LEGO Friends Space Research Rover 42602 review! Why this theme deserves your respect

Independent, #NotSponsored, unscripted fan review. You can support my work by using my affiliate links to buy the set at Amazon: amzn.to/49h5opf | LEGO US: tinyurl.com/4p... | LEGO Canada: tinyurl.com/le...
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[@BenChurchill76]

I have to say, I really love the orange/purple/white color scheme with this series! It's not one any LEGO Space theme has done before, and it's refreshing.

[@7708obmit]

I'm wondering who else got the "super easy, barely an inconvenience" reference or is it just me who spends too much time on KZbin. Thanks very much for the review, JANG!

[@rocketpunchgo1]

That refrence was TIGHT!

[@AnthonyAvon]

The amount of play features and compatibility with other sets is crazii. This is one of the best sets in recent times and hope the rest of the themes get more sets of this value.

[@mr.fluffyface431]

Getting big 'Lego Movie 2' vibes. I could totally see the minidoll character from that driving this.

[@adriansue8955]

Wagon Wheels I was initially skeptical about the use of the large wagon wheels but with them flipped and with the extra parts covering up they pass as riveted metal instead of wood.

[@Regeor]

Surprisingly great. I wish Star Wars released some more sets like this where you can fit more minifigures and separate the sections to make smaller ships.

[@donkeydefense]

Once again you provide a fantastic review and answer every question that comes up. For instance, I was curious if the helmets would fit on mini figs, and while the answer was disappointing, you answered it!

[@Vegvysyr]

If a set this size has a 20+ minute review, you know it's good!

[@Frazec_Atsjenkov]

The design of this set is interesting enough to appeal to a mature audience. I think it's awesome. The only thing that I'm slightly disappointed with is that the cockpit, despite its size, won't allow two figs sitting side by side.

[@funeralmotors2994]

how this doll version is way better designed than any modern space lego rover,,,

[@FlymanMS]

Friends series been getting some great builds, parts and colors lately

[@ComicBoy750]

Well, looks like I’m getting my 1st ever Friends set. I hate mini dolls but, I’ll just source some of my City Space minifigures from this year to pilot it instead. Thank you for showing that the air tanks can’t fit on normal minifigures, I was wondering about that.

[@SuperSecretBricks]

That hiver scooter gives me Rock Raiders vibes! Such a great set, I love the space sets they've done since 2019, but haven't been particularly fond of the rovers... Up until now. This one seems so much appealable to me, with true usable space, the xenotic terrain and the modularity... Plus a space dog! I also happen to like the colour scheme

[@spiritbricks942]

Thank you for choosing to review this set. It’s a 10/10 for me and I appreciate your view on it.

[@theaces3697]

on the topic of 360 prints, i recently brought a few star wars figures from a chinese seller and my god the print quality was absured it had 360 prints on the head, arms, torso, legs everything they are frankly glorious so if a chinese store can do that on figures with fully unique prints, plastic quality as good as Lego and only cost like £1 to buy and are far far better looking than Legos i think we have to start asking the question here, how is Lego getting away with this?

[@3dov4nd3r2]

Thats a great review, I would’ve never thought about tires tightening up too much in the building process

[@LuisFlores-cx8py]

I really do like that you're reviewing a friend's set! It's very nice.

[@ineffige]

that "padding" looks really good

[@Zenlore6499]

I absolutely love how versatile this set is! Definitely gonna get it!

[@saltytbone]

Hopefully this set does well. Thanks for another excellently produced review!

[@YensR]

I was on the fence with the price, it is so much more expensive than the 6x6 rover which I have. But seeing all the details and features, I'll just have to go with it! So many ideas for a MOD: A crane module to fit the airlock interface, modifying the AI companion to be detachable, adding fold-out wings and propulsion to make the shuttle work (or a flight mode module?) , convert the chassis to statically determinate (pendulum axle) or even extend to 6x6 or 8x8 so you can carry two modules at the same time

[@lilliefluff]

so happy to see more Friends reviews from you! ❤ it's my favourite theme and I'm so glad more people seem to be discovering and enjoying it, I really think it's far transcended being a silly ultra-vibrant "girls' theme" by now

[@brainofmorbius]

Love the way the interior is used. What an excellent and imaginative set.

[@Etienne.6329]

WAIT NO ! YOU DIDN'T ! The pitch meeting catch phrase in a jang review was TIGHT.

[@TediI47]

What a great set. Love the allignment of several speedchamps windows, the colours and the super tight interior with even the nice padded textures.

[@awes0men0b0dy9]

Surprisingly good set, also the separation function reminds me of the alien conquest tri walker

[@liquiddinamyte]

Dang I love that side build and the 3 eyed alien is so awesome too!

[@Lordodragonss]

Outstanding set! I think the robo-chasis is actually Olivias robo friend- ZOBO!

[@shroomzzz]

Im a technic/star wars guy in his 50s with no kids. I picked this up cuz I liked the trans purple. I am blown away, a really incredible design and very playable. Its WAY cooler than some of the Technic space stuff.

[@kentslocum]

I'm definitely getting the two LEGO Friends Space sets 😊; the CITY Space sets not so much 😢.

[@plethorabricks3165]

I'm glad they made the helmet/backpack pieces fit better for the mini dolls. So i don't mind that they dont fit minifigs. Otherwise they would be too loose on the minidoll, as the dolls are a lot slimmer. I know for Sweet Mayhem (from The Lego Movie 2) her attached wings only fit on a mini doll, not a minifigure.

[@rocketpunchgo1]

I love it! But $50... Jezus. 10 years as an Adult Lego Fan and I still am not used to the prices.

[@electromistress]

Man, this makes the big City rover look like it was designed by an unpaid intern.

[@viviennemaley3322]

friends sets are so underrated, please review more

[@MrSnitchley]

Reminds me of the 3-in-1 rover from a few years back, but it seems a much sturdier design. Maybe next they can do a Friend's themed mech.

[@BelleAim]

So excited for this set! Thanks for the great review Jang!

[@AldenG]

For a huge upgrade, swap in the new space white rubber tire wheels from the other new technic set.

[@darrenmcdonald9891]

the blue alien base part looks like it would be water based while the other city sets are land based

[@therealcroman]

I actually love the alien plant side build. Enough that I will grab this on deep discount at the end of the year. The truck is cool, but I feel like the purple and orange don't quite work together.

[@undead.rising]

When you detached the top half from the wheels - and turned it into a shuttle - I thought it looked a lot like The Hoopty (but in different colours). The only difference is - it is half the price, and has so much more going on for it than that set did.

[@riordanjet]

The alien lifeforms may work as earth jellyfish do! A stationary polyp type structure that then forms and 'births' the medusa/jellyfish themselves, which are the food-collecting and mating stages of the lifecycle. May just superficially resemble plant-life (much like the real life polyps do). Thought that would be an interesting observation!

[@FlymanMS]

Superior set because of Flash Gordon-style scooter

[@i-muts]

Saucer seperation, I appreciate that reference :)

[@Benjamin0119]

That's a great rover design and I love the modularity of it, with the top being able to fly off, and also split so the back module can dock with other sets. The color scheme actually isn't bad, reminds me of the crazy colors of old 90s space sets and the like. I wish the City Space sets had also used crazy colors for the windows. That's too bad the space suit helmet/backpack combo isn't compatible with minifigures. Yes, LEGO needs to print minifigures solidly like they do minidolls!

[@nutherefurlong]

Brilliant. Appreciated the notes on the wheels. Glad that the set isn't perfect, I'd have trouble believing it existed :) I am wondering how spacious it'd be for regular minifigs... I can kinda guess the scale but want to see the space clown car I guess :)

[@GojiSwag99]

Pitch meeting reference!

[@troopsome6254]

Reminds me of the Lunar Jim show I watched as a kid

[@thebrickhiker]

Glad I'm not the only one who had an issue with the wheels; one of them got stuck - it does require some finesse to install. This is one of the best modern Space themed sets TLG has done in a long time, IMO. And just 514 pieces. Not a fan of mini dolls, but looking at them in person - man, I get envious how well printed they are compared to minifigs! One complaint I had - the newly released Lego City Space Science Lab at 560 pieces has a smaller box than this set does. The wasteful packaging is something I think should be called out as TLG has gotten better about it, but then things like this happen. What a fun set though. Truly. I do wish it was $45, but $5 more than that - I am okay with as it really feels like you get a lot for the money. Thanks for reviewing this, Jang. And for calling out the wheel issue; I am surprised that made it through the review process at Lego!

[@KoenKooi]

This might cause me to overcome my irrational dislike for the friends style figs and gift this to my kids.

[@DredgeX97]

For the alien flower things, is it possible to use the leaves as legs for the blue guys? Making them four legged plant squids.

[@Lordodragonss]

You can :D

[@roccociccone597]

I’m not a Lego friends fan. But this is one of the coolest sets of the last little bit.

[@lovelego919]

"poink"....love your reviews! I'm not a friend's fan, but I'm a HUGE fan of YOU! Jang is the best!! ❤

[@owenmahan2854]

I’m definitely getting this. It looks too good!

[@greenhill004]

It's really odd that the suits don't fit on minifigures. LEGO should have doe better with that. The alien part I wish is what LEGO based those two new little Creator sets on.

[@Slavador2393]

All that new trans purple and red/orange across the friends space series is just great imo.

[@thequestion8697]

Daaaaang, this looks cool. I might have to pick this up.

[@betulaobscura]

Very good design which in many cases is much better than regular modern LEGO Space sets designs. I don't like colour theme of the new line of Space LEGO sets.

[@rivaseibar]

Awesome Lego Friends set. Thanks to your review I will buy it for sure ❣️

[@warrennewman5325]

Love this friends space rovers great minidolls awesome review jang 👍

[@_Caspergers_]

Finally got around to picking this up and I love it! But I feel like the price is a little high compared to the Science Lab and the Explorer Rover, but maybe all the newer trans colors are why

[@metroid767]

The purple clear pieces are available in trans black! Now it goes directly with city sets

[@Pigeon0fDoom]

If the camera was in the other robot arm, the angle would have made sense... or even upside-down. Lol. Also, I would have preferred a build for the robot font instead of a sticker(?)

[@andreasrefe6209]

Really nice set!

[@vincentwiddershoven2122]

Sold!!! Orderd directly. 😀😀

[@EvanMoon]

All my friends are Spacey

[@darthprime4916]

Ice Planet moc? Someone please.

[@empatheticrambo4890]

Surprise ................ Picard!

[@vexorian]

Ugh the separation between Friends and Minifigs sets strikes again. Can the purple visors be used on minifig helmets at least?

[@helloimtom100]

wow really impressive set

[@thelemmon]

Its so close to being compatible with the lego city Space line bit its kust far enough for me to not get it. I like 75% of this set, but I just can't warrant spending the 50 for something I'd have yo make changes. Thanks for the review 👍

[@undead.rising]

Question: I love purple. I want to buy this just for all the purple cockpit pieces alone. Is that a good idea - or should I just Bricklink those parts to get them and not bother with the set in otherwise?

[@MrBadbaron]

Im gonna have to start buying Friends now. Its so good 😁😄

[@adamagnus]

Respect maybe....but my dollars? 🤔

[@maartnnn0507]

Truly an amazing set! I love the looks, features and especially the foldable beds/lab! But then there comes the minifig gear, which for some idiotic reason doesn't fit regular figs. That just leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth, such a miss!

[@ralgore]

Too bad they didn't put in the same amount of effort in the big rover for the City line.

[@timewarpdrive77]

Why couldn't this have been the colorscheme of the rest of the wave?

[@FSUGeoff]

This is good, but it doesn't touch the city space 2024 theme

[@undead.rising]

The whites of their eyes is whiter than any of the other white printing that they do in other themes.

[@aycercreator]

Friends killing it as usual

[@reventonrowe6111]

Looks like a Dyson😂

[@bertbergers9171]

In reaction to the end of the video: why is lego city "space" good, but not equally good as this set? I still feel like Lego should stop producing these anorexic bubblehead figures and make friends a great addition in the line-up of minifig play themes. Because at first the doll and extreme (to an old fart 90's Lego fan) colour scheme of friends make me oppose this girls only, "why does Lego stop unifying kids in play" theme to the max. But since 2 years or so i have really start getting a like to the sets and colours. I just still really hate buying good sets with dolls that i would throw away (i have bought all ships as far as i know off, because of my ships collection, but because of the dolls still haven't build any of them).

[@daveh1294]

Friends rover £45, Lego City rover £25. Normally I'd complain that the Friends one is too expensive but in this case I wish the City one was more expensive and designed as well as the Friends one. At this rate Lego might as well just sack the City designers and just offer two options of Friends sets so one can come with minifigs instead.