By Dylan Barlow (SAFOLs Brick Deputy, KZNLUG Founder)
Introduction
The LEGO® 76786 Wednesday Morticia’s Cottage is a new theme based on the Wednesday Series. There is a total of 5 sets in this new theme and are based on season 1 and 2. Morticia’s cottage is from season 2 of the series and is quite an interesting choice for the theme. I was surprised that LEGO® choose this theme as its quite a dark theme for a LEGO® set like the Stranger things theme.
There are 1002 pieces with 4 Minidolls (Wednesday, Morticia, Lurch and Bianca Barclay) , the cottage and the hearse are all include.
Packaging and First Impressions
The Box art falls inline with the Wednesday series, a very dark forest with the cottage in the centre of the box. This is a 10+ set but the Series has a 12 years age rating, so in my opinion this should be directed towards your older audience as the Series is quite dark which is probably why I enjoyed it.
There are 8 paper bags with the instructions and sticker sheets in a paper sleeve.
I feel that the Bags are having less pieces which is something I am noticing with the new sets.
There are two sticker sheets as one is on a transparent film for the windows.
The Build
Book 1:
Lurch and the hearse:
Probably the main reason why I chose this set was for Lurch and the hearse. The Minidoll does not suit the Lurch character, I feel that this should be a Minifigure to give the broad shoulders of Lurch. The hearse was a good little build and the details on the front with the Gargoyle was a nice little touch.
All the Minidolls can fit in the car which is a Brillant touch and quite impressive since Minidolls are quite ridged compared to Minifigures.
Book2:
Morticia’s cottage centre
There were also two Bags for the centre with two levels for the cottage. You start with Wednesday Adams in Minidoll form. The Main entrance hall with a beautiful stained-glass window. The upstairs houses Morticia’s room with a nicely detailed 4 post bed. There is a second stained glass window which really adds to the building. The angled roof is build using technic pieces to get the steep angle. This also makes it very steady compared to the hinges. Small details include the brick-built phone, stain glass window and the hidden spider in the roof rafters.
Book 3:
Morticia’s cottage, The right wing
Once again two bags with Morticia been the Minidoll in the first bag. I think Minidolls are the perfect way to represent Wednesday and Morticia while Lurch should have been a minifigure. That would be interesting to see them combine Minifigures and Minidolls in the same set. Back to the cottage. Downstairs you have a lovely fireplace with a single chair. Lots of details squeezed into this small room. Roses on the Windowsill also adds a nice little touch.
Upstairs is a bathroom with a set of swords hanging above the toilet. Why the swords….. no idea maybe to make you feel unwelcome or to get you to hurry up in the bathroom. Roof is brick built with no complicated angles only slopes used.
Book4:
Morticia’s cottage, The left wing
Downstairs you get the kitchen and once again lots of details with a stove, sink and a sausage hidden under the centre counter. Another beautiful stained-glass window.
Upstairs is Morticia’s secret spell room that is hidden from the rest of the house. You have a glass orb with a picture of Morticia and Wednesday above the orb. Inside the Orb you have a single mini minifigure statue. You have some vines hanging from the outside of the walls around the windows to break up the simple walls.
Minifigures and Accessories
- You get 4 Minidolls with a Meat Cleaver ……
- You get one car and the cottage
Is it Swooshible or for a Display?
This Set is definitely designed for the play experience with the building opening up so you have access to all areas. The top floors come off on the sides of the Left and Right side, so you have access to the inside without opening up the building. The roof come off the car do you can fit the Minidoll’s easily inside the car.
The Story will need to be created by our imagination as there is no fun play experience just hidden details.
Good and the Bad
The Good
- Great detailed in the cottage.
- Minidolls represent the characters well.
- Lots of hidden details in the building.
- Opens up for easy access.
- Building is well designed for the size.
The Bad
- Lurch should not be a Minidoll.
The Ugly
Overall, for a little cottage I feel this is great set with lots of details and different building styles. Roof looks great and the fact that you can open it up to play inside is Brillant. The car is also well detailed but leaves room for improvement but is not a problem as the focus is on the cottage.
My only concern is that should this be an 18+ set if it’s based on the Wednesday Series?
