Most hated LEGO sets?

[BrickJagger]

Also, my opinion on this one, after years of observation: AFOLs hate anything new and different until something newer and more different arrives and then the other and different thing is awesome. Rose coloured lenses and a nostalgia filter play a big part too.

Factoids.

See Ninjago-Chima-Nexo Knights for further details.

[davee123]

Also, my opinion on this one, after years of observation: AFOLs hate anything new and different until something newer and more different arrives and then the other and different thing is awesome. Rose coloured lenses and a nostalgia filter play a big part too.

Watching the discussions, you might think that was true. But some things people seem to unanimously like-- I don't remember too much flak over Alien Conquest or Adventurers. Or Space Police or the Pirates from 2009 (although those were sort of re-hashes). And people mostly went crazy-go-nuts for the Fantasy Era castle stuff when it started in with trolls and dwarves. Oh, and Mixels were pretty well received. And Monster Fighters!

So, I dunno. I think there's often a resistance to newish stuff like Bionicle-- but what surprises me is that after getting "used to" Bionicle, and seeing a lot of advanced models made with the parts, people have gradually gotten more forgiving of it. Plus (of course), we have a lot of younger AFOLs and TFOLs who grew up with Bionicle, and remember it fondly.

DaveE

[anusreplacer]

any licensed set that LEGO goes off on their own tangent for. I believe that you did a video covering these sets.

[Lego Dino 500]

Watching the discussions, you might think that was true. But some things people seem to unanimously like-- I don't remember too much flak over Alien Conquest or Adventurers. Or Space Police or the Pirates from 2009 (although those were sort of re-hashes). And people mostly went crazy-go-nuts for the Fantasy Era castle stuff when it started in with trolls and dwarves. Oh, and Mixels were pretty well received. And Monster Fighters!

So, I dunno. I think there's often a resistance to newish stuff like Bionicle-- but what surprises me is that after getting "used to" Bionicle, and seeing a lot of advanced models made with the parts, people have gradually gotten more forgiving of it. Plus (of course), we have a lot of younger AFOLs and TFOLs who grew up with Bionicle, and remember it fondly.

DaveE

...

Bionicle isn't new. It was originally released in 2001, until it's discontinuation in 2009 before it's reboot in 2015. It came out in the same year as Star Wars, and both kept Lego from bankruptcy, so I can't see why it's controversial or hated by AFOLs.

[appiah4]

Bionicle and constraction for me..

[Peppermint_M]

...

Bionicle isn't new. It was originally released in 2001, until it's discontinuation in 2009 before it's reboot in 2015. It came out in the same year as Star Wars, and both kept Lego from bankruptcy, so I can't see why it's controversial or hated by AFOLs.

Because it was new in 2001. Very new and different. When you consider that AFOLs can be anyone from the age of 18 and 2001 was 15 years ago, there are going to be AFOLs who were adults in 2001 and very much disliked the direction TLG had taken.

Heck, I was 12 and I was pretty unsure what to make of Bionicle and constraction as a whole.

[appiah4]

Factoids.

See Ninjago-Chima-Nexo Knights for further details.

I still greatly dislike all three, so it's probably not a factoid but a wrongful presumption?

[r5-j2]

The recent Classic Batman Cave/Wayne Manor Set.............just an over-priced cynical attempt to squeeze money out of us..............also it`s annoyingly a mix of some very good and also very crappy and unfinished looking elements.....AAAAHHHH!!

Edited March 3, 2016 by r5-j2

[Peppermint_M]

I still greatly dislike all three, so it's probably not a factoid but a wrongful presumption?

It hasn't been long enough. Like I said, nostalgia and rose tinted glasses make everything look better. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth over the introduction of unique character faces for Pirates in the 80s, but that is great now. There was horror over fleshie figures, now respected builders often work with only flesh tone figures. The introduction of the little white dot in the generic figure eyes was most decried in some parts, but it is accepted now.

Yes, individuals have their opinions, but as a group AFOLs move past these "issues" in time.

[appiah4]

It hasn't been long enough. Like I said, nostalgia and rose tinted glasses make everything look better. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth over the introduction of unique character faces for Pirates in the 80s, but that is great now. There was horror over fleshie figures, now respected builders often work with only flesh tone figures. The introduction of the little white dot in the generic figure eyes was most decried in some parts, but it is accepted now.

Yes, individuals have their opinions, but as a group AFOLs move past these "issues" in time.

I get what you mean - resistance to change is a curious thing.. But the problem with Chima/Nijago/Bionicle goes way beyond that, I think it's a problem of aesthetic that really stands aside from AFOL objections to alterations of existing material. They are just plain ugly (to me and to others, of course)..

Edited March 3, 2016 by appiah4

[geezerman402]

^ Sure, you and many others may not like how a set looks. But the idea that after some years, many AFOLs will absolutely love these themes (and have fond memories of them if it has been long enough) is likely true.

[xboxtravis7992]

^ Sure, you and many others may not like how a set looks. But the idea that after some years, many AFOLs will absolutely love these themes (and have fond memories of them if it has been long enough) is likely true.

That's why I am saying the title of "most hated" needs to go to a universally disliked theme. I'll defend Bionicle; it was part of my childhood and I am enjoying the new sets. But I will not give any mercy towards Galidor, Clikits, or Jack Stone; which are three themes universally disliked by even AFOL's that were kids when they came out.

[Andy D]

I don't "Hate" any LEGO set. I just like some less than others and I have never bought a Super Hero set (Batman, Ironman, etc) but I don't "Hate" them.

Just MHO, YMMV,

Andy D

[davee123]

Bionicle isn't new. It was originally released in 2001

It was new when I was still an AFOL. I remember seeing it for the first time.

It wasn't quite a shock, thanks to some of the technic models that preceeded it-- namely Slizer/Throwbots and Robo-Riders. But since it didn't focus much at all on "technic", people didn't think it was fair to call them "technic models", and really didn't like the fact that they didn't have any studs (and had a LOT of specialized parts). This was still pretty close in time to the transition to studless-technic, mind you, which people mostly objected to at the time.

until it's discontinuation in 2009 before it's reboot in 2015.

Not quite. It didn't get discontinued in 2009, it got discontinued in 2010. The announcement of the end of the lineup came in late 2009:

http://www.brothers-brick.com/2009/11/24/bionicle-discontinued-after-2010-news/

2015 is correct for the reboot, though.

It came out in the same year as Star Wars,

Nope, Star Wars came out 2 years earlier in 1999. Not sure if they were on the shelves at the tail end of 1998, but definitely by early 1999.

and both kept Lego from bankruptcy,

That's true for Bionicle, not so true for Star Wars. Bionicle was making LEGO gobs of money, it was great for them. Star Wars fluctuated. It made them money when there was a movie in the same year, but the rest of the time, it was up and down, because LEGO didn't realize how to market the sets yet. Plus, the greedy expectations for TPM were way overblown, and there were a lot of extra sets on the shelves that got slashed. AND they were paying too much in royalties (the re-negotiated deal they made later supposedly was a lot fairer to LEGO).

so I can't see why it's controversial or hated by AFOLs.

Bionicle was hated because:

1) It didn't feature standard LEGO studs. Fans love studs. Bionicle used primarily technic or ball/socket connections. AFOLs were already panning the transition away from studded technic beams, and this was going even FURTHER in a direction that fans already didn't like.

2) It wasn't technic. Even though it was initially labelled as techinc, it wasn't. They weren't really about showcasing mechanical engineering, they were about a story. So it felt a bit like a lie-- using the "technic" moniker to give the product viability as an educational tool, when really, it wasn't.

3) It was a story that was for kids, NOT for adults. And it was very simplistic, conflict-based, and didn't make sense to adults. Adults just scratched their heads at it, even though a lot of kids loved it.

4) It featured a lot of single-purpose elements which were seen as having limited use. Fans wanted more basic elements, not crazy weapons, claws, and strange masks. Again, LEGO was slowly starting to go further in this direction with juniorization (rope bridge elements, big chassis elements, and non-9v-compatible electronics in Insectoids and Rock Raiders, etc). AFOLs hated that prospect.

5) People thought it was too risky, and would destroy LEGO financially. LEGO had its 1st loss in 1998, and a HUGE loss in 2000. Fans didn't really know what was going on inside the company at the time, but attributed the downturn to juniorization as well as exploration into wacky products like the clothing lines, video games, and ZNAP. Bionicle was seen as a dramatic departure from traditional LEGO, and it was feared that it would bankrupt the company more. It wasn't until later that fans began to realize how successful Bionicle was.

DaveE

[paul_delahaye]

For me, it's those oversized sets Lego released in the City line a few years back, they were not bad sets in terms of there build, or looks, it just frustrated me the scale they would randomly release a set in.

[kibosh]

Bioncle. Easily my most hated LEGO. I don't even consider it LEGO.

[geezerman402]

Bioncle. Easily my most hated LEGO. I don't even consider it LEGO.

You're right, "Bioncle" is not a Lego product.

[x105Black]

I'll add to the distaste for Bionicle. I was an AFOL when it released, and did not appreciate it. I'll say the same for constraction.

[Peppermint_M]

I get what you mean - resistance to change is a curious thing.. But the problem with Chima/Nijago/Bionicle goes way beyond that, I think it's a problem of aesthetic that really stands aside from AFOL objections to alterations of existing material. They are just plain ugly (to me and to others, of course)..

Of course, but as a whole large sections of the community have accepted it. I think another point of "conflict" is between set collectors and MOC builders. A theme that collectors dislike may be popular with builders because of the colours and parts included.

This is a most subjective issue.

[JJ2]

My most hated is Chima, I think the whole idea of that series is just dumb. My favorite is Technic though

[Robert_88]

79008 Pirate Ship Ambush

The set isn't really that bad but it simply stands for everything that went wrong with Lego LotR...

[kibosh]

You're right, "Bionicle" is not a Lego product.

Whoa. Good one. I guess you showed me.

[Sarah]

Because it was new in 2001. Very new and different. When you consider that AFOLs can be anyone from the age of 18 and 2001 was 15 years ago, there are going to be AFOLs who were adults in 2001 and very much disliked the direction TLG had taken.

Heck, I was 12 and I was pretty unsure what to make of Bionicle and constraction as a whole.

Not only were there AFOLs in 2001. But there were Internet groups for AFOLs in 2001. I know my first return from Lego Dark Ages (And the reason I joined ebay originally) was in the late 1990s and I participated in one. This second batch of sets got boxed up and sold in the midst of getting married in 2003.

[Actor Builder]

Whoa. Good one. I guess I edited your quote in attempt to trick you!

Ah! You totally got him back!

[MrHerofan]

So just because construction is a different building system, it is trash? It's a toy, like all other lego, why people just write it off as being "garbage" because it doesn't look like a Lego brick thing, is beyond me.

Least favorite theme is Galidor.