REVIEW: Attack on the Burrow

75980 – Attack on the Burrow

Fresh into 2021, I better get on with finishing the last few reviews of the 2020 sets. Here I will discuss the Attack on the Burrow set. The Burrow is one of the most iconic buildings in the Harry Potter universe, and it is great to see a remake of this. But does it hit the mark? Here are my thoughts…

Some of Harry Potter’s best times were spent at the Burrow, the Weasley family home. After Hogwarts, he saw it as his second home. When he got there the first time, having been rescued in the flying Ford Anglia (from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), this was his initial impression:

“It looked as though it had once been a large stone pigpen, but extra rooms had been added here and there until it was several stories high and so crooked it looked as though it were held up by magic (which, Harry reminded himself, it probably was). Four or five chimneys were perched on top of the red roof. A lopsided sign stuck in the ground near the entrance read, the burrow. Around the front door lay a jumble of rubber boots and a very rusty cauldron. Several fat brown chickens were pecking their way around the yard.“

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Following this visit, he often came back for holidays. It is therefore not surprising to see it featuring in a LEGO set.

The Burrow in LEGO

The Burrow has previously been released as LEGO set once before in 2010 (set 4840). While the new set has many similarities, it is also different in many ways – and it is slightly larger both in width and height, and the piece count has gone up from 568 to almost double with 1047 in the new set. Below the new set is shown (left) next to the 2010 set (right).

Interestingly (or annoyingly), they both focus on the attack on the Burrow in Christmas day in the Half-blood Prince movie. With so many other possible scenes (de-gnoming the garden, Bill and Fleur’s wedding, etc), why did they have to pick the same scene? With 10 years in between, it is less of an issue though, as few would have both sets.

Box and content

Let us forget about the 2010 set for a second and see what we get in 2020. The box is square and with beautiful artwork showing the Burrow under attack, and almost surrounded by flames. An insert photo in the lower left corner shows eight figures are included, with another insert photo teasing how the set looks from the open back.

Turning over the box, we get to see the back in much more detail, including seven small insert photos showing the various detail and play features of the set.

Opening the box, you find seven numbered plastic bags with parts, one unnumbered bag with larger plates, the instructions and two sheets of stickers (one normal and one transparent). The stickers are packed with the instruction booklet in a plastic bag, to make sure they are not creased. I wish all sets would have that.

Minifigures

The minifigures are scattered among the seven numbered bags, but I find it is best to discuss them together.

The set includes a strong set of eight minifigures, and includes the very first minifigure version of Tonks, and new versions of a number of other rather rare minifigures.

Let’s start with the four members of the Weasley family included in the set. We get Ron as well as his little sister Ginny and their parents Molly and Arthur. Molly and Arthur used to only be available in the Burrow set from 2010, so it is good to see them return (Molly is also available in the new Diagon Alley set). All figures look pretty good, though it would have been nice to see Molly with printing on her dress. Otherwise, the torso’s are printed well, with the prints on Molly and Arthur in particular being highly detailed.

All four have the back of the torsos printed too, again with the most detail on Molly and Arthur.

As you have come to expect, they all come with alternative face prints as shown below.

The other four characters included as minifigures are Harry Potter, Nymphadora Tonks (generally just called Tonks), Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback.

Tonks is a Metamorphmagus, which means that she can change her appearance at will. In particular, she often changes her hair colour according to her mood, and it is a shame we don’t get her with an extra pink hair piece, as she was often seen with that colour. But great to see her as minifigure for the first time!

Bellatrix and Fenrir were both included in the 2010 set as well. Fenrir is making his first appearance since, while Bellatrix also appeared in the Harry Potter Collectable Minifigure series 2 (in her Azkaban outfit), but is also considered quite rare.

All figures have printing on the back of the torsos as well.

The photo below shows their alternative face prints.

Overall, a very strong line up of minifigures. With that covered, let us look at the building itself.

The build

Already when you hold the box in your hands, you can feel the weight of the bricks. All of the seven bags are generously filled with parts, so this is no quick build – luckily.

The first bag sets out the foundation only, and apart from the pig pen, a lounge chair and couch doesn’t really give much that can be recognised.

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You can however see how hinges allows the building to be opened up two places.

As you progress, your building quickly takes shape. Below a series of photos, as the set came together – taken after finishing each subsequent bag. Already after the second bag, the building started to take shape.

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Finally, below you can see the completed model having finished the seventh and last bag. What a build – amazing details and nice use of colours.

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And yes, the building is leaning to the side though the use of hinges. I like that aspet, though it would have been nice if the crack between the floors where the hinges are could somehow be hidden.

Comparing the completed build with the photo from the movie earlier in the post, you can see how accurately they have represented the building’s look. While the 2010 set was not a bad set at all, the new one provides a step change in terms of movie accuracy.

But it is not just the overall look that impresses. Throughout the building there are many amazing details as shown on the photos below. In particular, I like the bewitched knitting needles, the Weasley family photo from Egypt, the dining table set for a big breakfast with pumpkin juice and fried eggs, the clock and the Quidditch themed bed linen in Ginny’s and Ron’s bedrooms.

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In terms of moving play features, it is more limited. It is basically restricted to the fireplace, which takes up a good part of the centre of the building (so much the furniture is all jammed together unless the set is opened up). A small knob on the side allows you to change the normal orange flames in the fireplace to green flames as when travelling with floo powder.

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Conclusions

When I initially saw a new version of the Burrow was coming out, I thought this might be a set where I could save my money, already having the 2010 set, which I deemed pretty good. But having built the 2020 set, I must say it is a significant step up in accuracy, detail and does include two extra minifigures – including Tonks, which will appeal to many.

Is it all perfect? As mentioned throughout the review, a few things detract a bit – like not having a pink hair piece for Tonks (we’ll probably see that in a future set) and why did they have to pick the same scene (and most of the minifigures) covered by the only set of the Burrow previously released. Still, the following quote from the second book pretty much sums up what I feel having built this set:

Ron Weasley: “It’s not much, but it’s home.“

Harry Potter: “I think it’s brilliant.“

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Next on my review list is the Astronomy Tower. Having completed renovation of my LEGO room (worth a post in itself), I have finally room to build that and combine with the other Hogwarts sets. So look out for a review of that in the coming week.

Till then, Build the Magic!

(This set was provided to Blockwarts for review by LEGO’s AFOL Engagement Team. All views expressed in this review are my own).