I love the theme of this set, and Lego already did a beautiful variation on it with the Friends set. But I have to say the original submission looks hugely superior to the final Lego version in terms of architecture/esthetics and the density and interest of the plants. I'd trade away all the minifigs for more dense and interesting plant builds any day of the week.
The sickest burn I heard a reviewer say was ‘it looks like the X-Men have moved out of a mansion and into a house’. These prices are getting out of control for the product they’re offering. Each set is like a car payment. No way to get the X-Men in any smaller sets unless you by an $80 plane or a $330 house.
This Botanical Garden is not very tall. Think probably only 13-14 bricks tall, excluding the top dome. Natural History Museum (which itself is not very tall) is 24 bricks tall. The original submission is much taller and fit better with modular buildings.
An easier way to consider "Should you buy this set?" is "Do you want this set?". Seems to be so much strategizing in the Lego adult community and people working out if parts are good or minifigs diverse or whatever, but if you like botanical things then get it. Not sure why this set had 12 minifigs though, I would've thought much fewer, like 6 at most. It's just adding extra price onto the big price tag already. Personally it just look a bit bare bones and I'm not really sure who the customer base is intended for? I get LEGO is a premium product now and mostly for rich people or hobbyist with large expendable income, but what are we really doing with these large sets other than putting them on a shelf and having people visit our houses and give us a concerned look when we tell them how much it cost?
Thanks for your video. To me it is a logica follow-up for the museum. I simply love visiting botanical gardens and museums, so I have been looking forward to this set for a year!! I can't want to start!
This is a must for me. I didn’t get the Friends version because I knew this was coming out and I don’t like the mini dolls. If finances are a concern, I do think that makes a cute build. But I love this one! I like it a little better than the original submission, and I think it will fit in nicely in a park setting within a modular community. That’s more true to how you find these types of botanical buildings anyway. Although it isn’t cheap, I’m also excited about the two GWPs, which encourages me to get it on release rather than waiting for a sale down the road. And I’ll use some of my Insider points to help shave a little off the cost.
Funnily enough after seeing the new one I went out and bought two of the Friends Botanical Garden when I noticed it with 25% off, kinda wish I got three now. Its not that I do not like the new one, I just preferred the original design that was taller and not as wide, and 2 baseplates takes up A LOT of room and I do not have endless space so a set that takes up 2 baseplates is extravagant and at some point in the future it would have to go to make room for something new...probably will still end up buying the huge thing though so it can gather dust in my "Cupboard of Shame", sets I buy because they are great and I must have them, but also sets I do not have the space for at the moment so I cannot build them, hence the cupboard of shame. It would not make any sense to buy it when at 25% off the Friends set I can buy 5 Friends Botanical Gardens sets, and there are some very good MOCs which use just two or three.
I am so glad I picked up the Friends version earlier when it was on great sale. I will now look into getting another one to combine it. I feel pretty disappointed on the this set. What I like most about the original set are the huge clear windows. So that's 0 out of 2 for me so far as I don't want the X-Manison either LOL.
I will never pay full price for LEGO. Double VIP and a GWP I DESIRE may entice me. That is as much as I will budge. Ideally, I aim for at least 20% off. Bought Mos Eisley this year FINALLY because there was a great May the 4th promo around the set.
I've been watching you for a couple months now and I absolutely love how thoughtful and hyper-specific your videos are. I can feel the passion and I love it
We have the Friends Botanical set already - it'll go to another part of the house and we will be buying this one when it's available - all points are very valid that you've brought up (great video too, by the way) - I'll figure out how to integrate it next to the Natural History Museum (I'm building right now). We're not really "modular sets people" but have a few and display them by themselves or with another set up on shelves. Really would have liked this more if it were modular compatible (out of the box), was about $50-80 less expensive or included additional "mini builds" such as a topiary garden or a fountain.
I've got two of the Friends Botanical Gardens, and will definitely pick this set up too, eventually, when there's a decent sale on it. I'm looking forward to trying to combine them into one large MOC.
I’m slowly building my own Lego city and man- Lego has SO many cafe/coffee shop sets. I wish they included more plants in the botanical ***garden*** instead of more coffee shops. Caffeine addiction is severely affecting my Lego city I can’t keep the little guys off the stuff.
The Friends version is great looking as well for sure, but even if you combine 3 of them and get the rebrickable version, it still can't compare to the beauty and elegance of the new ideas version imo, period. That being said, it's very expensive unfortunately.
I hear you and I agree but I am definitely getting it - one of the sets I'm willing to splurge. I have the Friends botanical garden, too, but that feels a bit simple and playdoll house-esque. This is an upgrade and more mature when it comes to design. Further, it comes with all the minifigures. I chose to see this review first so I don't get influenced by the LAN folks. Thank you for the candid review!
I would be interested to know what Lego marketing survey for this set found. Were there significant issues with the original contribution to commercialise. Was it not as well received as Lego's final product? What is post-release reaction?
This set is like most modulars for me in that I think it looks great but I most likely won't buy it. The Friends Botanical Garden set has been discounted lately, so it could be a good time to get multiple copies of it. However, this new botanical garden set is the type that my wife (not a LEGO builder) might see and think it looks nice and buy it for me as a gift. That's how I got the motorized lighthouse and the A frame cabin. 😊
I won’t be getting this because of the design, the look, the size… but what I am interested in is the plants. Plants always get me. 😂 so I’ll be looking to buy the individual pieces to make the plants and use them in my own Botanical Garden that I’m building for my Medieval Village 😊 thanks for the great info as usual! Keep up the good work!
An option could be buying the set, so you can build it, look at it and then dismantle it to store pieces for future MOCs (if you are into building MOCs). Then, keep the plants for your Medieval Village. May end up costing less than buying on bricklink or pick a brick website.
@@jossdeiboss good idea, though I don’t have much need for all the transparent wall elements, at the moment. I do have plans to create a medieval/fantasy ice castle village, but it’s just in the plans. I like doing MODs and MOCs of medieval/fantasy themes. How about yourself?
This set shouldn't be considered a modular building to connect to other modular buildings. It's a botanical garden so in a real city it would be in a large park setting with big walkable grounds all around. So as long as a Lego city has a large enough area to accommodate the two base plate building plus adding more ground space it will be a nice addition. But an area like that will take up a lot of real estate.
Though you could adapt the Lego Botanical Garden set to be Modular compatible, it wouldn't look right as part of a downtown scene. If you want to include a garden or two into your Modular downtown, rooftop gardens are the way to go.
I've been getting modular buildings since the Cafe Corner and Market Street. I don't see the fuss at all with this set, I think it won't fit in with the other modulars stylistically anyway. This is an easy pass for me.
I think, you qualify as one of the best reviewers for this set, knowing that you already "had a lot to do with botanical gardens", as you combined (2+1) friends botanical gardens into one . :) The Lego set looks nice and I think, the fact that the exterior walls are "thicker" and allow for more depth is a really big plus in terms of optical appearance. I think, some flowers (or flower parts?) are also new. The slopes for the roof were also created specifically to this set, when I am correct. I may buy the Lego set, as we have 12 minifigures and there is still a lot happening in that botanical garden! I am also a big fan of the sand green color. The friends botanical gardens sets are in my region priced at 100€, so it's round about the same in price as the big LEGO botanical garden set. Not to mention the fact, that I can't do anything with friends minifigures: I think, the decision of buying the Lego set kind of makes sense in my case. :)
Loved this when the ideas submission was announced, and definitely love this more. I dont think its a problem not being modular per se, i always thought the gardens should be open and not butted up against another building, personally i was thinking build a small wall/fence at the perimeter. Never a day 1 buyer personally, so will wait and hope for a discount... Ps. Great reviews as always, thanks for all the work you do!
It's odd that LEGO is doing 2 Botanical Gardens so close to each other, kind of competing with itself, but for me this one is superior. I like it even more that the original submission. To me, it doesn't make any sense for this to be modular as Botanical Gardens have their own grounds and are not attached to any other buildings. The issue is the price but it will have a GWP so that might make it more attractive.
For most people I think this is a set to wait on for a sale and/or double points on. For the Modular moc people I can see them Jumping on this day one and coming up with some fantastic variations using this and a botanical garden set, and I am excited for that. For city, I could see extended it like you said with moving the sidewalk up further, maybe shrinking the width of the interior, but extending it to the rest of the baseplate, filling in to make more room for more plants inside, and the original staircase. I do like the alternating pattern on the sidewalk though, And While the windows are nice, I thinkt he Transparent panels allowed to see in more, something you don't always get in a modular. From there Could see about adding an additional floor on the wings or something similar, hard to tell, but I can see this being a highly moc'd building. From the Bricksie interview the new tulip flower pieces you get a TON of them, and they were designed for this set, but have come in a few sets before this. I am excited for this to be on the PAB Wall/online as it gives you a LOT of options, Same with the new corner window panel. I love your insights and it made me rethink how I think about this building and its price/value. As others have said in the comments you've really hyper fixated on things and done a Great job of explaining your reasoning, Things I didn't think to catch or couldn't put into words. Look forward to more of your reviews. I also don't think the GWP itself would make it worth it, but it is a nice part pack addition to the set.
It is beautiful. But lets be honest. You could buy the friends version. Wait for pick a brick and buy the exclusive new moldsflowers to adjust the moc as you please.
Nice detailed breakdown, as always. Tiago just posted the content he filmed for Lego Fan Days in Bilund, where Chris McVeigh talks about the design aspects. Also, the Friends - Botanical Garden set has been discounted on Amazon, varying from 20-30% off.
Thanks for your breakdown. I really appreciate your point of view. This ist a day one purchase for me... I like the design and the use of space more than the original ideas submission. And I really want to have these new pieces that come with this set and you don´t get with the friends botanical garden.
I love the set and will get it (just maybe not right away and wait for a discount or promotion). I don't own a single building that I haven't altered (some extensively, some subtle) to make it more my own. And this is a wonderful basis.
Great video as always but this set does not move the needle for me as far as the idea itself , but it looks nice anyway, I would like to see a Lego Architecture set get the same type of love like this.
I think they announced this a month or so after I’d bought two Friends Botanical Gardens. I think, seeing as I’m pretty happy with what I’ve got, I shan’t be buying this one. If I didn’t, it might be a more difficult choice.
For me, X-mansion over this even though it has size issues. I do think this set looks great and if I see it later with a nice discount/promo/points, I will get it
I was joking with my wife last year (or very early this year) when we bought the Friends Botanical Garden: "You know LEGO will be coming out with a larger set just like this, right?" - she said "Yeah, probably..." me: "We'll buy that one too if or when it comes out". Now I'm looking at the Friends set thinking where the mini dolls and instructions are at - perhaps it's time to sell ;-)
I really just can't get myself to pay these amount for new sets... 330 USD for this is crazy...a lot of the pieces are small tiles for flooring r flowers/ plant pieces... I don't understand a the price tag
Yeah I just don't get it. People continue to be ok with these prices. It's no wonder Lego keep raising them. As a parent, I constantly compare the price of a single Lego set with all the other things I could get my kids to play with. The value is just not there. Even as an adult, I think of all the other things I could do with several hundred dollars instead of a single set.
Fans buy them (after Lego's social media minions hype them endlessely), so Lego understandably just keeps raising prices. It's not going to stop until people put away their credit cards. The fun of building and any childhood Lego nostalgia vibes are ruined when I feel like I just got bent over at the cash register. I've turned more and more to the alternative brands, where I feel like I'm actually getting good value for money.
@@robbiedobbles I think of it the same way: I can buy a set for $300 and have fun building it for just a couple hours and then glance at it on the shelf from time to time, or I can spend that money on something that will offer much more pleasure or use for much longer. And a lot of us building brick fans are not ok with the prices and have turned to Cobi, Cada, Pantasy, etc., where you usually get way more for your money than Lego.
@@robbiedobbles Look into FunWhole and other competitors. I know, weird name, but their pieces are higher quality than Lego and they are 1/3rd the price. The truth is, Lego overcharges more than people think. I'm talking about 2-3x what they should be charging, and 8-10x times the cost of production. And they offer worse quality parts than affordable competitors, which are popping up more and more. Lego simply isn't the best way to buy "Lego" when competitors are literally fractions of the price and offer higher quality bricks while Lego continues to lower brick quality and force pieces out of their molds earlier and earlier all while raising prices and gouging consumers.
@@SO-ym3zs Yeah, I think of it the same way as well. Why spend $300 on a single Lego set when $300 can get me so much more with anything else? Heck, $300 is more valuable in my savings account than in exchange for a plastic dust collector. I just found FunWhole after LegoJANG reviewed a set rather well, and I see no reason to return to Lego after they stopped making original themes, charge absurd prices, and continue to lower piece quality while competitors are more affordable and provide better piece quality with more creative sets and not the 50,000th Marvel or DC bullcrap.
Very good analysis. I'm in a similar frame of mind - I really wanted to love the x-mansion but it just looks so out of scale with the modular buildings, and even the other Marvel sets. And I already have the doubled friends botanical garden - I used the Brick Artisan modular rebrickable plans - and just don't see a need for this one, although I do like it a bit more in it's overall aesthetic. But not $330 worth. I'm still waiting to see what the next modular building looks like which will influence this as well. I honestly think they pushed that release to January because they probably realize having these 3 all release so close together would definitely result in 1 or 2 of these sets sitting on shelves unsold - which it still might. Hoping for some early leaks.
I brought two Friends botanical gardens on sale, so think for about 60 each, maybe less. I love the MOC I have done which is similar to the rebrickable one. I do really love the new set, but because of the use of the sand green windows, it feels a bit too similar to my MOC to justify the money… so I think a no from me!
I think that if you have enough space, or want a set that keeps its value, this is a good one. It has so many new elements and is really just complete as a building. The friends set is just too cramped to me. And again, less value over time
Thanks for your excellent video and opinions. I love this new set, but it's pricey and huge (two base plates), so it would take up a lot of room in my city. Plus I still haven't built my two Lego Friends Botanical Garden sets. I'm anxious to modify it all using some of the ideas from this new set.
i look at this and all i want is a cup of the new floral elements, banana recolor. I'd buy it if they knock 100$ off or i could wait 6 months for b n p,
Love the reviews, how do you remember/know how many times a piece has been used? And no, I have the original Friends (several copies) and am doing a MOC on that. This is just way too expensive for what it is. Lego needs to reign it in a bit.
I do love the interior, outside gardens and minifigs.. but the building and colors itself hit a bit too close to the Friends version for me. GWP also not all that great.
X-Mansion design really suffers from having each room as a modular unit. All those extra pieces could’ve been used to improve the visual impact. If you compare it to any other modular it just looks pitiful. Those modular rooms also eat up space which shrinks the interior even more. As a result we get a boring, puny, undersized shallow building with inaccessible rooms you’ll only appreciate during the build process. It’s among the most disappointing overpriced sets ever released. The Botanical Garden’s focus on a highly detailed beautiful exterior is definitely the way to go.
this set is such a disappointment. The original version looks so much better. It went from sophisticated build for adults, to a messy looking childish version. Especially the garden is clashing so much with the building. I also hate the date palm tree.
Why does everyone bring up the Friends garden it’s wack who wants a FRIENDS Botanical garden? Lmfao this one is way better and not a lame friends edition 🤦♂️
