LEGO Lord of the Rings: Shire Marks Epic Quest Start - News

LEGO enthusiasts and fans of *The Lord of the Rings* series have a new set to look forward to: The Lord of the Rings: The Shire. This charming set, featuring 2,017 pieces, will be available starting April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public. It's the third installment in the LOTR series from LEGO, following the massive 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the 5,471-piece Barad-dûr in 2024. The new set brings to life the cozy world of Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole, capturing the essence of the Shire with its detailed craftsmanship.

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

3See it at LEGO Store

The meticulously crafted Shire set showcases rounded walls and curved surfaces, adorned with a plethora of accessories. LEGO provided IGN with a copy for a test build, which revealed a set that, while enchanting and true to its source material, comes with a price tag that might raise eyebrows given 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. This set includes nine minifigures: Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey. The home, nestled into a green-bricked hillside, is designed with an open back to allow a view into its three rooms: the main foyer, a study, and a combined dining and sitting area.

These rooms are assembled separately and connected using clamps, creating a seamless exterior while maintaining a cohesive interior. The set captures the essence of Bilbo's cozy abode with detailed touches like patterned rugs, letters from well-wishers, and food items strategically placed throughout. Notable items include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace and a loaf of bread on the windowsill.

The set is also rich with artifacts from Bilbo's adventures, including the Mithril Coat stored in a chest by the door and a well-worn map on the table, reminiscent of Thorin and Company's journey to the Lonely Mountain. An umbrella stand by the door holds a sword and a parasol, adding to the home's charm.

A unique feature of this set is a LEGO Technic element that allows you to change the fireplace display between a charred envelope and the One Ring, recreating a memorable scene from *The Fellowship of the Ring*.

The rooms' design, wider than tall, reflects the hobbit-hole's characteristic spaciousness. The construction of the interiors is straightforward, but the exterior's flowing curves demand careful attention to detail. Building the set evokes a tactile pleasure similar to running a hand over an Earth globe, with its varied terrain created by multiple curved green pieces.

The set communicates the hobbits' deep connection to their environment, with Bag End crowned by a tree with gnarled branches. Additional exterior elements, such as a birthday cake, a Party Tree with lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, and Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage, enhance the set's playability and scene-setting capabilities. The set also includes a mechanism to make Bilbo "disappear" using interlocking gears.

While the LEGO Shire set is simpler in design compared to Rivendell and Barad-dûr, its simplicity aligns well with the hobbits' unpretentious lifestyle. However, the set's price of $270, which is 34% above the typical 10 cents per brick metric, might feel disproportionate for what it offers. In comparison, the more complex Rivendell and Barad-dûr sets are priced more competitively on a per-brick basis.

While some argue that pricing reflects demand and consumer willingness to pay, the Shire set's cost seems steep for its simplicity. Yet, for LOTR fans, it remains the most affordable entry point into LEGO's Middle-earth series. Whether LEGO's pricing strategy will hold up remains to be seen, but the set's aesthetic appeal is undeniable.

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

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