"Welcome to Rivendell, fellow toy enthusiasts."
Peter Jackson's directorial "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy is likely considered the most classic film trilogy in cinematic history by many fantasy fans. LEGO's "The Lord of the Rings" themed sets, launched in 2012 and now highly sought-after collector's items, are a source of regret for many who missed out. Fast forward to 2022, after the successful broadcast of the series "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," the question "Will LEGO release new Lord of the Rings sets?" became a hot topic among LEGO fans. Finally! In 2023, we welcomed the exciting masterpiece, "10316 Rivendell," and today, let's return to Middle-earth and experience the elegance and mystery of the Elven sanctuary together.
▼ The front of the packaging features the ICONS series' signature sophisticated black background, clearly highlighting the "Rivendell" main build. The English name, Rivendell, is indicated in the upper right corner. For this scale comparison, we've invited the Hobbit, Frodo.
▼ Seeing the classic Lord of the Rings LOGO appear on a LEGO box again truly brings a sense of emotion! It's worth noting that with 6167 pieces, this set directly jumps to become the eighth largest LEGO set currently available.
▼ The back also features a black background, showcasing another angle of LEGO Rivendell and its detailed specifications. At 72 cm long, it's quite the space-taker.
▼ The side features exquisite printing of the scene.
▼ The top of the box displays an overview of the set's minifigures, offering the satisfaction of having all the main characters at once!
▼ Upon opening, you'll find two LEGO-style interpretations of paintings and an elegant golden emblem.
▼ The contents, once unpacked, include three instruction manuals, two sticker sheets, and an abundance of parts. The instruction manuals are quite premium, not only featuring a white background to highlight the LEGO Rivendell line art, but each corresponding assembly section is also specially presented with a sketch. For the order, you can refer to the golden Elven leaf (Leaves Of Lorien) symbol in the upper right corner.
▼ The back features a complete sketch of LEGO Rivendell.
▼ Flipping through the instruction manual, you can see introductions to each section and character.
▼ The 9 designers who created this LEGO Rivendell set – a scale truly unprecedented! They referenced movie studio blueprints and built a corner of Rivendell to LEGO minifigure scale, incorporating classic elements. On the reverse side are the Lord of the Rings themed sets from previous years.
▼ There are a total of 51 bags of parts, including numbered bags up to 49, one unnumbered baseplate bag, and one unnumbered weapon parts bag. All the weapons are new parts, which is incredibly exciting!
▼ Alright, let's start assembling!
▼ Complete! It's truly beautiful and magnificent.
▼ Now, as per tradition, let's look at the surprising aspects during the assembly process. First, the way the arched pointed studs are fixed to the wall: the wall section uses 4 quarter-circles to form a space that perfectly grips the LEGO studs, which is incredibly clever.
▼ The interlocking design of the stone pillars is also very impressive. Not only does it achieve a realistic shape and accommodate viewing from both sides, but the snug fit after locking them in is also very satisfying.
▼ The pillars and decorations in the great hall, in addition to their magnificent visual effect, also feature surprisingly well-designed fixing points at the top and around the perimeter.
▼ The brand new leaf parts making their debut in 2023.
▼ The bed where Frodo lay recuperating after being brought to Rivendell. The goddess statue at the headboard is represented by a sticker.
▼ A realistic and exquisite bookshelf, which will be placed on the first floor after assembly, possibly an easily overlooked detail.
▼ It's surprising to see this kind of building technique, where pieces are fixed by being wedged between studs, in an official set.
▼ The cylindrical parts and curved arch pieces perfectly interpret the intricate, gnarled roots of the large trees.
▼ The fabric capes for the minifigures are neatly stored in a paper box. There are a total of six capes: one for each of the four Hobbits, one for Boromir, and Gandalf's grey cape is made of a softer, wrinkle-free fabric.
▼ Worried that the neatness of the small roof pieces might drive those with alignment OCD crazy? LEGO has a cool solution for that! Also, as assembly time progresses, Frodo on the instruction book will show a progress bar! Super cute, and other books feature different characters.
▼ Now for the main event, let's admire LEGO Rivendell from every angle!
▼ The 72 cm long LEGO Rivendell is divided into three sections. Let's start with "The Tower," completed from the first instruction book.
▼ According to the corresponding location in the scene, this should be the stone pillar next to the council grounds. The massive stone pillar, adorned with statues, appears damaged in the film. This set makes a structural alteration, combining the tower body with Frodo's resting chamber.
▼ From this view, you can see that the tower's design differs from the film.
▼ Here you can see the painting of "Isildur" raising the broken Narsil against Sauron. In the film, this painting is opposite the pedestal displaying the shards of Narsil, but in this LEGO set, it's placed in this position.
▼ The interior is also full of storytelling, with a beautiful bookshelf, candelabra, and long table on the first floor.
▼ The second floor is where old Bilbo writes his book and Frodo rests. Removing the tower body reveals Bilbo's novel, "There and Back Again," more clearly.
▼ Many scenes can be recreated here, the most classic being Bilbo handing over his past adventure gear—the Elven dagger Sting and his Mithril shirt—to Frodo, only to suddenly go mad upon seeing the One Ring.
▼ Sting and the Mithril shirt can normally be stored inside the treasure chest.
▼ This is a detail the designers added last: Sam's hiding spot. It's believed to correspond to the scene where Sam, after overhearing Frodo's impending journey to Mordor with the One Ring, rushes out, disregarding his lack of invitation to the council, to declare his intention to accompany Frodo.
Next is the second section, "The River, Forge and Armoury." The highlights here are definitely the beautiful gazebo, the stone bridge, the armory filled with an abundance of swords, and the vivid river landscape.
▼ The transparent aqua-blue pieces and white pieces creating a splashing water effect, combined with the adjacent rock wall, are truly impressive!
▼ The stone steps with their curved lines, whose beautiful and natural-looking shape can be attributed to the ingenious building techniques extensively used in this LEGO Rivendell set, which we will discuss in more detail later.
▼ The construction method of the gazebo is truly eye-opening. Not only does it recreate the structure of the white decorations and the slender columns, but the geometric structure designed for reinforcement at the base and the way the edges are built are also incredibly impressive. The instructions also mention that the base of this gazebo is the most challenging part of this model.
▼ The gazebo and its base below can be considered a single unit. The reason for this design is likely to achieve Rivendell's irregular, tree-filled terrain while also ensuring playability of the interior. The precisely angled corners allow it to conform to the landscape, and removing the gazebo allows light to illuminate the armory below, enhancing enjoyment of the interior.
▼ Stepping out of the armory, you can see a forge, and the way the tree roots around it are built is absolutely fantastic.
▼ It's worth noting that this set includes two types of buildable benches/long tables. In the story, when Frodo, recovering from his illness, finished talking with Bilbo and went to find Sam, Sam was packing his things on this very bench. The accuracy of the design is remarkable, and the fit of the pieces during assembly is also excellent.
▼ Of course, the romantic moment between Aragorn and Arwen on the bridge is not to be missed. The instructions specifically mention that to keep the LEGO minifigures a bit safer on the wall, they specially designed several studs for attachment.
Finally, there's "The Council Ring," one of the most crucial scenes in the Rivendell set, where representatives from various races—Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits—gather to discuss the fate of the One Ring and the formation of the Fellowship of the Ring; this scene is also the largest part of 10316.
▼ The chairs, made from hot dogs and popsicles, sparked discussion when the official images were first released, and the large tree behind Elrond's seat is also wonderfully interpreted.
▼ This entire council area can be easily lifted, utilizing the same building techniques seen earlier. It's definitely meant to be taken out for photos!
▼ After lifting it, you can see a structure at the bottom that strongly resembles the "Eye of Sauron." When the council scene is placed on top, it perfectly aligns with the stone table where the One Ring rests, creating a subtle atmosphere that Sauron is always watching the Ring—a very interesting design.
▼ The contours of the base's perimeter are perfectly designed to embed the council area into the larger scene. How they came up with this building method is truly admirable.
▼ At the end of Elrond's Council, Merry and Pippin likely rushed out from here to declare their intention to join.
▼ The roof tiles are incredibly vibrant! While their colorful nature wasn't emphasized as much in the films, similar patterns were indeed seen in "The Hobbit" series, and they look absolutely stunning!
▼ This tree has an abundance of leaves! You can feel the tree sway when moving the scene.
▼ Looking in from the outside, you can see one of this set's major selling points: the printed floor tiles. There are three different patterns, allowing for various building configurations.
▼ The pedestal for the shattered blade of Narsil. While it doesn't feature multiple fragments like in the movie, having such a highly accurate Narsil blade piece is enough to make fans cheer!
▼ Here's also a painting of elves forging.
▼ Many maps and paintings are hidden here, including maps of Middle-earth and Mordor, with the black tower Barad-dûr being particularly striking.
▼ The editor is unsure what this map depicts; it seems familiar from the movies, so if any toy enthusiasts know, please do inform us!
▼ The white city in this painting has a very different outline from the famous white city of Middle-earth, "Minas Tirith." Considering this is Rivendell, it must be an Elven castle. After checking some information, the editor speculates that the city in this painting might be "Gondolin"; Gondolin was a hidden castle built in the First Age by the Noldor Elven King Turgon, who led his people there. Besides its pristine white walls, it also boasted the strategic advantage of being surrounded by mountains. These descriptions of Gondolin seem to match the image.
▼ Another painting, according to some international netizens, might be related to "Elendil" and "Isildur" sailing to Middle-earth, but the clues are too scarce for the editor to be certain.
▼ On the side, you can see a very beautiful staircase.
▼ Glow-in-the-dark mushrooms can be seen everywhere in the scene!
Now let's look at the minifigures! This 10316 set includes a total of 15 minifigures + 6 statue figures. The minifigures featured here boast new prints and new molds for their clothing, weapon accessories, and more. The elf hair pieces are also made from new materials; while their overall appearance doesn't differ significantly from older versions, the ears exhibit a glossy texture, showing immense dedication.
▼ First, the Hobbits, from left to right: "Merry" holding a carrot, "Sam" holding an iron pot, the Ring-bearer "Frodo," "Pippin" holding the Elven food Lembas, and 111-year-old Old Bilbo.
▼ Frodo and Bilbo come with additional brick-built sitting legs, allowing them to sit on the council chairs, though turning them around reveals a rather amusing backside.
▼ For the Elves, two characters are not specifically named, but the three in the middle, from left to right, are "Arwen," "Elrond," and "Legolas."
▼ Next up are one Dwarf, "Gimli," "Aragorn," "Gandalf," and the Gondorian warrior "Boromir." Boromir's printed shield is incredibly cool.
▼ Gandalf and Elrond come with seated poses and curved printed leg pieces.
▼ Including the statue dedicated to the broken Narsil sword, there are a total of six minifigures.
▼ Gimli's helmet, compared to the old version (right), is more striking in its printing.
▼ The weapon rack is filled with an abundance of brand-new swords. Besides Narsil, the Dwarf's axe and the Elves' melee longswords are all very impressive.
▼ Compared to the old version, the magical sword "Sting," which glows when Orcs are near, shows detailed carving on the hilt.
LEGO 10316 "Rivendell" Unboxing Summary:
Even though it's only February, the editor will just say it: this is the best set of 2023 (laughs)! From its exterior design, it is truly stunning. The colorful sloped roofs, large trees, grey-green towers, arched stone bridge, and white gazebo are truly a feast for the eyes. The interior, which focuses on incorporating storytelling elements, also performs exceptionally well, not to mention the building techniques that can only be described as "black magic" – it will definitely bring you immense joy.
The complete cast of minifigure characters and weapons made with brand-new molds are also a major highlight for collectors. Coupled with the rich in-story elements recreated with stickers, it's truly irresistible for Lord of the Rings fans. This time, let's not miss out. Grin and bear it, consider it the travel expense to the Elven sanctuary in Middle-earth, and you will gain a thrill and play experience that surpasses even holding the One Ring.
LEGO 10316 Rivendell (THE LORD OF THE RINGS: RIVENDELL™)
Suggested Retail Price: NT$ 14,999
Total Parts: 6167 pieces
Product Specifications: Approximately 72 cm long (after assembly)
Estimated Release Date: LEGO VIP members will have Early Access from 3/5 (Sunday) - 3/7 (Tuesday). Starting 3/8 (Wednesday), it will be officially available at LEGO Certified Stores.