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

LEGO enthusiasts and Lord of the Rings fans have a new treasure to look forward to: The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set, launching on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public. This marks the third LOTR set released in the last three years, following the massive 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the 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 Shire set is a detailed masterpiece, capturing the essence of Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole with warmth and charm. Every wall is curved, and every surface is adorned with accessories, reflecting the cozy and rustic feel of the Shire. LEGO provided IGN with a set for a test build, and while it's a delightful representation of its subject, it's worth noting that it's also disproportionately expensive for its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Set #10354 beautifully recreates Bilbo Baggins' home as seen on his “eleventy-first” birthday. It 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 three rooms accessible through a cutaway back: the main foyer with a round door, a study to the left, and a dining and sitting area to the right.

These rooms are built separately and then connected with clamps, ensuring a seamless exterior and a cohesive interior living space. The designers have meticulously captured the coziness of Bilbo's home, with various patterned rugs, letters from well-wishers, and food scattered throughout. A wedge of cheese sits above the fireplace, while a loaf of bread and libations rest on the windowsill.

The set is rich with artifacts from Bilbo's adventures, including the Mithril Coat in a chest by the door and a well-worn map on the table near the teapot. An umbrella stand by the door holds a sword and a parasol. A unique feature is the LEGO Technic-powered fireplace display, which can be changed from a charred envelope to the One Ring by turning a knob, recreating the iconic scene from The Fellowship of the Ring.

The rooms' wider-than-tall design reflects the canonical hobbit architecture, creating a sense of spaciousness. The interior construction is straightforward, but the exterior requires more attention to detail to achieve the flowing curves of the hillside. Building the set evokes a tactile pleasure similar to running a hand over a relief map, with the varied contours of the green pieces creating a natural landscape.

The set embodies the harmony between hobbits and their environment, with a tree crowning Bag End, its branches extending over the hilltop. Additional elements like a birthday cake, a Party Tree with lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, and Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage allow for scene staging from the films. You can even switch Frodo and Gandalf's legs to position them in the carriage.

A group of barrels with interlocking gears enables a fun disappearing act, reminiscent of Bilbo's party trick. Despite its simplicity compared to Rivendell and Barad-dûr, the LEGO Shire set captures the essence of hobbit life, offering a more modest and charming build.

However, the pricing of the set raises concerns. At $270 for 2,017 pieces, it's 34% above the standard metric of 10 cents per brick. In comparison, Barad-dûr and Rivendell are priced more competitively. Even LEGO Star Wars sets, known for their "Disney tax," don't have such a disproportionate markup. Despite this, the Shire set remains the most affordable option for LOTR fans unable to invest in the larger sets.

While piece count alone might not fully justify the price, it's clear that LEGO and the Lord of the Rings brand have strong appeal. Whether this pricing is sustainable remains to be seen, but the set's charm is undeniable.

Don't miss the LEGO mini-movie showcasing 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.