LEGO Lord of the Rings: Shire Marks Epic Quest Start

LEGO enthusiasts and Lord of the Rings fans, get ready for an enchanting addition to your collection! LEGO will release "The Lord of the Rings: The Shire" on April 2 for LEGO Insiders, and on April 5 for the general public. This set marks the third installment in the LOTR series within the last three years, following the impressive 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the monumental 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 set brings The Shire to life with exquisite detail. Each wall is rounded or curved, and every surface is adorned with accessories, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. LEGO provided IGN with a copy of The Shire for a test build, and the results are charming, fitting perfectly with the theme. However, it's worth noting that the set is also disproportionately expensive given its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Set #10354 recreates Bilbo Baggins' iconic hobbit-hole, capturing the essence of his “eleventy-first” birthday celebration. The set features nine minifigures, including 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, offers a cutaway view revealing three distinct rooms: the main foyer with its iconic round door, a cozy study, and a combined dining and sitting area.

The rooms are built separately and then connected via clamps, ensuring a seamless exterior while maintaining an open interior living space. The designers have captured the coziness of Bilbo's home with patterned rugs, stacks of letters from well-wishers, and food tucked into every nook and cranny. Highlights include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace, a loaf of bread, and libations on the windowsill.

The set is also filled with artifacts from Bilbo's youthful adventures. The large chest by the door holds the Mithril Coat, a gift from Bilbo to Frodo before his journey to Mordor. A well-worn map, which guided Thorin and Company to the Lonely Mountain, sits on a table near the teapot. Additionally, a sword and parasol rest in the umbrella stand by the door.

A unique mechanical element, utilizing LEGO Technic, allows you to change the display in the fireplace between a charred envelope and the One Ring, reminiscent of a key scene from "The Fellowship of the Ring" where Gandalf reveals the Ring's markings.

The rooms are wider than they are tall, true to the hobbit architecture, creating a sense of spaciousness. While the interiors are straightforward to construct, the exterior's flowing curves require more attention to detail for accurate assembly.

Building The Shire evokes a tactile pleasure, similar to running your hand over an Earth globe, feeling the terrain's relief. The set uses multiple curved green pieces to craft a natural, undulating hillside, reflecting the hobbits' harmonious relationship with their environment. Bag End is crowned with a tree, its gnarled branches extending over the hilltop.

Several freestanding elements enhance the set, perfect for recreating scenes from the films. These include a birthday cake, a Party Tree adorned with multi-colored lanterns, a patterned tent that famously flies sky-high thanks to Merry and Pippin, a red dragon firework mounted on a clear attachment for a flying effect, and Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage. The set even allows you to switch Frodo and Gandalf's legs for standing or sitting positions to fit the carriage.

Lastly, a group of barrels with interlocking gears lets you recreate Bilbo's dramatic disappearance at his party's end.

Overall, LEGO Shire is a simpler set compared to its predecessors, LEGO Rivendell and LEGO Barad-dûr. This simplicity aligns well with the hobbits' modest lifestyle, and there's a charm in LEGO offering smaller, less complex sets. However, the set's price tag of $270 for 2,017 pieces raises eyebrows, as it's 34% above the traditional metric of 10 cents per brick. In contrast, Barad-dûr and Rivendell offer better value at their price points.

While LEGO Star Wars sets often carry a premium due to licensing, even Jabba's Sail Barge, released in 2024 with 3,943 pieces for $500, doesn't reach this level of disproportionality. Yet, despite its high cost, The Shire remains the most accessible option for Lord of the Rings fans who couldn't justify the larger sets.

Some might argue that pricing is more about market demand than piece count. LEGO's reputation and the enduring love for Lord of the Rings could make this pricing sustainable, but time will tell. Nevertheless, the set is a visual delight.

For those interested, check out the LEGO mini-movie showcasing this set:

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

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