fans compared to Rivendell and Barad-dûr. The question remains whether LEGO's goodwill and the franchise's popularity can sustain this pricing model.

For those interested, a LEGO mini-movie showcasing this set is also available:

LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, Set #10354, retails for $269.99 and 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.