Review: 76786 Morticia's Cottage
Posted by CapnRex101,
Although the original wave of Wednesday sets was pretty impressive, 76786 Morticia's Cottage offers much broader appeal. The cottage is very detailed and fully enclosed, which is unusual for models of this size, but a feature fans frequently favour over an open back.
Moreover, the set introduces the Addams Family car, plus Morticia Addams and Lurch making their mini-doll debuts! The only immediate flaws are the size of the car and the cottage because both are perhaps smaller than they should be, although for different reasons.
Summary
76786 Morticia's Cottage, 1,002 pieces.
£89.99 / $109.99 / €99.99 | 9.0p / 11.0c / 10.0c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Though small and quite expensive, Morticia's Cottage is impressive on the whole
- Attractive architecture
- Plenty of detail inside
- New members of the Addams Family included
- Cottage is surprisingly small
- Family car should be longer
- Only four characters
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Mini-dolls
Wednesday Addams would never be seen in anything as colourful as purple, so she wears a unique black and grey Nevermore Academy attire, earlier found in 76781 Wednesday & Enid's Dorm Room. The details on her jacket and skirt look superb and I like the hairstyle designed for Wednesday, which is made from hard plastic rather than rubber.
Bianca Barclay, meanwhile, is dressed in the standard purple and black uniform. Minifigures and mini-dolls rarely use short hairstyles for female characters, though this piece suits Bianca perfectly. Moreover, her piercing blue eyes are captured well and I like the metallic gold details on her torso too, including an accurate scarab pendant around her neck.
Much to her annoyance, Bianca is required to gather donations for the academy in Wednesday season two, hence the printed list and pen. No explanation is needed for Wednesday's cleaver, which seems like a typical accessory for her!
Other members of the Addams Family play a more prominent role in season two and Morticia Addams is therefore included. Wednesday's mother is renowned for her luscious hair and this hair piece, designed for Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, looks excellent. The black dress is simple, but also corresponds with Morticia's clothes onscreen.
Male characters tend to translate more awkwardly to mini-doll form, in my opinion, which has affected Lurch. The mighty family butler makes good use of platform shoes to emphasise his size, though the shape of the arms looks a bit strange. Similarly, the flesh skin tone seems too bright and a shade of grey would perhaps be better, but no LEGO colour is really ideal.
Lurch carries an umbrella and Morticia includes a goblet and a book. I believe this is supposed to be the Codex Umbrarüm, a spell book that once belonged to Goody Addams, but the sticker on the cover only vaguely resembles the item from the show. Another sticker displaying various glyphs is applied on a tile inside.
The Completed Model
The Addams Family was introduced as a comic in The New Yorker in 1938, hence the family's technology has generally remained of that era since, including their vehicle in the Wednesday series. The car is a modified 1938 Pontiac limousine and though this model captures its minor details quite well, the whole vehicle should be substantially longer. Reducing its size seems an odd decision when more space inside would surely be useful.
2x2 dishes work effectively for the radiator and I like the gargoyle element forming the mascot, even though it is a bit oversized. The wheels, bumper and headlights also look superb and the 2x6x2 windscreen frame is a good choice, especially because this piece is new in black.
The lack of windows along the sides is unfortunate, as the mini-dolls could still fit inside with a complete row of windows. However, I like the curvature of the bodywork and the rails on either side, plus the reddish brown trunk stored on the roof, albeit without any accessories inside.
You can seat four mini-dolls inside, but there is no steering wheel, which is highly unusual on a modern LEGO car. As mentioned already, I have no idea why because the car should be larger and could easily have been extended to accommodate a steering wheel and extra seats, so the whole family could fit as they do in the Netflix series.
Also, I dislike the standard trans-clear rear windscreen, which looks unbalanced with the frame used further forward. Otherwise, the back of the car is attractive and I like the stickered number 'ADD 4MS' number plate, which corresponds with the limousine seen onscreen.
Morticia's cottage is also smaller than I envisaged, only measuring 19cm wide. However, this is primarily because it was designed with an enclosed back and is fairly detailed on every side, so the trade-off is perhaps worthwhile. I have never had an issue with open-backed buildings in the appropriate context, but the fully enclosed structure looks great.
Large stickers are applied on the curved windows on the back and side, featuring an attractive rose bush design. The back is otherwise relatively plain, but the reddish brown and dark bluish grey areas look reasonable and the only details notably out of place are the 1x2 rounded bricks with bars flanking the windows, which serve as hinges to open the building.
The chimney on the other side looks good, with 1x2 masonry bricks adding texture and candle pieces forming the chimney pots. The wall panel at the bottom looks strange without any detail, but is necessary for a function inside.
The stickered front door and its stone surround look suitably ornate and I like the red and dark red flowers scattered around, with sand green leaves. These leaves are new in this colour and seem sure to prove useful elsewhere.
Additionally, the dark blue accents across the exterior complement the predominant dark bluish grey and black colours, particularly on the roof, where rows of 1x1 flowers create a pattern. The 1x2 masonry bricks are new in dark blue, as are the curved window frames, so there are several interesting recolours.
Unusually, the cottage opens into three sections, with two rooms in each. A simple hinged wall would arguably have been more efficient, but this configuration works and avoids any need for dividing internal walls or doorways, instead reserving all the space inside for furnishings.
That is probably a good decision because there is not much room available. The entrance hall, for example, contains a telephone on a side table and a grandfather clock, with red tiles on the floor comprising a rug. Maybe these tiles could have been decorated with a pattern.
Morticia places an elaborate settee in the living room during the show, so it is a shame there is only room for an armchair here. Its colour is accurate though and a sticker adds some detail on the seat. Similarly, the fireplace looks splendid and you can throw the Codex Umbrarüm into the fire, hence the removable panel on the chimney to retrieve the book from behind the flames.
You can remove the upper floor from the modules on either side of the cottage, revealing a bit more detail over the fireplace. This feature is not really needed though, as the rooms are fairly shallow and thus accessible for play.
The kitchen is surprisingly complete, considering its size. The designer has managed to include an oven, a hob, a sink and a stickered fridge, plus an island unit in the middle of this room. I like the repeated dark green colour and there is storage inside the island unit, housing a sausage for some reason.
Some of us make space for a dedicated LEGO room, but Morticia's cottage contains a seance chamber! I like the red icing element forming a tablecloth, with a crystal ball on top. The sticker featuring Morticia, Gomez and Thing looks great too, although even this image shows how hard Gomez's translation to a mini-doll may be.
The bedroom is especially compact, but still accommodates an elegant wooden bed. I love the black and grey bedding with its chequered design and alternating 'M' and 'W' icons, so this bed could belong to Morticia or Wednesday. Either mini-doll can lie down on the bed, even with their substantial hair elements.
A medium nougat spider is hidden in the rafters. While you can see the spider from either side, removing the roof panel affords a better view.
Of course, the cottage would not be complete without a bathroom and its decoration definitely reflects the family's style. The black toilet and sink are effective, with crossed swords mounted on the wall above. Moreover, the red floors on this level look marvellous.
Overall
76786 Morticia's Cottage is a peculiar set in some respects, though a good one. I like the titular cottage and the car, but the former seems somehow over-engineered and the latter ought to be longer for accuracy to the Netflix series. This issue is unusual because LEGO cars are normally larger than they should be, if anything.
The cottage is also quite compact, but the designer has used the available space well and I am impressed with the variety of rooms inside. The mini-dolls are also superb. Gomez and Pugsley should probably be included, but I doubt either character would actually suit a mini-doll. Even so, the set feels overpriced at £89.99, $109.99 or €99.99 and I would be more comfortable with the price if the whole family was provided.
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18 comments on this article
1001 pieces... tiny, tiny pieces. Can't wait for discount!
It all feels very crammed in, I imagine the target audience might struggle to actually play with it.
With the way the house opens it makes me wonder if they started off with a book design then changed their minds mid build.
I prefer the look of this spooky house to that of 31167 Haunted Mansion though the figures from the Mansion set are far more appealing - I’m not at all a fan of minidolls.
For those who have seen the show, is that Wednesday or Enid? :)
@ecleme11 said:
"For those who have seen the show, is that Wednesday or Enid? :) "
Yes.
Thanks for the review. I think the minidolls are fantastic and I love the recolors on some of the parts. I wish the cottage was slightly bigger, or less cramped. The car doesn’t necessarily need to fit more characters, although I do agree that it could’ve been a little longer. I do plan on buying this (hopefully on sale).
Hate how this set opens no having propper playspace.
SHame because the build is really nice.
The only room that really annoys me is that tiny kitchen with that almost non-existent fridge. For the rest, it's all functional and reasonably elegant. Except that Morticia seems to unable to keep sitting in her seat, I guess she herself is objecting to how much the damned thing shrank, and each time she throws herself to floor, it's just an undignified temper-tantrum. Don't blame me, lady. You picked that couch, not me.
Lurch (and a hypothetical Varicose) need a far more unnatural skin-colour. Sand-green, maybe.
I don't know if or how a minidoll-version of Gomez would work. Attempting to translate Luis Guzmán's stocky and compact proportions to the rail-thin minidolls would just make him look like Raúl Julia's Gomez, which would be awesome if Guzmán hadn't been able to carry the role - but I've really come to like Luis Guzmán as Gomez, man really brings the character to life. Man deserves a minidoll that looks like him.
Such a good set. The theme so deserves minifigures instead of minidolls.
the M/W bed pattern is genius!!
Built this yesterday. My main gripes are the 2 nice stickered stained glass windows are at the back of the house (where it looks unfinished) and there’s nowhere to put the mini dolls on studs at the front of the house. Mine are currently standing on the roof.
I really liked that car until you showed me the rear window. Now I can't unsee it and will either have to figure out how to modify it or just not build it at all. I'd have to bricklink the pieces anyway.
Could be worse.... Could be Belville babies!
I cannot fathom the bizarre way the cottage opens. I'd be compelled to heavily rebuild the set to try expanding it and making its interior access look more elegant. I'm surprised Bianca's hair looks good here, because stock photos made it look like a poor choice for her hair. This is still a set to only get when
discounted, though.
Not only would Wednesday not be caught dead in color for ideological reasons, but Season 2 shows her supposed allergy is very real.
@ecleme11 said:
"For those who have seen the show, is that Wednesday or Enid? :) "
I'm sure they'd print a nervous Wednesday head if they were depicting that. I really hope we get a set with "Wednesday" in the colorful sweater and "Enid" in the grunge shirt and pigtails.
I don't know how it is overseas, but where I am in Australia, it's been almost impossible to find any of the recent "Wednesday" sets. None of the shops or department stores carry them, and Lego.com has been "out of stock" for months.
@Zordboy said:
"I don't know how it is overseas, but where I am in Australia, it's been almost impossible to find any of the recent "Wednesday" sets. None of the shops or department stores carry them, and Lego.com has been "out of stock" for months."
Same! I had hoped to get this set but it hasnt appeared in stores.
Great review. The main (only) reason I even looked at this set was the vintage car. I researched it and was glad that CapnRex specified it was a 1938 Pontiac.
Interestingly the lego model seems to be far more in proportion with a real 1938 Pontiac than the fictional car from the Wednesday TV show.
I wonder whether this was deliberate so that the set could appeal to car fans like me (and fit the scale of existing lego cars) or whether they just wanted more pieces for the house or something.
For me, the size of the car is good as I want it as a realistic original 1938 Pontiac but I understand the confusion or disappointment of Wednesday fans.
The rear window is very disappointing and a terrible choice given how the rear of many cars of that era look. It would have been far more accurate to brick build it in black with either transparent pieces for the small rear windows OR a sticker.
Note this inaccuracy applies to both real world cars and the Adams' car as appears in the new show.
The cottage itself is a great parts pack, I like the various stickers for windows and doors.
But the problem with this set for all potential target markets is the outrageous price. It is such a shame lego gets so greedy now and if Zordboy and myself's experiences are universal for Australia then finding the chances of finding the set on sale are very grim. :(
Side note for the Brickset team. Why do certain sets never appear in Australia? Creator Park Animals is one that springs to mind. Other examples include the City Police Car Transporter and Wonder Woman Eindecker aeroplane set. The latter two did appear in Lego stores but no other store.
Yet, the Wonder Woman 1984 set was widely available.
None of the Wednesday sets are in any Australian stores, including the Lego stores, and the new City harbour set I saw at the lego store and maybe once at another store and that was it. Never saw it ever again.
Don't really like it. Much too small and with Minidolls, yuck.
Much prefer the 1991 Addams Family movie with Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci and especially Carel Struycken as Lurch anyway.