If you’ve watched the trailers for Wicked, you’ll have seen the moment which has inspired the smallest of the upcoming Wicked sets. As a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the story of witches Glinda and Elphaba, who I assume are attending a witch university, where they first meet. Good Witch Glinda arrives at Shiz University in an ornate boat, filled with her essential possessions. This set recreates the moment the two witches first meet at the docks are the university along with another student called Nessarose. Here’s a closer look at another of the upcoming LEGO® playsets inspired by the first part of the Wicked movie.
Product Details
Set Name: Glinda, Elphaba & Nessarose at Shiz University | Set Number: 75681 | Pieces: 304 | Theme: Wicked
Number of Bags: Bags x 5 (paper) | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: Sheet x 1 | Characters: Glinda, Elphaba & Nessarose
RRP: £24.99/$29.99/29.99€/49.99AUD/39.99CAD
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & LEGO Retailers
Unlike the first Wicked set I’ve already reviewed, this is a more traditional playset. It features a trio of Mini-doll characters and two buildable elements including a fancy boat and a small section of building, inspired by the entrance to Shiz University. The first thing you build is Glinda’s boat. Now this is much smaller than it is shown in the film’s trailers. It uses a boat element, which appears in a fluorescent pink colour. A pair of Technic branches are connected to either end of the boat. These are used to hold two sails. These are crafted from flexible plastic sheets and slot onto those Technic sections via a trio of ball joint pins. It would be nice if some of these useful Technic pieces start being made available in different colours. The often grey pieces awkwardly stand out in sets like this. It’s not just the boat which has been scaled down, Glinda’s excessive amounts of luggage are reduced to use a couple of boxes. Two of which feature unique printed tiles for a lid.
The rest of the set is focused on an entryway to Shiz University. Although only briefly glimpsed in the trailers, the building has a unique mix of colours and architecture. Both of these have been translated into the small section featured in the set. Considering this is just a small structure, it has an impressive mix of features and element colours. The pale yellow columns are a highlight, along with the printed tiles which run down the centre of the outer walls.
Inside the entryway is a little less detailed with a book stand found on the left side of the area. The opposite side has a little more going on with a bookcase filled with pots and potions. This can also be removed to reveal a QR code sticker. Although this isn’t currently active, once the set is released, scanning it will lead to a version of the song ‘Defying Gravity’ and other content tied to the film.
The set features three Mini-dolls based on characters from the film. They include Glinda, who will become the ‘Good Witch’ in The Wizard of Oz. (Words….) They are joined by Nessarose who you will notice is a wheelchair user. She is briefly shown in the trailers so isn’t a token-disabled person added to the set for the sake of it. Her wheelchair is the new style which can fit through doors and is featured in warm gold. This fits nicely with the style of the universe, in which the film is set. The outfit this character is wearing seems a little modern in comparison. Elphaba is featured in her school uniform outfit, which includes a grey skirt and waistcase, along with a blue shirt. Oddly, her Mini-doll doesn’t feature the glasses she is seen wearing. Glinda appears to only wear pink, regardless of what situation she’s in. Both characters feature unique outfits only found in this set, they also feature new hair elements.
It’s a nice little set for kids to recreate moments from the film. the use of Mini-dolls and the unusual colour scheme make it feel like a Disney set. I do like the detail it includes, particularly on the exterior of the structure. I can understand people wanting Minifigure versions of the characters in place of Mini-dolls, but I think the Mini-dolls are better suited to the characters.
Pre-order: UKIrelandUSCanadaMexicoGermanyFranceDenmarkAustraliaNew Zealand
LEGO Group provided this set to BricksFanz for review. The thoughts within this review are those of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Universal Pictures. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
