They Did it Again | Why Friends is One of Lego's Best Themes

The new Lego Friends Castle B&B (set 42638) is one of the best sets of the summer wave...regardless of theme. How did the set designers pull this off? What makes this set so special? Colin is here to provide the breakdown: the cool building techniques, intriguing pieces, and potential value for this set are off the charts!
#lego #newrelease #victorian #legofriends

[@Eidolon1andOnly]

Friends is my favorite theme Lego has going, and I'm a nearly 40 year old man. Love the colors and styles of nearly all of their sets.

[@specterx2135]

Really shows that whatever Lego you get, it’s truly for everyone! Heck, I’ve been considering getting this one cute Duplo set lmao

[@lordprecliktwo7332]

Lego friends is definitely good now,before the reboot I didn't like it much(nothing against the theme,it just didn't fit my tastes)+ even the show is pretty good Now ,and it's more "lego" than the previous one where it was normal people with fingers (you know what I mean) and lego played a pretty small part

[@peterpowis4145]

Ditto! And I'm 53!!

[@ghoulonfrightube]

Yeah, whoever is helping design and create this sets is doing a great job. So far!!

[@logansmith2703]

Honestly I think the minidolls are great. I've never really understood the vitriol against them.

[@peterpowis4145]

The mini dolls are cool in this set!!

[@SO-ym3zs]

It really seems like some of Lego's best designers are working on the Friends theme. They have a really fine eye for architecture and color, doing a lot within the restrictions of the pastel palette that defines the theme. But I wouldn't say the theme is great "despite the presence of mini-dolls." If anything, those are an improvement on the lame standard Lego minifigures. The mini-dolls at least bear a greater resemblance to real humans, unlike the bizarrely stocky, square-legged, cylinder-headed minifgures.

[@micabryant4513]

Improvement? Your an idiot .. how can removing points of articulation be branded a positive change..? The aesthetic of the minifigure is a classic and its joyfully packed with charm..how you dont appreciate that yet..i don't understand.

[@rethaf4387]

I also love mini dolls, except when I want a character in my scene doing something like play a guitar, drive a bicycle, or run. The lack of wrist movement mean that I can make a minifig cyclist or guitar player's actions look more realistic. And the legs moving together means they can't run in a scene. I wish Lego made minidolls whose actions require different arm positions (like music instrument players, or minidolls who come with a bicycle) with arms molded in the correct position. And I know they can make minidolls whose legs move separately, if they wanted.

[@SO-ym3zs]

@@rethaf4387 Good points. Essentially, they should make little action figures that more closely resemble real people. Companies like Hasbro make fully articulated, highly detailed 3 3/4" action figures, so I don't see why Lego couldn't make something similar but smaller.

[@rethaf4387]

I have a theory, I could be wrong, that the following two things are related: 1) Lego's last disappointing Friends set was the 10 year anniversary set. Adult fans compared it unfavorably to 10 year sets like Harry Potter's Diagon Alley and Ninjago's City Gardens. They were disappointed at the lack of Easter eggs to previous sets, lack of a 10 year anniversary printed plaque, and not having all the main characters in one set. 2) By the next wave that came out after the one with the anniversary set, Friends started making great sets for adult Lego fans. My theory is that the adult criticism of the "anniversary set" that was just one more Friends set with no special features told them that the series actually has adults interested in it - and they should capitalize.

[@peterpowis4145]

Yes there are many adult fans who love the Friends line, me included. But I'm guessing that in general with the Friends sets, Lego will always cater primarily to children, even focusing more on girls. But I think even children would enjoy the Friends sets if they were all made for an older age group, like this set and the Botanical Garden.

[@tonyag5881]

I really like the Friends theme and have a fair number of their sets, I like this set just not sure how I would add it to my lego shelves. Thank you for another great video 🎉😊

[@tomm2213]

Kids love the friends color palette. For that matter I do too. It is a refreshing pop of color. Not a fan of the mini dolls tho.

[@janets3094]

I would say that this set has more in common architecturally with a French chateau style than with a Victorian style. Take a look at Chateau de Chambord, Chateau d’Usse de Fougeres, Chateau de Pierrefonds or Chateau d’Azay le Rideau in France.

[@cailinm.1815]

Wow you’re right. That last one is soo similar!

[@AnthonyAvon]

Absolutely, Friends is beautiful and one of the best LEGO themes. I just got one Friends set to modify as an additional floor in Ninjago city.

[@peterpowis4145]

which set did you modify? i like modifying the friends sets

[@cheukyinglau8011]

LEGO Friends: how LEGO City should have been

[@BDD_Builds]

Love these deep dive videos! These videos are so much more thorough than most LAN reviews 😂

[@meganjones9670]

I love Lego Friends, and especially the mini dolls, which just have a more realistic scale than minifigs.

[@peterpowis4145]

Yes I find the mini dolls scale looks more realistic!

[@punpun1a]

Friends is my favourite theme! I’m so excited to pick this up. Also the mini dolls look great. New outfit for Ollie, new torso for Zac, and an entirely new character!

[@micabryant4513]

Minidolls are patronising pieces of crap..

[@peterpowis4145]

They are great!

[@DallArtOrigins]

Thank you for interesting walkthrough. I'm curious how many builders will buy multiple copies of this set to combine them :)

[@BrixFix]

great video, I cannot wait to get this, I am gonna have to do a review on this one when it drops

[@1027scm]

Great commentary and observations as always. As you point out a lot on several levels for Lego fans who may not be into the Friends theme. Construction and color combinations offer a lot of inspiration for a modular fan like me. Very curious to see if this spawns a lot of great alternate builds as occurred with the Botanical Garden. Love the content! Thank you.

[@natbarmore]

The attic roof looks to be held on by the new 2x2 plate with bar underneath (part 5066).

[@morannnon7blackgate522]

12:30 its 6 studs deep! part 42205. since 2019 in some friends sets and the year later even in harry potter(thats why i recognise the piece). also clearly visible at the reception/counter with the open book with the 2x6 drak green plate. its intressting to hear other AFOL views on stuff that ist objectivly good. of a channel with over 300 videos over the past 3 years i would expect a little more accuracy but thats just a me thing. Lego is a great hobby so just have fun. thanks for sharing it

[@tav689]

It is a great set, and your review of the set is brilliant. However, the base source material is a French-style château, not really US quasi-Victorian buildings. The mansard roof (also called French roof or curb roof), and conned spires are the most distinctive. The roof would be flat and level at the top and slope back down at the rear of the building (gambrel-style hip roof), which is unfortunately not depicted by LEGO in this set.

[@runkelpokk9]

friends is the city we deserved, there are countless great subthemes and the colors got a lot better since the original friends release but i still hate the minidolls, if friends would have normal skin tone figs and regual animals it would be so much better

[@MarkBuildsLego]

I have not tried any of the Friends sets - But this one looks good

[@pieronapuri5062]

I love this set, but like all other friends sets I don't like the color choices so much, that roof could have been dark blue and the window frames tan or dark orange, otherwise its still an amazing set

[@joebidome384]

Alright bro

[@buryg4692]

Tried watching but the background music is too loud and distracting.

[@skabo__o]

it's half of a house. so Lego is scamming you for 100 $ .....

[@pieronapuri5062]

it's a toy not a realistic replica, ever heard of doll houses?

[@micabryant4513]

Lego is expensive! I resent paying for a set when all its figures are useless bin worthy crap with a wierd aesthetic and next to no articulation. I've heard the argument 100 times LEGO tested with people whether or not the mini doll format was wanted and young audiences seem to say yes... i say dont coddle to the opinions of tiny children they dont know anything they're 'children'. They don't know whats good for them and as far as aesthetics goes....who thought asking children was wise... Test audiences always seem to result in bad ideas..maybe its the type of people that sign up for this stuff, i dunno... Minidolls are a fucking irritance and id love to see them done with for good before im dead at least...patronising shit..as a woman the idea we need dolls to interact with a building toy has always truly pissed me off!! If they did two versions one with dolls and one with minifigs, much like they do with the alt colour parrot and dino from creator. Id like to see the sales data on that!