I like Liann's house!

Is that a new mold in 42680?

The Fashion Show looks like a step back. I do not much like the flat design of that set. On the other hand, that Beach House looks like a -delight-, and I will happily build that set. I feel like it would be a good fit for the AC-sets as well, might just be me.

I see we haven't moved on from the anthropomorphic food-items, though. The smoothie in the Playland-set is especially egregious, as it has a straw lodged straight into its head, such as it is.

"DRINK ME! DRINK THE BRAINS STRAIGHT OUT OF MY HEAD! CRUMPLE MY FACE AND RECYCLE ME!"

Oh! Oh, no. I finally realised why these things look so creepy to me - they all look like "Binding of Isaac"-characters, and now I can never unsee that.

@dodrian said:
"I like Liann's house!

Is that a new mold in 42680?"
If you're talking about the trolley, nope! It's been in a few supermarket-type sets before. 41362 41729 60347

The house is nice, and not too badly priced, but I thought they had the 1x1 round quarters for the roof in lavender / medium lavender. It looks a bit odd that the roof has two different coloured tiles and all the half ones are the same colour. Adding in some blue half rounds would at least disguise it a bit.

But some of the other sets, they are really pushing the prices. 141 pieces for 30E even if it is a 4+ set. Ouch.

Breaking 10c/10p a part is no longer a "Star Wars tax".

Where's Olly?

Liann's and the Beach house it is!

Lots of new animal molds, new rabbits, seals and highlight of course axolotls, and very nice to see in the cheaper sets, like the corgi dogs last year good to see these being accessible!

When I saw fashion show, I though we might get a grown up Emma, though preferably she'll get an art gallery at some stage, she's the only OG who hasn't had a themed set in the new wave.

Oh, 42689 has a tandem bicycle... That's something I gotta have...

@CCC said:
"But some of the other sets, they are really pushing the prices. 141 pieces for 30E even if it is a 4+ set. Ouch.

Breaking 10c/10p a part is no longer a "Star Wars tax"."

That's very much the standard for 4+ sets lol. Once they start getting over $20 the piece count will usually stay at around 100-200 but the price will go up and up.

It's important to judge by scale rather than price-to-piece, the piece count is very malleable on certain sets and some designers know how to reach right around that ratio AFOLs know.

@MeganL those axolotls might suceed the sloths? Very cute!

And the foliage piece in 11372 is already showing up elsewhere. That didn't take long...

@Terry_Wright said:
"Axolotls are the new sloths."

I had very similar thoughts.

@Lego_lord said:"Oh, 42689 has a tandem bicycle... That's something I gotta have..."

I'm not going to be getting the set, but I may well keep an eye out for that bike on PaB.

Those axolotls are dog sized . . . scary!

Frog.

42681 Axolotl set is a must-have. Perhaps I'll even buy two sets, last time it happened with Flower Cart 30413.

Ok sets, but I really like all the new animals.

Brick Fanatics has pictures of one more set: 42691 Garden Restaurant. It’s really gorgeous with unique architecture and a lot of the new warm pink color.

Wait untill you see the 42691 The Garden Restaurant set. Beautiful.

42687 What a lovely set! I've added it to my wish list. Just for the positive vibe this set exudes!

Solid but not as amazing as ususal.
BUT the Axolotl set is a STEAL for 9.99
How is car with baby in city the same price????

@johleth said:
"Where's Olly?"

and Pickle is also missing.

First must have set of the year is 42681 Axolotl Adventure Boat! What a lovely little set.

Friends seems like the last bastion of small Lego sets.

@Bricktuary said:
"First must have set of the year is 42681 Axolotl Adventure Boat! What a lovely little set."

Do you mean first must-have set overall, or first must-have Friends set? Because we've known about the first must-have set overall for a while, and where it's going, it doesn't need roads.

Aha ...there are the 'willow' leaves in green. Hooray!
Right I'm off to start a Pet Accessories Van business! It's niche but I'm sure there's a future in it.

I'm waiting for the Friends Olde Sawmill or something similar to explain all these missing hands.

@crawlerbot said:
"I'm waiting for the Friends Olde Sawmill or something similar to explain all these missing hands."

All of the minidolls that are missing the left hand are Autumn, who was born that way. I believe she’s the daughter of OG Friends main character Mia (the first redhead), or I may be getting her mixed up with Paisley. The only other character with missing body parts is Nova’s dog, who has no back legs (I don’t know if that was ever explained), so the dog has a set of wheels strapped on to aid with mobility, as is frequently done for four-legged animals (either pets or rescues) that were born that way or suffered catastrophic injuries.

Friends is going from strength to strength. My favourite theme!! However.......... LEGO!! Still waiting for a Friends Train and Train Station. PLEEEAAASSEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@PurpleDave said:
" @crawlerbot said:
"I'm waiting for the Friends Olde Sawmill or something similar to explain all these missing hands."

All of the minidolls that are missing the left hand are Autumn, who was born that way. I believe she’s the daughter of OG Friends main character Mia (the first redhead), or I may be getting her mixed up with Paisley. The only other character with missing body parts is Nova’s dog, who has no back legs (I don’t know if that was ever explained), so the dog has a set of wheels strapped on to aid with mobility, as is frequently done for four-legged animals (either pets or rescues) that were born that way or suffered catastrophic injuries."

Ah that makes way more sense. I was unaware this was a specific character.

@PurpleDave said:
"I believe she’s the daughter of OG Friends main character Mia (the first redhead), or I may be getting her mixed up with Paisley."

Yep, she's Mia's. Mia's in four sets with the new generation cast, and not only is Autumn in three of those sets (Paisley's only in one), one of them is 41730 Autumn's house.

That mini supermarket is a must-have even for those who are not into collecting Friends sets! A bit overpriced, but all those printed parts and new door frame and glass pieces would be cool to have!

@crawlerbot said:
"Ah that makes way more sense. I was unaware this was a specific character."

Every Friends minidoll is a named character. The original run had five mains, all girls, all with different hair colors, and all with very different hobbies and interests (one got reconned to be non-white at some point). There were also supporting characters, like parents, and other teens and adults working for local businesses, but everyone got named.

Then I think it was ten years in, the original characters got bumped to adulthood, Mia and at least one other girl (the current Mayor) stayed local, I think at least two left the area, at least one of those became rich and famous, and there’s a new set of main characters. This group is larger, includes boys as well as girls, again has varied looks (this time including a more obvious range of ethnicities from the very start), and has a bunch of new hobbies and interests. I know the original group were all friends with each other, but I don’t really follow the story, so I’m not sure if the new generation is a larger group of friends, or if there are sub-sets who are really close within their little group, but maybe not BFFs with the rest of the main cast. Oh, and at least one of the parents is known to have died, as I learned from last year’s Advent Calendar rundown. If the theme’s still going strong after 20 years (and no reason to assume it won’t be), I expect Year 21 will introduce the third generation, at least one of the originals will get grey or white hair, and the story may reflect that one or more of the original characters has passed away.