LEGO Lord of the Rings: Shire - Epic Quest Begins

LEGO is set to enchant fans once again with the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, available for LEGO Insiders on April 2 and for the general public on April 5. This latest addition marks the third installment in the LOTR LEGO series, following the awe-inspiring 6,167-piece Rivendell released in 2023 and the formidable 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, brings to life the iconic setting with meticulous detail. Every wall is rounded or curved, and each surface is adorned with accessories, capturing the essence of Bilbo Baggins' beloved home. LEGO provided IGN with a copy of The Shire for a test build, which revealed its charm and suitability to its subject. However, it's worth noting that this set is also disproportionately expensive compared to its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Set #10354 beautifully recreates Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole 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 home, nestled into a green-bricked hillside, is designed to be viewed from the back, revealing three distinct rooms: the main foyer with its round door, a study to the left, and a dining and sitting area to the right.

These rooms are constructed separately and then connected using clamps, creating a seamless hillside exterior and a cohesive living space inside. The designers have emphasized the warmth and coziness of Bilbo's home, with varied patterned rugs, stacks of letters from "well-wishers," and food items scattered around. 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 youthful adventures. A large chest by the door houses the Mithril Coat, a gift from Bilbo to Frodo before his journey to Mordor. A well-worn map, pivotal to Thorin and Company's quest to the Lonely Mountain, sits on a table near the teapot. Additionally, an umbrella stand by the door holds a sword and a parasol.

The house features a single mechanical element using LEGO Technic that allows you to switch the display in the fireplace between a charred envelope and the One Ring, recreating the iconic scene from Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf reveals the Ring's markings to Frodo.

The rooms' design, wider than they are tall, aligns with the canonical depiction of hobbit homes and creates a sense of spaciousness. While the interior construction is straightforward, the exterior, with its flowing curves, requires careful attention to detail for accuracy.

Building The Shire evokes a tactile pleasure reminiscent of running one's hand over an Earth globe, with the use of multiple curved green pieces creating a natural, undulating hillside. This design choice reflects the hobbits' integration with their environment, a theme central to the books and films. Bag End is topped with a tree, its gnarled branches extending over the hilltop.

Several standalone exterior elements, while not integral to the core set, enrich the storytelling potential. These include a birthday cake, a Party Tree adorned with colorful lanterns, a patterned tent that famously flies in the movie, a red dragon firework, and Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage. The set also allows for switching Frodo and Gandalf's legs to depict them standing or sitting in the carriage.

Additionally, a set of barrels rigged with interlocking gears lets you simulate Bilbo's dramatic disappearance at his party's end.

Overall, The Shire is a simpler build compared to Rivendell and Barad-dûr, which aligns with the hobbits' modest lifestyle. However, its price raises concerns. The traditional guideline for LEGO pricing is 10 cents per brick. At 2,017 pieces and a price of $270, The Shire is 34% above this standard, feeling more like a $200 set. In comparison, Barad-dûr and Rivendell offer better value per piece.

While LEGO Star Wars sets are known for their higher prices due to the "Disney tax," even the 2024 Jabba's Sail Barge set, at 3,943 pieces for $500, is less disproportionate. **Ironically, The Shire remains the most budget-friendly option for LOTR fans who couldn't afford Rivendell or Barad-dûr**, despite its per-brick cost.

The pricing of LEGO sets can be influenced by customer demand and willingness to pay, raising questions about whether LEGO's goodwill and the LOTR franchise's popularity can sustain such pricing. Nonetheless, the set's visual appeal 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 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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