Review: 41251 Poppy's Pod
Posted by Huw,
The Trolls: World Tour sets are now available at LEGO.com and in brand stores so I headed to my newly-opened local branch this morning to pick up a couple to review, tempted by the bright colours and new parts!
41251 Poppy's Pod is a 4+ set although you wouldn't think so given the number small parts in it. Such sets have a major advantage over those aimed at older kids as you will find out after the break...
New parts
The most prominent new parts in the set are the two large pod pieces which, for some strange reason LEGO calls a 'Box, W/ 4.85 Hole, No. 1', part number 65253. It's produced in three colours for the Trolls sets: this one is transparent medium reddish violet.
The two halves are held together and hinged using a new 3 long Technic-like pin with leaf on the top. It offers less friction than a standard Technic pin so can be easily removed by small fingers.
They are inserted into the holes at the sides to hold the two parts together.
Several of the Trolls sets come with felt elements. They are about a plate thick and good quality. They do not yet appear in the set's inventory as published by LEGO's customer services this morning, for some reason. The hole in the middle is 1x1 stud in size.
There's a bag of 'bits and pieces' as often found in this type of set.
There are also plenty of decorated parts which are all printed -- the major advantage of 4+ sets!
Poppy
I'm guessing Poppy is the film's main protagonist since she appears in the most sets. It's a delightful minifigure, with new head, hair and skirt pieces.The pattern on her dress looks great and matches up well with the colour of the skirt.
Unlike Trolls toys of yore this one does not have 'real hair' but I think it looks splendid nevertheless.
The hair is a separate piece, affixed on top of 4 studs on her head.
The completed model
The set builds three subassemblies. First, the pod, which is presumably where Poppy lives.
The frosted finish of the translucent pod hides what's inside while giving a tempting glimpse of it.
Inside, a hinged bed occupies one half, while a small dresser and sink fill the other.
Both sides are built onto a new bracket piece (Plate 2X6, W/1.5 Plate 1X6, Upwards) which we first encountered in my review of a Friends Play Cube. It affixes to the pod in the same way as in that set.
One thing I didn't like about it is that the book by the side of the bed and the small parts in the drawer fly about all over the place inside it when it's carried which, surely, is what it's designed for.
I'm not really sure what this is, or who the face on top belongs to, but it looks attractive and that's probably all that matters!
Behind the 'waterfall' is a chest containing a map.
The third and final subassembly is what I presume is a talking flower, judging by its face, and it is here where the felt pieces are used.
Verdict
It's bright, colourful, has an attractive new minifig and a cool pod for it to dwell in that can be carried about wherever you go. What more could a 4-year-old want?!
Wait: can Poppy actually dwell in it? I haven't checked. Let's give it a go....
Without removing anything, no she can't. Even after removing the stuff on the right she can't stand up straight inside, and the pod won't shut because she interferes with the bed legs.
Perhaps I can shove her behind the bed...
No, the pod still won't shut!
I can't believe that the set has such a major flaw! The minifigure is too big to fit in the pod which, I thought, was the whole point of the set. If you remove everything she would, but that defeats the object somewhat.
So, what more could a 4-year-old want? To fit Poppy in the pod, I suspect!
On that basis, it's hard to recommend it for four year olds. I can't believe such a flaw passed scrutiny during the design process. I wonder if any of the Trolls fit in them in the other sets?
Update: Having fiddled about a bit more I have now been able to shoe-horn Poppy in, although the solution was not obvious (to me at least) and does not look to be comfortable for her!
So, to revise my recommendation, perhaps a four year old would be able to work out how to shove her in and therefore won't find the set lacking.
For AFOLs, it's not bad as a parts pack, and I look forward to seeing what creative uses are found for the pods. The price of £19.99/$19.99 is probably what you'd expect, but about 25% more than you'd want to pay.
This, and the entire Trolls: World Tour range, can now be purchased at LEGO.com.
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44 comments on this article
Call me crazy but I would like to see more pods like this used for huts in fantasy/scifi LEGO themes. I think they'd work especially well with a system based BIONICLE line, where most huts on Mata Nui had a consistent rounded look and were assembled out of large aircraft parts.
I cannot believe the troll doesn't fit inside. I'm pretty sure these pods are part of the actual village decor so they're technically stationary, but what kid wouldn't want to pack it all up and carry it around?
I don't know what the thing on top of the waterfall is but I adore it.
In ten years, Huwbot will be picking those Trolls sets and we'll have the same reaction as when it chooses Clickits…
Somehow I don't think we are going to see that head used for "bald" trolls (if such a thing exists) in the way normal MF heads are with no hair piece. Four studs on top looks a bit odd.
Reminds me a little of the Smurfs huts we had as kids in the Eighties, only more colorful.
@TheOriginalSimonB that was my first thought- the picture of Poppy with their hair off looks rather more disturbing than the usual hairless minifigure head.
@Huw
In your 'bit & pieces' photo, those azure cupcake papers have a stud on top -- which is new! Previous versions (even 1HY 2019 Friends) have a smooth/flat inside the top. Now we can add swirls for frosting on our cupcakes without it falling out!
It's crazy it took Poppy wanting to swing with a cupcake on her head for us to get this stud! :-)
First Clikits, now...
Energetic review, insightful and loads of fun to read and take in.
I'd like these pods in solid colors like sand green, dark red, gray - for onion domes on church or castle towers...
@LegoMyMamma said:
"In your 'bit & pieces' photo, those azure cupcake papers have a stud on top -- which is new! "
Good catch! That does make them much more useful.
These look to serve as Hot Air Balloons...
IDK....$19.99 for a 103 piece, 4+ set. The licensing cost is driving this out of the range. I might be more apt to spend $9.99 on the 152 piece Thanos Mech or Iron Man one. I can buy both for that $19.99. If I want a Poppy, I can buy the $5 polybag.
Ditto on azure cupcakes. Really like the addition of the music pieces. And I love the skirt piece!
Update: I've shoe-horned her in and added another photo.
I won't pay full price for any of these (I don't think I'll need to), but I love these sets. So weird and colorful.
The price is way too high on par with angry birds sets. But the theme is surprisingly appealing to me- these colors are fantastic and the printed pieces too (by the way- that 'lollipop' piece is a print or a sticker?). I'm surprised some of you compare this theme to clickits- two felt pieces justify that? For me this is more akin to Fabuland or aforementioned angry birds.
It's pushing it for 20, but there's a lot of new molds. The leaf-pin pieces will probably be useful for constraction.
That picture with the hair removed is frightening.
£20? Half that and I’d get some for my kids if they liked the film, but at full price there is no chance.
I NEED that whirly/twirly pop printed piece!!
What a lovely little set, looking forward to further Trolls reviews!
I get it, but I wanted these Trolls sets to have old school troll hair. Meh.
Loving that large pod in transparent light blue. Gonna be searching that out for space MOCs.
I love this series. Its such great partpack for elves line.
This feels almost like a fever dream... Like those Trolls are going to sniff one of those flowers; get weird glazed eyes and start sputtering nonsense like "whoa man... we live in a society!" :P
Eh, it tickles some nostalgia of the Bionicle canister and X-Pod days of my childhood though.
That smile on the waterfall is just messed up. Dare I say paedophilic? “You better sniff that flower and sleep...”
In all honesty this set does not interest me. The pod would be much more usual should it be transparent and Poppy just looks creepy. Might pick this up ironically when it gets on sale.
Well at least now I have two new and original ideas for Halloween dress up.
I think it’s pretty ironic that the 4+ sets have exclusively printed pieces and no stickers whatsoever (btw @thor96 that lollipop is printed too), while sets aimed at older kids/afols have dreaded sticker sheets like there’s no tomorrow.
Nasty sets imo, they just don't seem LEGO to me. Too many odd parts that just don't seem useful and I'm not happy about the use of Felt, this is a theme I might avoid all together even at discounts. People slack on Unikitty for being a bad theme but that was a great theme and when you compare this too that, its like comparing Angry Birds sets to the Star Wars sets.
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I can't be the only one who thought of this, right? Right?
In 20 years, Lego fans will have the same reaction to this line, "WHAT IS THIS." Its not lego.
While I don't really care for the source material, I quite like the psychedelic colour madness in these sets (and their packaging).
That being said, the good thing I foresee is huge discounts like there were with other similarly overpriced themes like Angry Birds, Unikitty, Scooby Doo et al.
Being able to mold any piece in any color doesn't mean you should. Thi set is a perfect example.
You actually bought this set, Huw?
You succumbed to the marketing scheme of these sets.
I am disappointed.
This is basically Clikits, but with a bit more advanced building style.
Clikits are ... returning.
While I agree with the general sentiment that the head looks a bit weird with the 4 studs on top, I think it's actually a good idea. Trolls have always been about big extravagant hair, and this allows you to build whatever crazy hair you can come up with on top, moreso than a regular minifig head.
@Marvelnate825: Not Lego? I see normal Lego pieces, a regular minifig mold... I consider this more Lego than Bionicle.
There, I said it. Now excuse me while I run before I get lynched. :P
That's an absolutely awesome review.
And really great photography, Huw. LEGO would sell a lot more sets if their product images on LEGO.com were as good as Huw's photos in these Brickset reviews.
Oh jeez. As a mandolin player I can't believe I now have reason to get one of these... Is that really our first Lego mandolin? Hopefully we'll get it in another color...
I was in a hotel in Canada earlier this week and a Trolls movie came on. After five minutes, I summoned the strength to get up and grab the remote. They had the Trolls sets in stores even though it wasn't January 1st yet.
I was in a US Lego Store today with my son. He walked right past these sets without a care in the world. Granted, he's only 20 months old and Duplo is more his speed right now.
Crazy new LEGO theme. Not sure I'll get any however the variety of new pieces and funky characters may lead to a purchase. No knowledge of the Trolls themselves so have no interest from that point of view. Of course the flare of colour is awesome!
@Lordmoral said:
"These look to serve as Hot Air Balloons..."
There’s actually a Trolls hot air balloon set that use a different new part for the balloon part.
Galidor on drugs.
$20! No freakin way. Way too expensive for a "pod" that is useful for almost nothing, and 103 parts, which is little more than what most polybags and $5-6 sets contain.
At $20, I expect these things to languish forever, and even longer once they get sold off by major retailers to discount stores/bargain outlets. 'Cause I'm sure even parents will know these are awful value for the money, given that's a 150-200 piece LEGO set, typically. And it ain't helping that when I saw my Dad's old Troll doll in my Granddad's workshop as a kid, the thing gave me nightmares.
Uhm... Price is high for what it is. This is a $10 set, maybe $12 if they have already scrapped the mold for the "pod". I do hope they reuse the mold for this "pod", as I can see a lot of use for it. But my perspective is peculiar as I'm looking at this and seeing the head of a fig eatting plant.
I do want the mandolin, though. For some reason, I'm now thinking the blue Mandalorian in 75267 is a bard... yes, a Mandalorian with a mandolin. Try the chicken, I'm here all week!
@Chouju_X_SPAM_ said:
"Galidor on drugs."
Not even remotely close to galidor but ok