LEGO enthusiasts and fans of The Lord of the Rings have something exciting to look forward to with the upcoming release of LEGO LOTR: The Shire. Scheduled for release on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for the general public, this set marks the third in a series of LOTR-themed releases over the past three years, following the 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the 5,471-piece Barad-dûr in 2024.
LEGO LOTR: The Shire, the Beginning of an Epic Quest
The new 2,017-piece set brings to life the iconic Shire from the beloved franchise. Every element of this set, from the rounded walls to the curved surfaces, is meticulously designed and adorned with accessories to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. IGN had the opportunity to test-build this set and found it charming, perfectly capturing the essence of the Shire. However, it's worth noting that the set is also disproportionately expensive for its piece count.
We Build LEGO LOTR Shire
Set #10354 is a detailed rendition of Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole, 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 is ingeniously built into a green-bricked hillside, with a cutaway at the back that allows a peek into three distinct rooms: the main foyer entered through the iconic round door, a cozy study to the left, and a dining and sitting area to the right.
These rooms are built separately and then connected using clamps, ensuring a seamless hillside exterior and a cohesive interior living space. The designers have gone to great lengths to capture the coziness of Bilbo's home, with patterned rugs, letters from well-wishers, and food tucked into every corner. 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 adventures, such as the Mithril Coat in a chest by the door and a well-worn map on the table. A sword and a parasol are found in the umbrella stand, adding to the home's charm. A unique mechanical feature uses LEGO Technic to allow the fireplace display to switch between a charred envelope and the One Ring, referencing a pivotal scene from The Fellowship of the Ring.
The rooms are wider than they are tall, reflecting the hobbit-hole's design and creating a sense of open space. While the interior construction is straightforward, 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 use of multiple curved green pieces to create a natural landscape.
The set also includes several freestanding elements that enhance the storytelling, such as a birthday cake, a Party Tree with lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage, and a group of barrels with interlocking gears to simulate Bilbo's disappearance at his party.
Overall, the LEGO Shire set is simpler than its predecessors, Rivendell and Barad-dûr, which aligns with the hobbits' simple lifestyle. However, the set's price of $270 for 2,017 pieces is disproportionately expensive compared to the traditional pricing metric of 10 cents per brick. This pricing is higher than even some LEGO Star Wars sets, which are known for their markups due to the "Disney tax."
Despite the high cost, the LEGO Shire remains the most affordable option for LOTR fans who couldn't justify the larger sets. The question remains whether LEGO's goodwill and the franchise's popularity can sustain this pricing. Nonetheless, the set is undeniably lovely to look at.
For those interested, a LEGO mini-movie of this set is also available:
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.More Movie and TV LEGO Sets
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