Since most, if not all sets for this year have been revealed, I thought it’d be a good time to make this topic.
I guess I’ll start.
Favorites:
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Ninjago City Docks - While not as elaborate as the city, there is a lot to appreciate about the set. For one, its displayability. It looks great from both front and back. The old world is given quite a spotlight here, offering some of that amazing traditional architecture. The more modern city aesthetic is still present, though. Some of my favorite parts from this set include the water way, the dojo, the tea shop and its signage, and the centerpiece.
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Winter Village Fire Station - A great Winter Village addition, especially compared to the rather lacking Train Station from last year. I enjoy how this set has a holiday theme, but it doesn’t feel tacky or toy-ey, like too many Christmas-themed toys do. I’d say that color scheme plays part in this. The dark red, tan, and white make for a great combo. It isn’t too bright, but not dull either. And the build for the station is refreshing.
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LEGO Harry Potter Wave - In my opinion, this theme is the best of 2018. This theme was in demand, and it came back with a punch. These sets are a fantastic example of look and play integration. For example, the Great Hall and Whomping Willow are extremely displayable from the front, with a tasteful palette and lots of detail. Yet, there are many rooms you can play with your figures in the back.
And no, I am not counting the D2C Hogwarts in this entry.
Least Favorites:
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Ninjago: Sons of Garmadon Wave - I was really hoping the quality of the movie sets would be present in the next TV show wave. Unfortunately, this wave ends up being one of the most uninspired of Ninjago, in my opinion. Each and every set has been done before, in some way. Why do we need another over-sized sports car? Or another boat/jet? More motorcycles? And 6 Spinners? If these sets would’ve taken these concepts, and done something interesting with them, that’d be fine. But that is not the case. The only sets I can say bring something new are the Temple of Resurrection, with its interesting function, and the SOG Headquarters, which is a new setting for Spinjitzu playset. Additionally, the palette used in this wave feels very toy-ey. In particular, the gold and keetorange used on Kai’s boat, or the green and lime used on the Nightcrawler.
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Star Wars - Not much to say here. Most of this year were remakes that were sub-par and/or overpriced. Some of the worst Star Wars sets ever, in my opinion, came out this year.
Those sets are;
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Betrayal at Cloud City - A jumbled, incomplete mess of scenes mashed into a weirdly shaped diorama. There is a saying, “Don’t fix what doesn’t need to be fixed.” The vignette style of the original was very clever, and worked very well. This awkwardly shaped thing doesn’t. Less displayable than the notorious Assult of Hoth, in my opinion.
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First Order AT-ST - It’s not a complete AT-ST, but retails for the price of a complete AT-ST. The scene its based on isn’t memorable enough to fork over that type of money or resource to become an actual set. Yet, here we are.
