LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga are in for a treat with the upcoming release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Shire." This highly anticipated set will be available to LEGO Insiders starting April 2, and to the general public on April 5. Marking the third LEGO Lord of the Rings set released in the last three years, it follows the impressive 6,167-piece Rivendell from 2023 and the massive 5,471-piece Barad-dûr from 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 captures the essence of Bilbo Baggins' home with meticulous detail. Every wall is curved, and each surface is adorned with accessories, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. LEGO provided IGN with a copy for a test build, and while it perfectly encapsulates the charm of its subject, it's worth noting that the set's price seems disproportionately high compared to its piece count.
We Build LEGO LOTR Shire
146 Images
Set #10354 beautifully recreates Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole, showcasing the iconic scene from his "eleventy-first" birthday. 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, features a cutaway back that reveals three distinct rooms: the main foyer, a study, and a dining and sitting area.
Constructing the rooms separately and joining them with clamps creates a seamless exterior hillside and a cozy interior living space. The designers have masterfully captured the essence of Bilbo's home, with varied patterned rugs, stacks of letters from well-wishers, and food tucked into every corner. Notable details include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace, bread and drinks on the windowsill, and artifacts from Bilbo's adventures, such as the Mithril Coat in the chest by the door and a well-worn map on the table.
The set includes a single mechanical element using LEGO Technic that allows you to change the display in the fireplace between a charred envelope and the One Ring, referencing a pivotal scene from "The Fellowship of the Ring." The rooms, wider than they are tall, reflect the hobbits' living spaces, while the exterior's flowing curves require careful construction for accuracy.
Building The Shire offers a tactile experience reminiscent of running your hand over a relief globe, with multiple curved green pieces creating a natural and varied hillside. This design choice underscores the hobbits' connection to their environment, highlighted by a tree crowning Bag End.
Additional exterior elements enhance the set's playability and scene-setting capabilities. These include a birthday cake, a Party Tree with colorful lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage, and a mechanism to make Bilbo "disappear" using interlocking gears.
While the LEGO Shire set is simpler than Rivendell and Barad-dûr, it aligns well with the hobbits' simple lifestyle. However, its pricing raises concerns. At $270 for 2,017 pieces, it's 34% above the typical 10 cents per brick metric, making it feel more like a $200 set. This pricing disparity is significant, especially when compared to other sets like the LEGO Star Wars sets, which are also known for higher prices due to the "Disney tax."
Despite its steep price, The Shire remains the most affordable option for Lord of the Rings fans compared to Rivendell and Barad-dûr. Whether LEGO can sustain this pricing based on customer demand and brand loyalty remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the set is undeniably beautiful.
For a glimpse of the set in action, don't miss the LEGO mini-movie:
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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