Karalora

Pharaoh Hatshepsut is one of those interesting edge cases. Short version: Pharaoh dies while his son is an infant, so his widow takes the throne. But the office of pharaoh is male by definition, so how do the Egyptians square that circle? By portraying the queen as a man in all the official art. It's important to note that she did not live as a man and no one was under the impression that she was actually a man, it's just that the iconography had no way to express that the pharaoh was a woman. Hence this sphinx, which is, officially, a male sphinx even though the head is that of a woman.

Whoops! I didn't mean to let this lapse so close to the end. Series W, and then I'm caught up (since I did series X when it came out). Supreme Leader: Very cool! The Evil Mastermind needed his female counterpart, and we got this gal! The bicolored uniform is intriguing, suggesting perhaps a split personality...but what could the two halves be when she is so clearly evil all over? Scrumptious! Gnome Girl: Completely adorable. Is she another garden gnome, or the real deal? I want to say the former based on those cheek dots, but you never know! Carnival Man: This one is just hypnotic (don't tell the Hypnotist, he'll be jealous). Such detailing and striking colors! I have some Carnival mask ornaments actually from Venice, and I can attest to the accuracy of the look here. It's literally hard to stop looking at; those patterns lead the eye around and around! Black Chess Bishop: It's a pity there's really only one accessory associated with a bishop, since I was enjoying the variation between the white and black sides. Streamer: I love her pastel candy-colored look! But what really sells this is the screen tile with the image of her ongoing game on it (with CMF characters, no less) and the chat in the sidebar! Windmill Fighter: This whole project has been dreaming the impossible dream, hasn't it? With all the children's lit characters we've seen, it's nice to have a more grown-up classic literary figure. It's harder to come up with ones that will be instantly recognizable since most books for grown-ups don't feature outlandish quirky characters and they only sometimes have illustrations that get famous. But Don Quixote is pretty obvious. Dentist: Just gradually filling in all the professions that show up at grade school Career Day... That toothbrush would be a boon to MOCers of domestic scenes, and the masked face is...pretty universally applicable these days (or would be, if more people knew how to behave). Sphinx: Time was, I would have said "No way in Megablocks" to the prospect of something like this...but they did give us a Centaur, so who knows? This design is actually a combination of the Egyptian and Greek sphinx concept, having the overall look of the former but the addition of wings from the latter. When I first saw it, it read as female to me and I wasn't sure why, but then I realized it--it doesn't have the pharaoh's beard! Robert8 returned the uraeus to the headdress but left off the beard. (The Great Sphinx at Giza originally had both, but they were relatively fragile compared to the whole and broke off over the years.) Alien Commander: Not sure what to make of this one. We've got so many aliens by now...I guess the outer space group needed someone with a yellow laser? I'm a bit curious as to what the head looks like under there... Painter: YES! Frida Kahlo my beloved! You really captured her look, eccentric fashion sense and all. And the paintbrush...isn't it high time we had a whole color selection of paintbrushes in use? Pumpkin Head: I have a mighty need for this guy! My own Pumpkinhead is a black head, the standard jack-o-lantern headwear, and the torso and legs from the Plant Monster, but this guy is much friendlier and more fun. The long legs + vertical stripes make him look really tall. He's just a fun idea all around. Sleuth: The Series 5 Detective is Sherlock Holmes (hey, there's an instantly recognizable literary character for you), whereas this gal is more 1930s noir. I suspect what you really needed was another use for the Mobster's hat + hair, but she came out cute anyway. Space Boy: Gee, I wonder which part of The LEGO Movie he liked best? It's a cute idea, but ultimately...this is a Classic Spaceman with short legs. Still nicely in keeping with the costume tradition, though. Olympus King: Not "Thunder God," then? Eh, I'm nitpicking. This is exactly what we would need and expect from a Zeus minifig. Fits the bill perfectly. Cymbal Monkey: File this under "didn't know I wanted one until I saw it." Some to think of it, we have a decently sized toy subtheme, don't we? Besides being terrific overall, those cymbals could easily be repurposed for an orchestra or marching band--we always want more musical instruments! Volleyball Player: I think the main thing this one adds is the volleyball itself. There's not really anything to differentiate her from, say, a female basketball player (the uniform styles are very similar). I kinda like her hair though--is that a French braid? Overall: This is not my favorite wave. There are a couple great surprises, but more "meh" figures than I've seen in a while. I guess they can't all be the top of the heap. And with that, I eagerly await March 1!

If it's any consolation, I don't think there's much risk of Disney licensing a Pinocchio minifigure even if they continue their CMFs. They're so fixated on characters with guaranteed current popularity. That we got Hades (among certain other characters) is a freaking miracle.

On to Series V! Alien Boy: I like the ambiguity of this one. Is he a genuine alien from a whimsical cosmos where spacefarers can whiz about in a bumper car saucer and every planet has its own version of dogs...or is he a kid wearing a costume that includes full face paint (and also his dog is involved)? His ship has a recolored version of the Alien Invader's logo which suggests...something, though I couldn't tell you what. Alraune: I consider myself pretty well-versed in folklore, but I had never heard of this creature before. I'm glad I know now though--she's really interesting! She seems to be in the same "family" of nature spirits as a Dryad or Pilliwig (flower fairy)...or your Nymph, perhaps? Really cool concept, and the flower alone would make for an interesting feature in a jungle MOC. Country Girl: The Country Music Singer was definitely Johnny Cash. This might be a young Dolly Parton, though it differs from her classic look in a few ways (and I'm not just talking about the bustline...Parton's notorious bosom would look odd on a minifigure, and would invite derogatory comments). In any case, she's very cute, the teal and white is a good example of "showbiz country" that would never work in an actual Western setting, and it's always nice to have another design for a guitar. Dark Elf: I think every AFOL fantasy fan is hoping we can get the Drow to add to our worlds. That said, the Drow as popularized by classic D&D are problematic as all get-out, and this design is a good compromise between the original concept and a less cringey modern take. For that matter, there's no reason to assume this character is evil--the stern expression is shared with the original Series 3 Elf, and the rest of the design merely suggests a nocturnal lifestyle. I kind of wish the hood weren't part of the headgear since I'd like to have that hair/ears combo on its own. On the plus side, the shield is gorgeous. Easter Bunny: It's weird, you know? TLG has produced a few different people in bunny costumes, generally with Easter motifs, and a few different versions of anthropomorphic rabbits, but we have yet to get an actual Easter Bunny. I want this one so much. I want those eggs! Faceless Man: Good old Slenderman. Where would internet creepypasta be without him? I would have gone with the extra-long legs personally, but this design certainly captures the fundamentals of the internet's favorite deliberately constructed cryptid. Factory Worker: We can do it! I have to love the hair piece you created for this one, with the Victory curls and the scarf. Rosie the Riveter may be a propaganda character, but she's a fairly benign one and I'd love to add her to my American History collection. Marionette: With the Toymaker and the Marionettist already included, it was only a matter of time before Pinocchio himself joined the party. I appreciate that you went with a more literary/old-fashioned design for both him and the cricket instead of following Disney's lead. Monster Fighter: This is the one that inspired me to create an entire thread about a hypothetical revival of the MF line, so my opinion must be abundantly clear. She's awesome! Designing a female character with facial scars always takes some amount of guts, and I thank you for that. And of course she also works as a distaff counterpart for the earlier Monster Hunter (she even looks a bit like Kate Beckinsale in Van Helsing). Too cool! New Year Party Guy: When exactly did the world settle on black/gold/silver as the New Year's Eve palette? Eh, I guess it doesn't matter. You know I'm always up for a holiday reference, and this is a good one. The tux with a gold cummerbund also works outside of the New Year context. Outback Guy: Every part of this one is the best part. The bloke himself of course, the painted boomerang, the KANGAROO! You call that a minifig? THIS is a minifig! Power Warrior: Is this basically a retread of both the Super Warrior and the Ultra Warrior? Yes. Does it matter? Absolutely not; the whole point of a super sentai team is that they're just recolored copies of each other with different weapons. Know your pop culture! Prom Queen: I am fairly mesmerized by that sequin print. I mean...that's exactly what sequins look like under indoor lighting conditions. Superb! And of course the hair and tiara work just as well with a princess, beauty queen, parade hostess, and many other concepts. Sky Ruler: Hail to the Sun God, he's a really fun god, Ra, Ra, Ra! (Sorry, not sorry.) This is probably the best one of the bunch this time around. Incredible detail in the printing, and the Eye of Horus sun disc is a nice bonus. Superheroine: It's hard to imagine that we'd ever get any "generic" superpower characters when LEGO has ongoing licenses with both Marvel and DC...but I kind of wish we would, you know? It's unsettling to me how kids' imagination--and adults' imagination, for that matter--has been increasingly siphoned away from basic scenarios like superheroes or fantasy adventures and toward trademarked IPs like the MCU and Harry Potter. A LEGO minifig is also an IP creation of course, but if it's not a named character--and the CMFs are not--then it's more of a tool to spur the creation of stories than an artifact of existing stories. This gal kinda looks like Captain Marvel, but she also looks very "archetypal superhero" with the red and blue, the cape and mask, and the flying. Train Collector: This is a very clever way of getting two concepts in one. Yes, this guy is a model railway enthusiast with his model train...but he's the sort who gets so far into it that he dresses up as an old-timey engineer when he plays with his trains, which makes him also function as an actual old-timey engineer, if that's how you want to go with it. Love it! Overall: A really solid showing this time around! Yes it inspired me to make a lot of side commentary, but that's because the figures themselves are so strong that there's not a lot to say that isn't plainly evident in the images. Way to go, Robert8!

Let's see what I can make of Series U, shall we? Narwhal Girl: It's funny to me how divisive the animal costumes are; it seems you either love them or hate them. I am on the side of love. I like seeing more variety in them, and a narwhal is an unconventional choice. UFOlogist: In real life, these people tend to be loonies. In the LEGO world, where aliens clearly exist, I imagine they have a valuable role to play in society. I like the look of this guy's gear. Teutonic Knight: That helmet is outstanding...although I think if it were up to me, I would make the crest separate "horns" to insert into the base. Other than that...the design kind of goes without saying. The Teutonic Knights had a look. You recreated it. Magician Girl: She is really cute. I like that she's doing that magician thing where she pretends to be amazed by her own trick. The woman's tux print would be useful, and the card tiles are nice too. Bullfighter: I cannot approve of the "sport" of bullfighting, but the costume is lovely. Very fine details there. Shepherdess: I assume she's crying because she's lost her sheep, but isn't that one of them right there? Or is that someone else's sheep? The pastel palette is a nice aesthetic. (Does the Toy Story Bo-Peep minifig count as a realization of this? I'm gonna go with no.) Olympian Messenger: I'm always up for more mythological characters, of course, and this is a good one. The re-use of the Magical Girl's wand is inspired (I might suspect you of having devised it for this one first and then assigning it backwards), and I like that he has basically the same hair as other Grecian figures with the addition of the winged helmet. Stewardess: A somewhat old-fashioned example of the position...I want to say 1960s? Sadly, this means she almost certainly could not work the same flight as the Pilot from earlier, as they would be separated by decades. Still some good additions to a potential airport MOC. Psychologist: He looks like Freud, but I don't think Freud ever used inkblots. (Sometimes a smudge is just a smudge.) On the other hand, pretty much the only way to depict a generic psychologist is to invoke Freud, so I'll call it a win. Treasure Hunter: Okay, that goblet is to die for. Between that, the fedora, and the whip, this is either Indiana Jones's alternate-universe female counterpart, or his biggest fan. I'd love to see her as the central character of an Adventurers-style theme. Evil Centaur: Worth it just to have another color of centaur body, but also a very cool intimidating design in its own right. The helmet and axes make me think this guy would be a tough mook in a fantasy video game, maybe even a miniboss! Color Festival Boy: I adored this one the first time I saw him, and I still do! Holi is one of those holidays that we really need to adopt in the U.S., both out of admiration for the originating culture and because it just looks like fun. You couldn't really use the parts of the minifig anywhere else, but the mandala designs on the pots suggest possibilities. Kung Fu Master: It's odd that we didn't get any specifically Chinese CMFs until the Monkey King, considering that China was becoming a significant market well before then. In my opinion, we still need more of them, and this would be a great example. There may not be any new molds here, and he doesn't even have headgear, but I think he would be really popular. Father Time: Definitely on my wishlist, especially with the inclusion of the New Year Baby (which is also on my wishlist as a separate minifig). The face is so excellently wizened; you know he's been through it over the course of the year (as have we all). Chocolate Girl: She is also a mood. Who among us doesn't love chocolate? (Don't answer that, I know some people don't.) I don't know what it is about a warm bold pink that goes so well with chocolate brown, but it does. I like the printed chocolate bars that don't have a gold ribbon on them--these are ready to eat! Warmonger: Two Greek gods in one series? And a centaur? It's almost as if the end of the alphabet were looming so the creator decided to accelerate some of his more favored designs. I don't know that I love this one as much as your other gods; I think the skin tone makes him a bit more inhuman than Ares is generally portrayed, but apart from that it's as good as always. Overall: Funnily enough, I scrolled down to see my reactions the first time around, and found that I reiterated some of my points, even to the specific wording in some cases. This one is uneven for me--there are some designs I really love, and some that I have a more "meh" reaction to even as I acknowledge the quality and MOCable utility.

What are we up to now, Series T? ND A Time Traveler: Another one for the Steampunk crew, and every bit as much fun to look at as the others. Although her aesthetic seems closer to the Great War than the Victorian age that usually defines steampunk. Minor detail. Blind Man: Disability representation! That is one area where LEGO is making some strides lately...which kind of makes me realize how fast I'm coming up on the present here. Egg Guy: Kind of pushing the limits of the minifig concept here, but what the hey, it's a nice clean design that adds to our cast for fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and even Wonderland. Evil Mastermind: Once again, the pet is the most appealing aspect...not to say that this guy isn't appealing! I'm kind of curious about the exact contents of his book; I'm imagining something like, "A is for Atomic Ray, B is for Business, Legitimate, C is for Curses! Foiled again!" Now I'm looking back on the Agents line and how I always thought it was held back a bit by taking itself seriously on its own level. I'd like to see something similar, but full spoof, and that's where this guy could come in. Farmer Girl: Even more so than the above, the function of this one is DEFINITELY goat revival. We are all so desperate for the return of the goat. But it's nice that you paired it with such a cute character. The gingham shirt and overalls are something I never knew I needed. Island King: In something of a theme for this wave, I am again more impressed by the unique accessories than the actual figure. Those tikis are really impressive and another great use of the microfigure part. (I can't help but notice that you've steadily increased the size and/or number of accessories that come with the average figure as this goes along. Compensating for the IRL price increases, perhaps?) Maid: I find myself lacking specific commentary for this one. She looks really nice, but that's true of all of them; Robert8 is good at this. Thanks for not going the French maid route, I guess? Magical Girl: Here we go! A magical girl is one of the more niche entries on my personal wishlist, and this is pretty much exactly what I would hope for--crazy hair, lots of pink, hearts, wings, and an animal companion who could moonlight as the grand prize inside a crane game. ..... Except that now I want TLG to develop a magical girl theme. Wouldn't that be fun? I'd even accept minidolls instead of minifigs Hypnotist: Another really fun image with the swirly eyes and over-the-top turban. I bet he and the Clairvoyant and the Series 1 Magician hang out together and have lunch. Then the Hypnotist mesmerizes the Magician to pay the tab, the Magician pulls money out of thin air to cover it, and the Clairvoyant says "I knew that was going to happen." (I must be in a weird mood to be writing this much fanfiction.) Crocodile Guy: I want to see him from the side! I love the reference to Peter Pan, even though I severely doubt TLG would ever include a separated hand as a part in any set (not because it's too gruesome but because they just don't package hands separately). Arachne: This gal kinda came out of nowhere and really impressed me, and I think I said so at the time. I'm still impressed. It's not quite true to the myth of course, but who doesn't need a nifty spider-person hybrid in their collection? She'd be great at Halloween! Basketball Player: The new hairpiece is pretty cool, we can always do with more of those, and calling the team the Blacktrons is a nice nod to LEGO history. Beyond that I run into the same problem I always do with the sports minifigs, which is that I'm just not into sports. Black Chess Rook: I notice you started accelerating the rate at which these guys showed up as you got closer to the end. Understandable. Composer: Another simply lovely period costume print. The lace cravat seems particularly elegant, with those symmetrical ripples. (Don't worry, I'm not gonna call out the sheet music again.) Food Delivery Guy: More accessories to love! A phone displaying an actual app and a package of sushi! The logo with the bike wheels as the O's in FOODS is fairly clever and looks like something you'd actually see in the modern day. Trophy: After so many minifigs that come with unique designed trophies, now the trophy is a minifig! It reminds me of film industry awards, with the Art Deco wings and metallic finish. Sans the pedestal, this could also be a bronze statue. Overall: Not the cream of the crop, but when this one is on, it is on! I can't help it, the Magical Girl just delights me.

Took a day off yesterday, but let's get back on track with Series S... Evil Android: Obviously every good spec-fic character needs an evil counterpart. The black and yellow is striking and a nice change from the more low-hanging black and red. Violinist: We eventually got one in real life, and I remember people being disappointed that he wasn't all dressed up for a concert night, but...surely the violin is the important bit? There's no short of minifig formalwear if that's where you want to go with it. Regardless, this little girl is much sweeter looking than TLG's fairly ordinary little boy, plus you included a bow with the violin. Red Oni: How many people know that red oni and blue oni are archetypal concepts in Japanese folklore? The red ones are supposedly more savage and hotheaded, the blue ones calmer and more reasonable (but both are dangerous). It's so ingrained that a lot of anime feature paired lead characters who have this kind of personality dynamic and everyone knows it refers to the two types of oni. I just felt the need to specify this in case people were wondering why anyone would think we needed two kinds of oni, especially so close together. Obviously, I appreciate Robert8 dipping his toes into the lore like that. Halfling: Gygax & co. coined the word "halfling" because "hobbit" was under trademark or something along those lines; they weren't fooling anyone. And neither are you, reusing the mold for Sting! Caught you! All finger-pointing aside, this is an adorable little adventurer. That map would make a fine addition to any fantasy tavern MOC, and you even put a little bit of hair print on the feet. But my eye keeps being drawn to the unique buckle on his bandolier. That's the sort of thing that makes this a character, not just an archetype. Folk Dancer: Another gorgeous cultural entry. There wasn't really much you could do with Snegurka's headdress except another Russian/Ukrainian gal, but I'm so glad you did. The neckline and sleeve embroidery stands out. Although I can't help but wonder if there's a good way, using existing parts, to do a lineup of smaller dolls with the big one. Dog Party Girl: This is another case where we can all tell that the point was the animal, not so much the figure. In context it's a little disturbing that you were so open about the cupcake being a recolored dog poo piece, but I'll let it slide. Vampire Boy: I've got a kitbashed version of this. There aren't a whole lot of white heads that could be a kid playing dress-up, so I used the Mime's "scared" face because I like the irony of the vampire kid being the one who's legit freaked out by the haunted attraction. This has been a window into my head. At this point, for me to heap praise on another Halloween figure would just be par for the course, but I want to call out the color on this one because it's funny to me that this kid is dedicated enough to make up not just his face but his hands to be pale, but he didn't go all the way into stark white. Also: more Halloween cookies! Bell Ringer: He must be raising money for scoliosis awareness. Nah, just kidding. There are exactly two roles for hunchbacks in fiction, and this is the other one, so to speak. Not much to say about him either; he's basically a spot-on LEGO design for Quasimodo. Red Coat Soldier: Someone for the Series 10 Revolutionary Soldier to fight, I see. Or just an updated version of one of the Classic Pirate factions if you'd rather go in that direction. Actually, there are a lot of historical scenarios that could be recreated with this fellow (Brits, man), and I'm sure the wargamers and army-builders would pounce on every single one. Fashion Designer: For a City fig, there's a lot I like about her--the hair, the tape measure, the "artistic" glasses sliding down her face. She's in the zone! That stylish coat she's working on is a draw all by itself. Reggae Man: What can I say, I'm a sucker for an offbeat musician type. I'd love to take all your musicians, and all the official ones, and have a LEGO music festival! I think they were kinda of going for something similar with VIDIYO, but it'd be nice to have a more grounded-in-reality version as well. Mothman: What is it with West Virginia and cryptids that were probably just large owls casting larger shadows late at night? I'm not into Mothman (Flatwoods is more my thing--and yes, I remember that you put him in the Spooky Calendar and I am forever grateful), but I really like the design here. There's something almost delicate about it, with the big feathery antennae and huge wings. Real moths are delicate of course--they're basically nocturnal butterflies, something that seems to escape a lot of people--and I'm thinking about the potential to use this head with butterfly wings for a fairy/alien creature. Zulu Warrior: Very cool. You really captured the look of the tribal battle gear, especially the iconic Zulu hide shield. Maybe when the music festival is over and cleaned up, we can have a cultural festival! Sea Nymph: She is really glorious--you get the impression that she's not a solid being at all, but a spirit temporarily putting on a body made directly out of the water. The printed clamshell (it's actually closer to a scallop...had to say it) is a nice little bonus, but I'm just loving the details on the figure. That is some fine sculpting on the hair, with not just the texture of the tresses but also the pearls and starfish. Black Chess Pawn: I just now noticed that you gave different weapons to the two sides. Huh. Cool, I guess? Less repetitive? Ultra Warrior: Hm. Is Ultra a step above Super? I guess we'll never know, since they would obviously be part of the same sentai fighter team and would never fight each other UNLESS it was a nefarious trick by the bad guys! The lightning bolt looks extra-hot with the stripe printed on it and I think it would be popular for that reason alone. Overall: I haven't mentioned this yet, but it's really nice that you use the group pic to demonstrate the alternate expressions on the characters. This is a fun wave--I wouldn't say there's anything here that I've been clamoring for (maybe the Sea Nymph), but having seen them I want most of them!

@Robert8 I see what you mean about the...fierce ladies, I guess you could call them. Snarling expressions and long, curly, dark brown hair. I already suggested making the Celtic Battler a ginger (potentially IDing her as Boudicca), and maybe the Gunslinger could have a low ponytail or a thick braid instead of loose hair. That would go some way toward reducing the sameyness. Incidentally, this is why male-as-default is such a problem, even for something as apparently trivial as LEGO minifig designs--when designing a female character, you have to "use up" some of the available characterization just to make sure she reads as female, which reduces the potential for variety beyond that.

It's Monday, time to get back to work...and review Series R! Archaeologist: Good solid example of a hands-on academic type. That hat/hair combo would look really good on a lady jungle explorer, and the printed pot is really nice. Stork Suit Guy: The concept is a lot of fun, but I have questions. Where did he get that baby? Is this an employee at a quirky maternity ward? Is he the father, and he and the mother decided to do something silly at the baby shower? Is it another family Halloween situation, only the kid is too young for their own costume so they decided to use them as a prop in Dad's costume? So many questions... Park Ranger: Another nice hat with hair, but I think we all know this one is about the baby deer. Good size on that by the way--it could be either a half-grown fawn of the larger North American species, or a doe of some other species which are a bit smaller and retain their spots into adulthood. Fashionista: There is something about pastel pink with black that screams "couture," isn't there? You're getting decent mileage out of the beret + bob hairdo, and the poodle makes a return in black! Nice! Monster Bride: There is really no excuse for us not having this in real life yet. She looks amazing in her simplicity. Not sure about the bolts on the hair piece--it does reduce the outside utility of the piece, but it's probably the only way to get the bolts in there, and you gotta love the bolts. Beefeater: I want to comment on your habit of refreshing long-standing weapons pieces with different colors on the head and shaft. It's a really good idea that TLG should adopt now that dual-molding is so common. This is a glorious design overall, with the detailing right down to the medals and the embellishments on the hat. Cupid: Another holiday figure we desperately need. The heart-headed arrow is a nice touch (another way to go would be to include two bows, one in gold and one in pearl dark gray, for the gold and lead arrows from mythology). Harlequin: Another superb period costume! All those colored diamonds! Between this guy, the Polymath, and the Sculptor, you've got an Italian Renaissance mini-theme going on. And the lute makes a reappearance, thrilling the music fans. Physicist: Hey there, Isaac, why so grumpy? Is it because people keep ignoring your birthday in order to open their presents? At this point, I'm not sure what else I can say, Robert8's designs are so consistently excellent, especially on the historical and cultural figures. That hair is a gold mine of potential, especially if it came in different colors. Shepherd: I love the rapscallion expression--no wolf or rustler is going to get HIS sheep! Nice fleece vest (the badge of office for a peasant shepherd), and of course we'd all want a black lamb to stand out in a flock of white ones. Retro Wrestler: 80s glam stuff always reminds me of my childhood (wait, am I dating myself?). To say nothing of that poster design! Her makeup could be repurposed for the fantasy genre. Centaur: TLG gave us a Centaur fairly recently--and a female one at that--but I like yours better. It looks more like a mythical creature than a human being wearing an elaborate costume. Of course what we actually need is a mythology based theme so we can have a variety of centaurs, in different colors and genders and implied roles. Gunslinger: Another nice hat/hair combo (seems to be a theme this wave), and is that a cape of some sort hanging over her left side? It doesn't seem to be mentioned in the parts list. Very cool character. Oni: A staple monster of Japanese folklore, and he looks pretty much exactly how I'd expect one to look in LEGO form. Up next: LEGO Momotaro! Storyteller: Haha, perfect! I've been wanting a storybook "good witch" for a long time, and while Mother Goose isn't exactly a witch, she has pretty much the vibe I'm looking for, with the hat and the cape and the apron and the pince-nez. I adore the color palette as well--orange and mauve hit just the right intersection of old-fashioned and whimsical and feminine but not girly. Teddy Bear Guy: LEGO gave us the Rainbow Bear a while ago, and then we got a more conventional teddy bear costume--with a bowtie!--in the BAM stations of all places. Their version uses a full face-covering hood which means that in turn it looks less like the teddy bear accessory, but you know what? Fair. What you have that they don't, though, is that cool lollipop, Overall: A good middle-of-the-road wave...by the very high standard Robert8 has set! Your grading curve is all out of whack, my dude. Standouts for me include Cupid, the Monster Bride, and the Storyteller.

Eh, fair. The pearl-clutchers can be a capricious lot. You can never tell--the ultrasound image might be the sticking point,

Another day, another series review! I actually rearranged my bedroom today and made my LEGO storage marginally more efficient in the process, so let's celebrate! Landscaper: Very clever re-use of the flamingo, plus the new tools! He even looks like pretty much every landscaper you see working here in LA. Puppet Lady: There we go, now we can have a conversation between puppets on the kids' show (the same one with the female clown). Expectant Mom: I think she's just super (the special new torso is inspired), but this is a case where I have to wonder if it would go over well with the general public. Some people apparently think explicit references to pregnancy are inappropriate for children. I don't get it either--where do they think children come from in the first place? Chupacabras: Awesome! The best part is that if you're not interested in the chupacabras specifically, the design works pretty well for an alien or reptilian monster. It really is about time they got more use out of the Faun legs, isn't it? Elephant Guy: It's almost eerie that we got a pink elephant costume in reality, even if they went a Valentine-themed route with it. Since it uses the same mold as the Elephant Girl's head, obviously theirs was going to come out pretty identical to yours. Alien Invader: This design is just plain fun--the sneering expression, variation on the Classic Space logo, short legs BUT jet boosters/levitation energy, and the overly complicated ray gun! You can't help but think maybe his people are no bigger than minifigs and their invasion force is about to get scattered by a playful puppy. Mr. Stars and Stripes: This is where it occurs to me to be a little weirded out that some folklore characters (Santa Claus) can be called by their names while others (Little Red Riding Hood/"Grandma Visitor") need obfuscating descriptions. It seems almost certain that an official LEGO take on Uncle Sam would be called Mr. Stars and Stripes, but...why? Uncle Sam isn't trademarked. Anyway, great minifig concept, 10/10 would definitely acquire. Prince Charming: I've kitbashed my own Prince Charming out of existing parts, but I really wish we had a unique one, especially one as suave and regal as this! They did a Fairytale Princess, so it stands to reason we should get her perennial rescuer. Mobster: This was a delightful surprise. The Gangster is one of the most colorful of the early-wave CMFs, and giving him a female counterpart only makes sense...and she's a made woman in her own right, not the mere Gunmoll we might expect! The hair + tilted fedora gives her a lot of character, and the new "subdued" money design adds to the sense of time period for this character type. Ninja Girl: Let's not kid ourselves, this is an anime character. Not that there's anything wrong with that. She's got a cool aesthetic and sits at the intersection of "cultural" and "fantasy," so she's okay by me. Voodoo Doll: It's always amusing to me when a CMF seems to represent something much smaller or larger than a person, because then the fact that it's actually the same size as any other minifig offers opportunities to write a weird origin story. This critter was made extra-large in order to provide more oomph for a voodoo spell that absolutely had to go right...but it worked too well, as instead of being linked to the life force of the spell's target, the doll developed its own life force! So now there's an independently mobile doll walking around the LEGO world. Chaos Goddess: Where would Greek mythology be without Eris? No, literally, where, since it's ultimately her fault the Iliad happened, and hence the Odyssey, both of those being many people's introduction to the Hellenic pantheon. You already know I'm in favor of as many mythical and fantasy figures as we can get, and that golden apple has potential applications beyond its origin. Jockey: He should have the medium legs. Good re-use of the mini-horse crest you designed for the Jousting Knight. How often do you come up with something with the aim of getting another use out of a unique piece? Steampunk Adventurer: Ah, steampunk--or as I call it "Victorian Goth, but brown instead of black." This guy is great fun just to look at! Goggles, cogwheels, a long coat and cravat, he's got the whole steampunk aesthetic package! That gun is a work of art; I have no idea what exactly the green is supposed to signify and I don't have to know. A+++ Black Chess Knight: Nothing in particular to say here, except that now the black side is starting to get filled out. In retrospect, I think the knights' banners might be easier to read if the print were in a more contrasting shade of gray--dark on the white banner and light on the black. Just a minor observation though. Polymath: Who doesn't love da Vinci? He's the reason the term Renaissance Man exists! As instantly recognizable as any of your historical figures and a fine addition to the lineup. Overall: Some pretty unique concepts here, and most of the minifigs that might be considered more "ordinary" are made more appealing with fun accessories.

What are we up to now, Series P? Let's do this! Monster Hunter: With an entire wave of monsters, it's a little surprising we don't have this guy already (notwithstanding the pulpy characters of Monster Fighters). He reminds me of Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing (my campy cheesy Halloween movie of choice). And that outfit would look great in a Goth club! Rabbit Follower: It was only a matter of time before Alice herself showed up. We have Alice, of course, but it's the Disney version, which I'm not certain counts. I remain intrigued by the hypothetical possibility of an independent Wonderland theme (the story being in the public domain), or perhaps a single set in a "classic children's lit" theme. It would certainly be a way for us to get Disney-esque build concepts without having to go through the Mouse themselves. Cyclist: There was a time I would have said a bike is too large an accessory for CMF. But, well. It happened, didn't I? I relate to this guy in that I cycle to and from work (unless the weather is too bad, in which case I walk--it's only 1.5 miles). But he's obviously way more into it than I am. Lantern Festival Guy: I suppose we technically have this one too, what with the Lunar New Year sets released every year. They opted to represent the lanterns as red pumpkins rather than red cauldrons, but otherwise this is pretty close to some of the "event staff" characters in those sets. I love his calendar. Automaton: You know, I've never seen Fritz Lang's Metropolis. Probably not many people actually have. But everyone who's spent any amount of time among geek media recognizes it. I love the brushed steel texture you've got going here. Have I ever mentioned the cool effects you do with gradients in these designs? Very..effective. Peasant Woman: Another winner in my book. We really need a wider variety of hair + headgear pieces, especially for female minifigs, who tend to look a little more odd than male ones when they have a hat without hair. Also: black pig! And wooden-textured bucket! LEGO is sleeping on some great opportunities to make accessories pop with specialized printing. Matching-Costume Dad: I think I squeed out loud the first time I saw this one. What an AWESOME idea for a costume in real life, and for minifigs! Musician: I have to protest this one. Those are not the notes for Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Unless you want to tell me this is some other composer who also wrote at least five symphonies, and he just happens to look like Beethoven. Nitpicking aside, this is another lovely historical design. I like the variety of period suits we're getting from you. Historical men's fashion flies under the radar a lot of the time. Dark Fairy: Now this is what I'm talking about! The butterflies alone are a reason to pursue this one, but look at her! Delicate and frilly yet subtly sinister. She's why people who fall asleep in the woods don't wake up for 50+ years, if they ever return at all. Candy Cane Guy: A simple concept that nonetheless sends a very powerful message, to wit: Hey LEGO, why no candy canes? That is seriously one of their biggest omissions so far. Snorkeler: This is one of those ones where it's hard to say whether we got a real one or not. The Series 20 Sea Rescuer wears a snorkel and comes with a sea turtle (which I suspect would be the biggest draw--sorry, Robert8, but LEGO's design came out cuter), but it's a rather distinct concept. Anyway, I like the use of the sticking-up hair to show that it's floating in the water, and the fun design of his trunks (moar swimwear!). Mardi Gras Queen: The King needs a Queen! This is a sumptuous design, where every detail just makes me go "Oooh! Me likey! The crown on the styled hair, the scalloped collar (with sequins), the diamond pattern on the cape and outer gown...this is why TLG needs to jump in and do Mardi Gras for a change. Thief: The Series 15 Jewel Thief is kinda classy, but this guy just looks thuggish. It's interesting the number of characters who have whose schtick is that they interact with art in some way, which gives you an excuse to include tiles printed with the art. Someone would MOC an entire gallery of these paintings, if these were real. White Chess Knight: There's getting to be less and less to say about the chess pieces, but I do like how you gussy them up a little with accessories. Woodcutter Pig: And just like that, the Farmer Pig clicked for me. Although come to think of it, the Three Little Pigs would do better as a set, where you could have the three houses with play features to make the wolf "blow" them down. I'd still want these guys though. Ventriloquist Dummy: What, he's striking out on his own? Is this the setup for an Adult Swim comedy series? He looks so much more sinister than the dummy accessory that you included with the Ventriloquist. I'm inclined to think something's going on here... Overall: Once again, a good lineup. I might go so far as to call this one really good.

I guess I'd better hurry up and review Series O then! Venusian: Get it? Little green men are from Mars and statuesque pink women are from Venus. Makes perfect sense. In all seriousness, the tongue-in-cheek aspect of this figure makes it all the better. She's a cute alien girl, and she's all hot pink and silver. This isn't even 1950s-caliber spacepunk, this is 1980s-caliber spacepunk. Shower Time Guy: We got a take on this from LEGO for real, and it's about the same except that we didn't get the shampoo or the fun new scrub brush mold. I guess it was an idea whose (shower) time had come. (Interestingly enough, I'm typing this still wet from the shower myself, which lends the experience a recursive quality.) Pilgrim Woman: Everyone here will be unsurprised to learn that I am 3000% in favor of this one. It's historical and it's holiday-related AND it comes with a new animal! That's pretty much the trifecta as far as I'm concerned! Turkey Suit Guy: Funny that this one and the above one wound up in the same wave. I guess that's why he looks so alarmed. Between these two and the Pilgrim Man from earlier, we have all the makings of a hometown Thanksgiving parade. Giant: Clever use of the trophies as humans in order to show the scale. TLG included a Giant minifig with the fairy tale book set that made it through IDEAS a few years back, but it doesn't look very similar. Even if you didn't particularly want a giant, this guy is wearing a good medieval peasant costume, so I think the Castle fans would snap him up. Underworld Ruler: I have to wonder how many of these come about so that you can re-use a specific element design? But I'm glad you did, because Anubis is awesome. I was actually a little annoyed that the Pharaoh's Quest line used images akin to Egyptian deities as bad guys, but if we actually got this out of it? Totally worth it. Hippie Girl: This is one we really should have. Her fashion sense strikes me as being just a touch more authentic than the actual Series 7 Hippie, and I'm not sure what it is. The darker leather? The beaded tassels? The floral emblems on the headband and guitar? Anyway she is one groovy gal and I'm sure she'll usher in world peace with her songs. DUPLO Alien Boy: His dad is the Cosplayer, isn't he? They're at the LEGO convention together, dressed as their favorite characters from The LEGO Movie. I'm thinking about this too hard, aren't I? Is the costume actually piece-built or is it solid pieces printed to look that way? Muse: My word yes, can we please have her? This is a scrumptious design overall, and that lyre and cape piece would be great for fantasy in general. Marionettist: More awesome repurposing of microfigures, leading me to wonder why LEGO doesn't do more of the same in actual sets. Plus I love the character's non-specifically old-timey look. (Yes, I know he's Geppetto, which means roughly mid 19th-Century, but the buckled shoes and knee breeches look older than that.) Wraith: Not a whole lot to say about this one, since it's just an extra-spooky ghost. That great "internal glow" effect is back though, and creepier than ever with the desiccated skull look to the face. Summer Camp Boy: The Cookie Seller's counterpart has arrived, and he is just as much of an overachiever! It would be interesting to get a few different variations on these uniforms and create entire troops. Mobile Suit Guy: I remember praising the misdirection on this one when he first came out--he's wearing a suit and there's the mobile phone, so that's it, right? Just a caffeine-crazed workaholic? NOPE! Does the Alien Tracker know about this guy? Herald: A must for any fully developed Castle society. I notice his tabard and flag have the same quartered field as the Jouster's shield, but with different charges--if that was deliberate, or just economical use of a striking design, I don't know, but I accept it either way. About the only thing I'd change would be to come up with some actual legible text for the proclamation. Tombstone: A delightfully spooky statue! Every Halloween MOCer on the planet would want this for their graveyards! Knight Maiden: It's okay, we all know it's Jeanne d'Arc. (Maybe I should start making a tally of the expies of real people. Or maybe I can leave that project for someone else.) Oddly enough, the relatively realistic armor design might be the standout aspect here, since most LEGO "medieval armor" tends to be a cartoonish representation of the concept. Overall: It's getting hard to judge these against each other since they're all consistently high in quality--clever concepts, clean designs, resourceful re-use of molds, etc. I don't think I can pick a favorite, or even a top three, this time around because there's a lot here to love!

^ All of this!

So here we have Series Ñ. Robert8 borrowed a letter of the alphabet from another language in order to have more slots. But Spanish is of course not the only language to squeeze more letters into the Latin alphabet, and LEGO is a Danish company... I'm just saying that if you really wanted to keep going after Z, there's always Æ, Ø, and Å. Couldn't tell you how to pronounce them with any confidence, but they're there. On to the minifigs! Adventurer: I think we all appreciate this Johnny Thunder-alike, but I want to call attention to the idol. It's amazing how the addition of a round tile to the top makes the microfig shape look so...idol-y. That and the printing of course. I keep a bead box just for different kinds of LEGO "treasures," and that would make a fine addition. Robot Boy: Now that is a fun robot costume, with the googly eyes and spark between the antennae. I like to imagine there's an electrical panel inside the front that makes all those gears and dials spin. And we've got some Halloween-patterned candy and a new design for the loot bag. Fun stuff! Auctioneer: His outfit is nothing to write home about, but the mic headset combined with the mild expression is fairly interesting. The painting is a winner of course (so that's where it went), and the certificate of authenticity could be repurposed very easily. Circus Acrobat: She looks really good, with all those sequins and feathers. There's a crispness to her, if that makes sense--she may have joined the circus, but she's a danged professional! Love her! Ghoul: Gruesome. I can't quite ID the color, and the long-armed torso adds to the unsettling impression. The bones...well, it's a bit odd that LEGO has never produced bones in a tan shade to suggest aging. Loch Monster Guy: This, like the Sneaky Guy, is a superb concept, even before you get to the design. We have lots of animal costumes, both here and in reality, but this is the first time we've seen one with an ulterior motive...and we can tell because he's winking. Southern Belle: I'm surprised you didn't go with the Queen skirt for this one. I guess she might be a more modern example of the type, and modern skirts are less extreme than antebellum ones. The dress itself is very pretty with all those printed ruffles, and I like the two-tone parasol. Is she related to the Southern Businessman? Either way, you know she's going to use deceptively polite wording to put you down and then exclaim, "Well, I never!" when you clap back. Writer: Talk about detailing...you even included the asymmetry of Poe's face (thought to be the result of low-level CO poisoning, which might explain a lot about him). We've got a tan skull to go with the Ghoul's tan bones, and the crow--or I guess in this case the raven--makes a return. And a very nice dreary 19th Century suit design. And he's paler than the usual minifig yellow, which is a neat touch. Red Leprechaun: Yep, the original folklore leprechauns wore red. I think they got recolored to green retroactively when they became the designated Irish folklore creature (although green has been the Faerie color for longer than that). I just know army builders would use the red and green leprechauns as factions and make them fight. You all know who you are. Including the ears with the beard is a twist, but I bet it would work. Beyond that...yep, this is a leprechaun all right. Clown Girl: Okay, but that balloon flower. Have they done dual molding with two transparent colors yet? I really want to see them try it now. The overalls, the stripes, the stars, the hearts, the overwhelmingly girly color palette...she's not just any clown, she's from a preschool show, isn't she? She's called Miss Squiggles or something and she comes through a door in the set with more stars and hearts on it. Black Card Guard: Everything I said about the Red Card Guard also applies to this one. Kite Flyer: We get two historical personages traveling under assumed minifig names in this wave! Not much to say here...that is certainly Ben Franklin. If he were released under the current price structure, you could get 20 Benjamins for a Benjamin, which seems like an unsustainable exchange rate. I'm deliberately being weird at this point. It's first thing in the morning. Snowman: This is another case of why haven't they already done this? I have my own kitbashed snowman minifig, but I really want to see what would happen with a dedicated one. Taekwondo Fighter: I don't think TLG has given us a female martial artist yet in CMFs, though again, it's not my favorite subtheme so I could be wrong. Another cool trophy design--is the bowl traditional to taekwondo or is it pure creativity? Delivery Guy: About time he got here--those are my LEGO sets! I very much like the recolor of the gift box as a plain brown box--I love holidays, but LEGO City has to function on an everyday basis as well. Valkyrie: Now there is just everything to love about her. LEGO has given us a few different Vikings, but I don't think they've touched on their mythology yet (MCU stuff does not count). Anyway, YES PLEASE to a Valkyrie! Overall: There isn't really anything here I'd say no to--even the City figs come with enough cool accessories that I'd be glad to get them in a blind bag. Not bad for a borrowed letter of the alphabet!

Last evening of a three-day weekend, so I'll take my mind off the impending slog of the workweek and look at Series N! Saree Girl: This one has been on my wishlist for some time, and it's pretty much because of concepts that Robert8 realized gorgeously here: the exquisite colors and patterns that tend to appear on saree fabrics, as well as the accompanying jewelry and other embellishments of Indian national costume. This is just scrumptious. I'm too much in awe for exclamation points. Well done. Flying Man: The shading on the feathers is more subtle than I think we'd get from LEGO in an IRL version of Icarus, but it does look very nice. That legs piece would be much in demand for ancient world MOCers. And of course I'll take anything from Greek mythology! Android: Callback to the Android Woman/Gynoid; we finally have her counterpart! I think the robot dog is the real selling point here. I mean, it's a robot dog. Cosplayer: This guy cracks me up. He must be in his mid-30s, has a full beard, but who does he dress as for the LEGO Convention? Princess Unikitty. I bet he's also a brony. Alien Tracker: That suit-and-trench print on the torso and legs is pretty nice and re-usable for other detective types. I have to wonder how this guy would react to the Alien Leader. Different genres, I know... Jungle Girl: I see Robert8 has created another character with a fascinating anklet. Despite having presumably been raised by the wild creatures, she seems to be a touch more advanced than the Cavewoman. That snake is superb of course. Groom: Come to think of it...why hasn't LEGO produced a Groom to go with the Bride? By now this guy is about 10 years late to his own wedding. The top hat adds a bit of extra elegance; we might be able to use him in Victorian settings. Supervillain: This one is deliciously over-the-top. The swollen head, the eye-obscuring mask, the black costume with lime and magenta accents (secondary/tertiary colors are inherently villainous, in contrast with heroic primary colors). The tiles that change the function of the ray gun are a touch of brilliance. Jousting Knight: Obviously the Jouster needs someone to joust with (or against, I suppose). There are a lot of nice details to call out here--the two-toned helmet, the bold heraldry, and of course the crest, which I'm sure would be a hot item. Toddler Girl: That bowl design is certainly cute. Does the tile fit inside it, or must we assume that she has dumped her breakfast on the floor? Bandito: This may be the most heavily armed minifig I've ever seen--two pistols in hand, a third stuck in his waist sash, two big bandoliers of ammo, and a bundle of dynamite! I very much like the colors, which bring across more of a "gritty" mood than the more brightly colored sombrero wearing characters we've seen so far. Zombie Woman: Again with the amazing details! The one shoe sticks out. That wilted flower would be highly versatile. And there's a zombie dog. What did we do to deserve a robot dog AND a zombie dog in the same wave? Cricket Player: I...don't have a joke here. I don't think I need one. Cricket is kind of its own joke here in the States. Mounted Policeman: The inclusion of the beaver makes me giggle. What unique item can you include with a Mountie? Well, he's Canadian, so... That aside, he looks really good, especially details like the specific design of the collar buttons and the Sam Browne belt. And of course I need some solid Canadian rep in order to properly fantasize about an EPCOT World Showcase theme. Eskimo: Moving further north... Pretty sure the correct term is Inuit, just FYI. That parka hood with the braids is really nice, as is the overall parka design, and I'm sure the seal would be a big hit. Witch Doctor: Eh, this one might genuinely get you in trouble. As much as it's a familiar archetype, it does play into some unpleasant stereotypes about Africans and/or New Guinea natives. That's a shame, because it's a really evocative design. If it could be adapted into something more culturally authentic (and given an appropriate name), I'd be all over this one. Overall: There's a lot of really nice detailing in this series, which I think by now is becoming a trend as Robert8 gets more practice. Also a lot of terrific animals this time around! The Saree Girl is the standout figure to me, but she's far from the only must-have as far as I'm concerned.

Eh, maybe. I think there may be a difference between replicating a familiar scene wherein someone threatens to chop the head off an animal and ultimately doesn't succeed, and presenting a character whose job is chopping people's heads off. Without an existing story beat that says otherwise, it's inviting builders to set up scenarios where heads get chopped off, and LEGO might not want to go that far. EDIT: And now I am remembering that there is of course a climactic decapitation in The LEGO Movie, so I could be off-base after all.

Another day, another series review. We're up to Series M! Almost halfway through the alphabet! Slime Monster: This guy makes me smile every time I see him. He's so ugly, I love him. I'd like for him to come with more hand accessories in different shapes to represent different things he does with his slime, but alas, we cannot have everything. Orc: A fantasy staple at this point. The awesome flail makes a comeback, and the wooden design of the shield looks really nice. Pizza Man: One that came true. This guy's torso is more fun, suggesting the Italian flag, but the real one has that fabulously hideous pants design. In any case, even if they didn't outright copy, it's clear that TLG was on the same wavelength here. Mrs. Santa: We are long overdue a properly designed Mrs. Claus, as well as a candy cane accessory. She looks pretty perfect, but then who doesn't know what Mrs. Claus should look like? Get on it, LEGO. Rugby Player: This guy has an interesting face that I can use for my own characters (although the mouth guard would look weird outside of a sports context). I guess sports are like professions: you want to cover all the major ones sooner or later for the people who go for that sort of thing. Executioner: Okay, this guy I'm almost sure is too dark for LEGO, but I absolutely could not resist him if he were real. Every medieval executioner ever portrayed looks just like this, right down to the hairy belly. It's uncanny. Fairytale Cat: He's adorable. The costume detailing looks really nice, especially the piping around the cape--have we ever seen anything like that before? It's funny how the original fairy tale includes nothing about the cat being a swashbuckler--or wearing anything besides boots, for that matter. That's all a Dreamworks invention. Super Kid: When I do my Halloween village each year, I dip into my boxes of minifig parts to put together some trick-or-treaters, and I like to include a superhero. It's a good idea, is what I'm saying. I like the re-use of the grocery bag as a treat bag. Carnival Barker: What a great addition this guy would be to the Circus folk and/or the existing Fairground sets! (Alternately: Get four of him and have a competing Barbershop Quartet.) Lady Justice: I am fairly desperate for one of these, to be frank. We have Liberty, we need Justice. For all! And that bronze color looks so nice. Would that be a new color? I don't recall ever seeing official LEGO parts in bronze (copper, but not bronze), but I could be misremembering. White Chess Rook: The inclusion of the shield is a fun detail, it gives you a sense that pieces have different "roles" on the board besides how they move. The actual rules of chess don't allow it, but the suggestion makes it interesting. Art Restorer: I think we always need new print jobs for the brush piece. It did get tiresome when everyone was assumed to be painting in green all the time. I think the painting itself would be a sought-after piece. Spooky Doll: She may be spooky, but I don't think she's the aggressor here. She's clearly been through the wringer, as has her even smaller companion. A great Halloween character! Quinceañera: Living in L.A. as I do, I see these girls almost every weekend. This is pretty accurate. The gradient effect on the sequins on her dress looks really nice, and I'd love to have a stem piece in white for when I build birch trees (although I think that model of flower stem has been discontinued in favor of the one with the stop ring). Amusement Park Mascot: There is something inherently funny about a giant LEGO minifig head mask to be worn over a regular LEGO minifig head. And then the matching head as a logo on his overalls...LEGOLand is a thing of course (a wonderful thing), but I think this person works at MinifigLand! Blue Boy: The lamb is certainly a winner. The pastel period costume isn't bad either. He seems to be a reference to both the nursery rhyme and the famous painting. Overall: Nice costumes are the name of the game this time around--these characters collectively have a great wardrobe! Also a couple of much-needed archetypes: Mrs. Claus and Blind Justice.

Out of your suggestions, I vote Grail Temple. The others were all sets the first time around. My ideal Grail Temple would have a mockup of the outer facade filmed in Petra, then the entry chamber, then representations of the three trials with play functions, then the Grail chamber, lined up much like the Hovitos temple set.

Notwithstanding the moral character (or lack thereof) of politicians, let's do Series L! Actor: An utter classic. We need him for the principle of the thing. Aquatic Show Trainer: This one, as in many cases both actual and hypothetical, is more about the dolphin than the figure. Nice re-use of the Rhythmic Gymnast's hoop from way back when. Dino Boy: Minifig in a dinosaur costume? Awesome. Minifig in a baby dinosaur hatching from an egg costume? Epic! Good continuity, re-using the green-spotted shell pattern from the Dino Researcher's egg. Calaca: I'm in love with her. The dress print, the flowered hair, the concept. We are long overdue for at least some sugar skull imagery in LEGO--the U.S. is still the biggest market and we are really warming up to certain aspects of Mexican culture over here. What, we can have Taco Tuesday guy and various other mariachis but not sugar skulls? Saloon Worker: Another much-desired character for any Old West town. The cow skull design on the one bottle lets you know that's the good stuff. Airline Pilot: Again...not really a plain City fan, but I'll always give a thumbs-up to female characters in jobs that are almost always presumed male by default. Cookies Seller: Very nice repurposing of the Mime Girl's headgear! As well as being a very cute character in general, definitely an overachiever with the number of patches on her sash. I'm sure the new cookie-printed round tiles would be very popular. (why don't we have regular chocolate chips yet?) Puppet: This sure takes me back...to about a week ago when someone made a Tumblr post referencing a famous Sesame Street sketch. That "yarn" wig could also work for short dreadlocks, and the finger-puppet function sounds like a lot of fun just to screw around with (all the more so when the female companion shows up later on). Maori Warrior: This guy is awesome! I love the tats and the printed spear and the belt and the war face! It's deceptively simple; it's all the printed details that really make him special. Supermarket Clerk: Gonna tweak something I said above...it's not that I'm not interested in plain City...I'm not interested in flashy City. Cops are flashy. Pilots are flashy because to me, an airplane trip is a big deal that happens maybe once every 15 years (and you're not likely to see your pilot in person anyway). The ordinary day-to-day stuff holds a lot more appeal for me, and this is an example of that. This is Bob, your friendly neighborhood cashier/bagger. He's gonna sell you some good food to take home. (We always want more food pieces!) Red Card Guard: And here we've returned to Wonderland...with an army builder! Very nice that you did a twofer of Hearts and Diamonds in a single slot (and will do the same with the black suits). And nice idea for turning the brick costume body into something a little less self-referential. Archery Champion: Once again, I don't tend to seek out the athlete figures, but can I just say I'm relieved she has the proper safety equipment? The last time I tried archery (at Ren Faire several years ago), they didn't supply any sort of glove or bracer and that bowstring slapped my arm every time and I had welts for days. Chaos Lord: If this is supposed to be a god from world mythology, I'm missing the reference. He looks more like something out of a Conan novel to me. In any case, that's a rad helmet, and the flails? Yes PLEASE! Roller Blader: It's like the 80s and the 90s had the world's ugliest baby. I kind of love her for that reason alone? Mutant: Shades of Futurama here. I dunno, this one might just edge over into too-gruesome territory where LEGO is concerned. But I think he's cool. Space Explorer: Another reference to a Classic Space sub-theme which I'm sure would be delightful to people who were fans of said sub-theme back in the day. Overall: Not the slam-dunk of the last series, but a lot of fun surprises.

Uh oh...but really, can he be worse than half the wackos in Washington right now?

I did say it was a best-case scenario. Oh well, I can still dream. It's right there in the thread title.

I went back and re-read the first few pages of this thread and this leaped out at me: I have been fond of TLoZ…basically since the beginning, back in 1986/87, and just lately I have gotten into the franchise in a big way (thank/blame Breath of the Wild). Zelda sets have been rejected from LEGO Ideas before despite garnering the necessary public support, and I’m sitting here hoping it’s because of the best-case scenario: that TLG is already working with Nintendo to develop one and so couldn’t accept any fan suggestions in that direction. Honestly the real challenge would be deciding what, out of the wealth of material that exists, to produce in brick form. The best bet would probably be not to try to recreate anything from any one game specifically, but to produce sets based on recurring motifs like Hyrule Castle, various elemental dungeons, etc. Another possibility would be picking one iconic image/location/structure from each of several games and designing sets based on those. In any case, it’s an eminently playable concept, what with the dungeons being so full of puzzles involving switches and levers and doors to unlock, and the franchise attracts a wide age range due to its longevity and the variety of content it provides.

Oof, I expect I'm going to be spending a lot of money on this new feature...

It's time for Series K, which is my IRL first initial as well as the first letter of my 'nym, so I guess I should have a special connection to this one? Let's find out! Pirate Queen: The real CMFs have given us a Pirate Captain and a Scallywag Pirate and a Pirate Girl and even a Zombie Pirate, but no Pirate Queen as yet. I want a Pirate Queen, and I want her to look just like this. Fun history fact: the most successful pirate leader of all time, as measured in treasure captured vs. consequences faced, was a woman: Ching Shih, who was so dang good at it that the Chinese government eventually let her retire peacefully with all her loot on condition that she...retire peacefully with all her loot. (Dang, now I want a Chinese Pirate Queen too!) Nymph: Absolutely exquisite. Of all the fantasy characters, nature spirits are some of my favorites. That hairpiece with the flower crown could be recolored for a May Queen, which is another item on my wish list. But I'd be thrilled to have this! Bodybuilder: I'm not much for the athletes, but I do admire Robert8's creativity in designing trophies out of existing parts. Could we get a lineup image of all the trophies maybe? Caroler Guy: To go with the earlier Caroler, of course. I assume from the choice of songs that these are not actual Victorian carolers, but modern people who like to dress in period costume, in which case I admire this guy's commitment to the bit by also growing out muttonchops. I'd like to see a version without the green coat, to get a full view of that vest. Politician: He seems more trustworthy than most of the ones making the news these days. But I need to know more about where he stands on the issues. Beanstalk Climber: We've got the golden egg in reality, at least. The goose would make a great addition to the farmyard though, and Castle fans ought to love the boy's peasant garb. Tooth Fairy: I mean...there's absolutely no guesswork here. This is 100% a Tooth Fairy. Are the sparkles on the wings a print or does it indicate glitter plastic? Because if the latter...I can't imagine why they haven't already done fairy wings in a glitter plastic. Grave Digger: He's perfect! Reminds me of the one from the Van Helsing film. I think the round lantern that exists now post-dates this design, but I wouldn't mind having a square one also. I get a kick out of the juxtaposition between his perfect tidy suit and his face that looks like someone dug his grave at least a few months ago. Date Night Guy: A recolored teddy bear is always welcome of course, and that and the balloon would work great in Valentine's Day vignettes even if the guy doesn't do it for you. Can I assume the Date Night Gal is still to come? That arrow needs to be pointing at someone... Holidaymaker: Bit of an awkward name, but maybe less clunky than any of the alternatives. Vacation Lady? Beach Gal? Anyway, here we have another nice swimsuit design and a BEACH BALL! The hat + hair is pretty nice too...although it's too bad we need combo pieces like this to make most sorts of female characters wearing hats. Toy Clown: For all that this is an elaboration of that minibuild that came with the first Winter Toy Shop...at least it's a really, really cute elaboration. New jester hat? Awesome! Cheerful clown doll face? Awesome! The color selections? Everything is awesome! Using lighter shades than the primary red and blue gives it something of an antique look. Terracotta Warrior: Yes please. In fact, can we have about 20 variant heads in order to bring across a sliver of the variety of the actual Terracotta Army? Closet Monster: I love how friendly this guy looks. This isn't a monster that a kid is afraid of; this is a monster who's the kid's nighttime buddy and protects them from the meaner monsters. And in the meantime, they read stories together! The lavender furry body almost begs to be repurposed for other cute plush toys and/or costumes. Doctor: I have possibly detected an anachronism! That giant headlamp suggests the 1920s or earlier (I think--surgeons still use headlamps but not your GP, and they don't look like that), but those appear to be ballpoint pens in his pocket, and those didn't become common until after WW2! Robert8, have you been defrauding us with stuff and nonsense all the time? I kid, of course. This is a perfectly respectable, decade-neutral cartoon doctor. Cartoon Girl: And speaking of cartoons...! I'm sure she and her male counterpart will engage in all kinds of wacky shenanigans with sound effects played on cheap musical instruments right in the studio. And then maybe they'll kiss behind a window shade. Jouster: The burning question here is, naturally, will that lance fit in the bag? He'd certainly be easy for those filthy bag-scrunchers to find, in any case. The heraldry is quite nice-looking (if a little difficult to blazon...I have "quarterly paly murrey and gules and azure, an eagle or between three quatrefoils or" but I don't like it) and I appreciate the re-use of the "crow" as a crest on the helm. Overall: Mostly really solid work this time around. There are quite a few that I would pounce on.