LEGO Lord of the Rings Barad-dûr Review + Tolkien Lore Deep Dive

One set to rule them all? In this episode, I’m diving into the massive LEGO Icons Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr — a 5,471-piece fortress of pure Tolkien awesomeness. Not only do I review the build itself, but I’ll also take you on a journey through the history of Tolkien, the books, the films, and the lore behind Barad-dûr and the ever-watchful Eye of Sauron.

This towering set comes with 10 iconic minifigures (yes, including Sauron himself, Frodo, Sam, Gollum, and more), an automated black gate, hidden rooms packed with Easter eggs, and of course that glowing Eye of Sauron perched high above Middle-earth. It’s equal parts display piece, playset, and Tolkien fan dream come true.

But is Barad-dûr worth its premium price? How does it stack up against other LOTR sets and LEGO Icons releases? And does LEGO really capture the dark magic of Mordor in brick form? I’ll cover all that and more — plus sprinkle in some Tolkien lore for good measure.

If you love LEGO, Lord of the Rings, or just want to geek out over Middle-earth, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

Music Credit: YouTube Music Library