Review: Friends Series 2 Play Cubes
Posted by MeganL,The Friends Play Cubes are LEGO's latest foray into small portable sets, ideal for taking small scenes on the go. Huw reviewed one of the first series late last year, when he went into the design of the new cubes in depth. The first series of cubes alluded to a second set of cubes, and sure enough, they're available now.
While the first series showed the Friends in different professions, the second set of cubes revolves around that evergreen Friends theme: shopping. My first reaction was a bit of an eyeroll and "Really? Only the second series, and we're shopping already?".
These are small sets, so I'm reviewing all five at once. In this post we'll cover 41405 Andrea's Play Cube - Pet Shop, 41406 Stephanie's Play Cube - Beauty Salon, 41407 Olivia's Play Cube - Sweet Shop, 41408 Mia's Play Cube - Cinema, and 41409 Emma's Play Cube - Toy Store.
I won't get into the packaging and the cube itself, as Huw already covered those in great detail in his last review. One difference is the 2x6 bracket pieces available in a lavender colour in this series.
Each package contains a small bag of parts, an instruction sheet, and the cube. Opening the cube yields another small bag of parts, the surprise pet (in a cardboard covering), and a small sheet that shows all the possibilities for the surprise pet.
The surprise pet is the same animal for each Friend but in different colours. For example, Olivia’s pet is a teddy bear, and it could be brown, pink, yellow or purple. The sheet also shows that there’s a series 3 coming. I thought series 3 would be the Jungle cubes, but apparently not; the set numbers listed on the page are not the same as the Jungle cubes. The back of the page is specific to each Friend, in this case Olivia.
Like the last series, the sticker sheets are large. But only 1-3 stickers from each sheet are meant to be applied per the instructions; the rest can be used to decorate the cube. I didn't apply stickers anywhere; you can make the judgement as to how much is missing.
Let's take a look at each Friend.
Andrea
I took this picture at a slight angle to show the cookies on the counter. One of the prints is new - the shortbread with the heart in the centre. One half of the cube has pet food and treats for sale; the other has an aquarium (fish to be added to the transparent piece) and Andrea's surprise pet, in this case a pink turtle. The 2x2 jumper is new in bright reddish violet. Andrea's torso was new to this cube - it's since been used in the summer sets - and her legs are new this year as well.
I'm a little puzzled that of all stores, why Andrea has the pet shop. She's not been the Friend affiliated with animals in the past - that's Mia.
Even if the cubes weren't colour coordinated to each Friend, the stickers make it clear this is Andrea's cube.
Emma
Emma typically has something to do with design, so you may expect an art store. But of course, Emma logically has.....the toy store? I'm not sure why, but there we are. One side of the cube has the cash register, and some toys for sale, including a model airplane attached to the back of the cube. Also on this side is Emma's surprise pet, which is an alpaca. While the illustrations showed that the pet would be brown, it's actually a somewhat luminescent bronze. Similar to Andrea, her outfit is somewhat new, and the 2x2 jumper in this cube is in a new colour (bright purple).
While the alpaca is cute, I'm kind of at a loss as to why it's at a toy store.
The stickers that are meant to be applied are a decoration for the top of the model airplane and a 50% sign in addition to the backdrop.
Mia
Mia, who I expected to have the pet store, has the cinema - and a rather cramped one at that! The left side of her cube shows a popcorn machine, as well as her surprise pet, a purple owl. Again, I'm not sure I'm getting the owl-cinema connection. I love the popcorn box! The other side of the cube shows Mia enjoying the show with her box of popcorn. The coolest part of this cube is Mia's head - she's wearing 3D glasses! This is the first time I remember a minidoll wearing something on her face (other than Olivia's glasses).
The stickers that should be applied are the menu on the left hand side, and the movie display for the right.
Olivia
Olivia, the girl who's into all things science, robots and technology, has a sweet shop. A sweet shop? At the very least, I was hoping to see Zobo, as Olivia's robot usually makes an appearance in sets that otherwise wouldn't be associated with her (last year's 41366 Cupcake Cafe comes to mind). While her torso is new this year, this cube gets points because Olivia is wearing my favourite leggings - navy blue with planets pattern.
The sweet shop is well stocked with chocolate bars, cookies and a gumball machine on one side, and the cash register and a fancy chocolate fountain on the other. Olivia's pet is a pink teddy bear. Glad to see that, as an animal probably should not be in a food store!
There was only one sticker to apply in Olivia's cube, so this is the cube with the most opportunity to decorate the outside.
Stephanie
Stephanie, the Friend who's known for being sporty and competitive, has.....a beauty salon? What kind of messaging is that? Anyway, one half of the cube shows Stephanie with an array of beauty supplies (hairbrush, lipstick and perfume bottles), and a mirror (that should be supplied with a sticker). The other side shows the cash register, an assortment of hair bows (undoubtedly from 41427 Emma's Fashion Shop), and Stephanie's special pet, a yellow dog.
It seems that these cubes are part of a mall, of sorts. Every sticker sheet has a sign showing either an up or down escalator. The mirror and the 50% off sign are the stickers that are missing in Stephanie's cube.
Minidolls, animals, and extra parts
Here's a closer look at all the minidolls. As mentioned above, most of the outfits are new this year, and I love Mia's 3D glasses.
There's some printing on the back, which is nice to see on minidolls.
Here are the animals in the cubes I received. The colours are interesting, but I don't know that having an assortment compels me to try to complete the set.
There's some nice printed detailing on the front of the teddy bear. I wish there had been some on the back. As it is, only the owl and the turtle have any significant printing on the back.
Since there are a lot of small builds, there's a plethora of extra parts from these cubes.
Overall thoughts
Each one of these cubes is around 50 pieces and costs $9.99 U.S., 9.99€, £7.99. However, I think the price is somewhat irrelevant, as I think people will buy them either for the cubes (AFOLs) or as small presents to give to a child to keep them occupied while travelling or are someplace away from home. Getting a few hours of quiet might be well worth the money to many parents.
Of course, the animals are cute, though the colours are unusual. It's nice to see the minidolls in new outfits, and the builds are detailed.
However, I'm left with more questions than anything else. Was there nothing else that could be used for a series other than shopping? How does a teddy bear qualify as a pet? Will Olivia make a science experiment featuring sugar? Why is an alpaca at a toy store? Is Mia miffed that Andrea has the pet store, which is why she's watching her own movie and not selling tickets? Will Stephanie make a lacrosse stick out of beauty supplies? Just how did the Friends designers choose which pet went with which Friend?
Maybe we'll find the answers in Series 3!
Many thanks to LEGO for providing a set of these cubes for review. All opinions and questions expressed are mine.
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23 comments on this article
Nice to get a look inside those cubes. Maybe the friends are like teenagers getting their first jobs...in areas that don't interest them, but hey, it's a job and they need cash for their hobbies! Thanks for the review!
Perhaps they're meant to be comforters, doudous or plush toys rather than pets. And I think it's good Lego is mixing it up so that each Friend isn't stereotyped so much - an opportunity for parents who notice such things to teach their kids a lesson - don't let your job define you, you can work in a beauty salon but be an avid sportswoman for example. Though of course I have no clue whether this is what Lego was aiming for.
I prefer the cinema by far, as an abstract vingette Mia seems to be best integrated into the scene because she doesn't have to stand facing the viewer like a mannequin. It's the world's smallest (home) cinena for sure, but as an abstraction, and as a portable thing, I like that one.
I just don't £9 like it. I know that the cubes add to the cost more than regular pieces, but Lego offers a dozen other things at that price which are significantly more substantial, and I think that a pocket toy like this needs to be closer to 5 than 10 anyway.
The shortbread with the heart was also in Olivia's Cupcake Cafe last year, unless this is a slight variation.
As someone who collects LEGO teddy bears, these Play Cubes both interest and frighten me!
By the way, I think the price point is scandalous, but about the going rate for collectables these days. I was thinking the other day that since the success of the Collectible Minifigure series, Lego seems to be going all out on the collectible side of things. Bionicle masks and discs (maybe these came first?), the little Friends animals, the Duplo bricks with special prints, explosion of polybags turning them from an impulse buy to collectibles, Brickheadz and other sets released in series like these, the Star Wars Microfighters and the mini Super Heroes cars.
The prices on these cubes and pods is ridiculous. And I’m also disappointed in the shopping focus.
If one had to have an animal in a cinema, perhaps an owl is not a bad choice. Cinemas are dark and owls are nocturnal so active in low light environments.
As for the beauty salon, it could be a dog grooming parlour instead, possibly why a pooch was chosen for that cube.
Maybe all the girls are shopping for gifts for the other Friends, hence the apparently incongruous shopping match-ups.
According to the parts list for each of these (and somewhat in the product description since it says mystery animal) the animals come in 4 different colors. You don’t know what color animal you get until you open it.
Like @CapnRex101 I also have been collecting the different teddy bears. Like most Lego collecting it starts off fun, fairy easy and not too expensive but that soon changes!!!
@mfg3000 said:
"Nice to get a look inside those cubes. Maybe the friends are like teenagers getting their first jobs...in areas that don't interest them, but hey, it's a job and they need cash for their hobbies! Thanks for the review!"
I like this idea. Would make a fun episode of the TV series too—I can only imagine the kinds of hijinks that could ensue with all five of them working these odd jobs!
These pods remind me of polly pocket, it was the same sort of concept, small play worlds in a small box.
Are those stickers white or transparent?
I'm so going to by a few of Olivia's sweet shop purely just for the Bear omg its so cute :D.
Also Olivia's cube is probably the strongest one of these parts wise so far with parts like the silver dome, chocolate tiles, clear head, printed tiles and the bear ofc.
Those glossy/metallic colours on minidolls torsos are fantastic. I like the shiny, bright rendition. Lot of depth in the prints, colors are thick and opaque. Lessons should be learned so that clear tones on darker ones shall match Friends quality for minifigs.
@Graupensuppe said:
"Are those stickers white or transparent?"
They look to be transparent
Lego jammy dodgers!
I really think that the stickers are necessary for these sets, which is a shame, because I normally loathe stickers.
Also, I found the llama a bit of a let-down. The clutch-power in his legs was really bad. The slightest touch or knock, and he'd fall over. But I liked the owl and the turtle.
Since the play cubes can be connected/stacked on top of each other it would be fun to see a huge wall of them after series 3 or so comes out.
I want that teddy bear for my teddy bear collection!!
Is Mia's cube the new cheapest way to get that printed popcorn brick (not counting the City Popcorn Cart which isn't widely available — it was an exclusive GWP here)?
As a collector of the teddy bears, I'm outraged at these sets and their 4 mystery variants. I wanna cry. Brick link here I come!