LEGO Lord of the Rings: Build The Shire, Adventure Starts

LEGO will unveil The Lord of the Rings: The Shire on April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 for general release. This marks the third LOTR set launched in three years, following the 2023 6,167-piece Rivendell and this year's 5,471-piece Barad-dûr.

LEGO LOTR: The Shire, Beginning an Epic Journey

The new 2,017-piece Shire set features beautifully curved walls and surfaces brimming with accessories. Despite its charm and thematic accuracy, our hands-on review suggests the pricing seems disproportionately high for its piece count.

Building LEGO LOTR: The Shire

Set #10354 recreates Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole from his "eleventy-first" birthday celebration, complete with nine minifigures: Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, and Farmer & Mrs. Proudfoot.

The cleverly designed interior reveals three distinct spaces through its open back: a welcoming foyer, cozy study, and dining area. Modular construction allows these sections to connect seamlessly while maintaining exterior authenticity.

The designers captured Bag End's warmth with intricate details like patterned rugs, scattered mail, and tucked-away food items. Thoughtful inclusions reference Bilbo's adventures - including Sting, Thorin's map, and the Mithril coat stored by the entrance.

A standout interactive feature uses LEGO Technic to alternate the fireplace display between a burning envelope and the One Ring, recreating Fellowship's pivotal scene.

The exterior presents delightful building challenges with its organic curves and terrain variations. Additional elements like the Party Tree, Gandalf's carriage, and fireworks allow for scene recreation from the films.

The Price Consideration

While simpler than previous LOTR sets, The Shire carries a premium price tag that doesn't align with traditional piece-count valuations. At $270 for 2,017 pieces, it costs 34% more than standard metrics suggest - surprising given LEGO's typical pricing structure.

Despite pricing concerns, this set offers LOTR fans a more accessible option than the massive Rivendell or Barad-dûr collections. Its charm and faithfulness to Tolkien's vision may justify the cost for dedicated enthusiasts.

The LEGO Lord of the Rings: The Shire (Set #10354) launches April 2 for LEGO Insiders and April 5 publicly at $269.99.

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