Whether you are a LEGO Brickheadz fan, a Lord of the Rings fanatic, or a bit of both you will enjoy the series that was released in January 2023. The six characters are available via three sets: #40630 Frodo and Gollum, #40631 Gandalf the Grey and Balrog, and #40632 Aragorn and Arwen. I enjoyed building each one of these sets. They were all nicely constructed, the details on each character was well done, and all together they make a very nice display.
The Frodo and Gollum set is the cheapest option and costs $14.99 USD. It has a 184 piece count and is rated for 10+. Compared to the larger and imposing characters in the other two sets Frodo and Gollum may be easy to overlook, but this would be unfortunate. Frodo stands out in his little maroon jacket and green cloak. He has a printed tile that highlights his vest and the lovely Leaves of Lorien that clasps his cloak to him. The construction of his cloak is nicely done and creates the feeling of depth and fullness. His brown hair is created using simple techniques, but it compliments Frodo perfectly. He clasps the One Ring in one hand, and in the other he holds Sting. Gollum is built to be petite and adorable. He was a quick build since he does not wear many embellishments, but his strands of stringy hair and the fishy lunch he grips close to his side help Gollum stand out distinctly.
Battle of the Brickheadz: Frodo wins this round because he had much greater detail built into his form, simply put he wears clothes! That being said, my personal favorite is Gollum. I found his tiny little body and scraggly strands of hair to be super adorable.
Gandalf the Grey and Balrog feature the most intricate building of all the sets. The set includes 348 pieces, is rated for 10+, and costs $19.99 USD. Gandalf is absolutely perfect, except for a slightly scrunched hat. His detailing is built in layers which gives him thick flowing hair, and a full cloak that falls gracefully with a draping hood in the back. A dignified grey beard was created with the use of angles and sloped pieces. The distinctive pointed hat adds a sweet whimsical flair to Gandalf. The diameter of the hat is sized well, but the hat tapers in rapidly and creates a slight pony tail droop at the top. The final touches to the character are the staff and sword he carries. Balrog stands taller and wider than any of the other Brickheadz in this series. He is dark and menacing while all the while being the most adorable version of Shadow and Flame. Transparent red and yellow pieces create a fire illusion throughout his body. His dark wings bend along with his tail which can hinge at three points. Thick flames extend from each side of his legs, and flames come out in pointed layers on top of his head. His most impressive features are the horns and his face. The horns curve down the sides of his head with layers of dark red built into them. Bright yellow eyes and dark black teeth create a slightly grumpy face which fits the overall look perfectly. One last detail completes Balrog and that is his tiny little red whip which adds to his overall cuteness.
Battle of the Brickheadz: There is no question that Gandalf is a treasured favorite of all Lord of the Ring fans, and I love him in this set, but Balrog has to win this round. The size and shape are commanding, and his interactive wings and tail are a fun bonus.
Aragorn and Arwen round out the Lord of the Rings Brickheadz collection in heroic fashion. The cost to pick up this set is $19.99 USD, it includes 261 pieces and is also rated for 10+. Aragorn wears the garments of the returned king. His silver crown wraps around his layers of long brown hair. The emblem on the front of the crown is printed on and has a slight shimmer to the details. An interesting feature is the beard which extends slightly outwards from his face. It adds a very nice layer of detail to this character. Maroon pants and a black cape surround his grey armor. The armor has two nice features; the shoulder plates built over his hands and the printed breastplate that features gold details and silver mail near the arm sections. He holds close to his side a long silver sword. Standing close by his side is his heroine. Arwen creates a simpler image. She wears a pale green dress which unfortunately does not include any added printed pieces to elevate it to the beauty of Arwen’s original dress. Long brown hair drapes softly around her face and down her back. Resting on top of her tresses a silver crown highlights the beauty of the elves with the use of a printed flat piece.
Battle of the Brickheadz: Aragorn wins this battle easily. The detailing, uniquely created beard, and accessories help him stand out significantly. Arwen is beautiful, but unfortunately created with a plain look that doesn’t give her the credit she deserves.
This trio of sets is a lovely addition to the Brickheadz family. Each one of them does an amazing job of highlighting their character. The Balrog took slightly more time to build, but overall all six were enjoyable and easy to create. I enjoyed adding them to my collection, and I hope that more Lord of the Ring LEGO Brickheadz will be released in the future.