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

LEGO is set to delight fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga with the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, launching on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public. This latest addition marks the third Lord of the Rings set released in the last 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

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The new 2,017-piece set, The Shire, captures the cozy charm of the Hobbiton village with remarkable detail. Every wall is meticulously crafted with rounded or curved edges, and the surfaces are adorned with numerous accessories, creating an immersive experience. LEGO provided IGN with an early copy for a test build, and while the set's charm aligns perfectly with its theme, it comes with a price that may seem disproportionately high for its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Set #10354 brings to life Bilbo Baggins' iconic hobbit-hole as seen during his "eleventy-first" birthday celebration. The set features nine minifigures, including 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, offering a glimpse into three distinct rooms: the main foyer entered through the round door, a study to the left, and a dining and sitting area to the right.

These rooms are assembled separately and connected with clamps, ensuring a seamless hillside exterior and a unified interior space. The set emphasizes the cozy atmosphere of Bilbo's home, with various patterned rugs on the floor, stacks of letters from "well-wishers," and food tucked into every nook and cranny. Notable items include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace, a loaf of bread, and libations on the windowsill.

The set also includes artifacts from Bilbo's youthful adventures. A large chest by the door houses the Mithril Coat, which Bilbo later gifts to Frodo before his journey to Mordor. A well-worn map, pivotal in Thorin and Company's quest to the Lonely Mountain, sits on the table near the teapot. By the door, an umbrella stand holds a sword and a parasol.

The house features a single mechanical element utilizing LEGO Technic to enhance its interactivity. A knob can be turned to change the display in the fireplace, revealing either a charred envelope or the One Ring, referencing the iconic scene from The Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf reveals the Ring's markings to Frodo.

The rooms' design, wider than tall, reflects the canonical architecture of hobbit dwellings and creates a sense of spaciousness. The interior construction is straightforward, requiring no advanced building techniques, while the exterior demands more attention to achieve the natural curves and accurate placement of pieces.

Building The Shire evokes a tactile pleasure reminiscent of running one's hand over an Earth globe, feeling the terrain's relief. The set uses multiple curved green pieces to create a natural flow on the hillside, with varying slopes and erosion patterns that integrate the hobbits seamlessly into their environment. Bag End is crowned with a tree, its gnarled branches extending over the hilltop, adding to the set's charm.

Several freestanding exterior elements enhance the set's storytelling potential. These include a birthday cake, a Party Tree adorned with multi-colored lanterns, a patterned tent famously blown sky-high by Merry and Pippin, a red dragon firework that appears to be flying, and Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage. The set also allows for switching Frodo and Gandalf's legs to 'standing' or 'sitting' positions for carriage scenes.

An additional interactive feature includes a group of barrels connected to interlocking gears, enabling Bilbo to "disappear" at the turn of a dial, mirroring his dramatic exit during the birthday party.

Overall, LEGO The Shire is a simpler set compared to its predecessors, LEGO Rivendell and LEGO Barad-dûr, which aligns with the humble lifestyle of hobbits. However, its simplicity contrasts with its steep price, which seems to exceed the traditional pricing metric of 10 cents per brick. While Barad-dûr and Rivendell are priced below this standard, The Shire, at $270 for 2,017 pieces, is 34% above the expected price, feeling more like a $200 set.

Even compared to other licensed sets like the LEGO Star Wars sets, which often carry a "Disney tax," The Shire's pricing appears disproportionate. For instance, Jabba's Sail Barge, with 3,943 pieces, is priced at $500, which is 27% above the metric but still more reasonable than The Shire's markup.

Ironically, this set remains the most affordable option for Lord of the Rings enthusiasts who found Rivendell or Barad-dûr out of their budget. However, the prior two sets offer better value per brick compared to The Shire.

While piece count might be a reductive measure for pricing, it's also influenced by customer demand and willingness to pay. Whether LEGO's goodwill and the enduring popularity of Lord of the Rings can justify this pricing remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the set's aesthetic appeal is undeniable.

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

LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, Set #10354, is priced at $269.99 and comprises 2,017 pieces. It will be available at the LEGO Store starting April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public.

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