Review: 41423 Tiger Hot Air Balloon Jungle Rescue

Emma: "Ready for liftoff! Tiger Cub is secure in the crate, over ..." Andrea: "Roger, ready to add hot air ... rescue on the way! ... over and out."


This tall box shows the hot air balloon aloft, carrying one of the white Tiger cubs. The flanges are only printed, yet have new doodles of compass, map, and other exploring and rescue elements.
The upper right new BFF heart inset shows all 5 Friends with their new Jungle attire. Emma and Andrea have their cameos in a jungle vine frame. This Jungle Rescue sub-theme is in support of National Geographic Explorers.


Box back shows the Waterfall rescue in progress, and all the really nifty interactive functions in this set.

Review: 41337 Underwater Loop

Sea life fans will be laughing out loud while riding the clown fish on this loop ride at the amusement park!



The box cover shows a fun amusement park ride on the pier in front of the Heart Lake City skyline.  The upper right corner shows a standard HLC setting, with the 5 BFFs heart motif.  The wooden boardwalk and the the hanging festival lights let you know this set is part of the sea life themed amusement park sets.  In addition to highlighting all of the fun creations you get to make, the bottom right shows the names of the two mini dolls included, Vicky & Mia.

The back of the box clearly shows that the loop ride can be animated.  In addition to the ride itself, this set also includes a stairway to get on and off the ride, a ticket booth, a cotton candy cart, and two mini-dolls.  There are also many smaller inset images suggesting other play ideas!

Review: 41376 Turtles Rescue Mission

Zobo and Olivia rescue turtles so they can be safe in the sand under the rescue hut!


The front of the box shows the rescue center's beach hut where the Friends take care of turtles in need of assistance. This set is part of the Friends Sea Life sub-theme.  These sets can be identified by the water activities inset on the upper right corner of the box.  The main image om the box shows that Olivia is on her way to a turtle rescue in her new amphibious car, and a baby turtle is getting some much needed sustenance from Olivia's assistant robot Zobo.

The lower left inset shows some detail at the back of the rescue center.


The back of the box also has a wave graphic with a cameo showing Olivia and her rescue robot Zobo .   There are many activities depicted here suggesting lots of different play activities. 

Review: 41380 Lighthouse Rescue Center

Hey! That Dolphin is telling you something Mia -- there's a Seal trapped in an old Island shack!


Box front shows islands off HLC's coast and we know this is a sub-theme by the sea life doodles on the flanges, and the water activity outfits on the Friends in their BFF Heart inset upper right.
The wave graphic behind them is nice! The center show Lighthouse activity and that we get a "Light Brick" for making real working beacon! Plus water-reactive textile of a map.
The lower left inset shows that we save a Seal. The coral reef is shown underwater behind the Lighthouse (cool!), and our mini-dolls get the Gilligan's Island treatment of life preserver cameos.


Box back has that wave graphic continues above the Friends logo and that looks like a water portal behind Mia's feature cameo upper right.
Lots of activities in this Lighthouse -- even though most are pretty quiet -- this serves as a Rescue Center for sea animals in distress. The light can be rotated, just like a real lighthouse.

Review: 41374 Andrea's Pool Party

Make a splash into the pool or a splat off the wave machine. Either way there will be giggles.



The box front shows the pool by the beach behind a wall of shrubs with Heartlake City in the background. We have the 5 BFFs in the heart insert to indicate it is a core HLC set. We see the Stephanie and Andrea are the minidolls in the set. There is also an insert to show how to work the wave machine.

Review: 41378 Dolphins Rescue Mission

Even while on a Treasure Hunt, Friends turn their Adventure into a Rescue Mission!


Box front shows an underwater adventure with beautiful box art! It looks like the water and fish could come splashing out at you! The flanges have special aquatic life drawings for this sub-theme. The upper heart BFF motif has the Friends in Sea Life attire.
On the left under the set name is a graphic telling us the textile (map) is water reactive. With an inset below illustrating moving functions. Plus, we have our mini-doll cameos inside orange life preservers: Kacey and Stephanie.


Box back shows more adventuring activities -- that is the rescue mission, plus a treasure hunt!
This is the first time Kacey has been a mini-doll. The upper right graphic of Stephanie with Dash shows she is the main Friend here.

Review: 41373 Funny Octopus Ride

No time to be crabby today -- this Funny Octopus with a Tophat can make anyone smile!
   Just look at the happy little Crab that Ethan is riding!


Box front shows how this is a set with movement -- as we turn the black knob for rides to go up and down, and all around!
The upper right corner indicates a standard HLC setting, with the 5 BFFs heart motif.
The wooden planks of the Pier's boardwalk against the HLC skyline gives this box a lovely presentation -- especially with the strung lights!


Box back shows more options for riding this silly bulbous aquatic creature! The ticket booth and other inset images capture fun building and imaginative setting for these bricks.
Andrea is the main Friends represented in this set.

Review: 41371 Mia's Horse Trailer

Choosing a very sunny spot in the forest -- Mia feeds her new white horse a carrot.  Good thing she has sunglasses!  Emma checks the crate for supplies and they are so busy -- they don't even notice the wild bunny hideout!


Box front has a fun scene with Mia feeding her horse, while Emma checks the crate. At first I thought the bunny would be Cinnamon, yet the box does not indicate a name for the bunny or horse. Only after building did I realize it's "wild" bunny, and not a hutch -- it's a hideout.
It seems they are just now unloading at this forest site. The BFF heart inset indicates this is a core HLC set.

Review: 41381 Rescue Mission Boat

Grab your personal flotation equipment. We are going on a watery adventure.



The box is big. It measures 18.5 x 14.75 x 3.5 inches. The front has the BFF heart overlaying a lifebuoy in the waves showing this is part of the rescue series. We see this set comes with Mia, Olivia, and Andrea on the bottom right corner. The lower left insert shows the part of the rescue boat's interior and deck. The main image shows a narwhal rescue in progress with HeartLake City in the background.

Review: 41405 Andrea's Shopping Play Cube

From Party Hat to Aquarium, Andrea's Pet Store has a lot for such a small cube! Will the birdhouse get a pet, or another animal to grace the magenta counter?


Box front shows Andrea ready for a customer, or just having made a sale -- and has her first "5" coin. The box side panel shows how the new color for Series #2 of satin pink cube protrudes out the front -- secured by 2 top studs. The animal collage shows the random colors each cube may contain.
All the shopping cubes are arranged in a heart shape for us to see on the back.


Box contents: Cube in the new satin trans-dark pink color paired with Andrea's flame yellowish orange, and stuff inside; instructions pamphlet, largest of the 2 parts bags, and sticker sheet.

Review: 41406 Stephanie's Shopping Play Cube

Beauty Shop displays need to grab a customer's attention. After setting out bows and perfumes, Stephanie is offering Lipstick samples. Her winning smile will be hard to resist!

Box front shows Stephanie in front of her beauty shop as part of Series #2 of Friends play cubes. The side panel shows a collage of all animals and colors possible in these cubes; this series new cube front color is easy to see as it protrudes out the front -- held in place by 2 studs. The back shows all the Shopping Cubes arranged in a heart shape.


Box contents: Cube in Stephanie's signature color of Azure blue and the new satin pink; instructions pamphlet; largest parts bag; and sticker sheet.

Review: 41407 Olivia's Shopping Play Cube

Making just the right liquid chocolate viscosity takes science -- so Olivia knows her Candy Store will hit the sweet spot for any shopping trip!

The box front shows Olivia offering a sample from her Chocolate Fountain (yum!) in front of other candy selections. We see on the side panel all the possible surprise colors and other animals for all the 5 cubes this wave. The cube protrudes out the front, secured by 2 top studs; and on the back is a heart-shaped collage of all the shopping cubes.


Box contents: A pink Cube all around for Olivia, with stuff inside; instructions pamphlet, small large parts bag, and sticker sheet -- which is in great shape due to tight fit into the teardrop-shaped box. All items are tucked in above the cube.

Review: 41408 Mia's Shopping Play Cube

Movie Theaters are a great way to take a break while shopping -- so Mia is wise with her idea!


Box shows Mia waiting for customers -- of course the surprise animal is absent, since we may get 1 of 4 colors. This teardrop shaped box allows the cube to protrude out the front; secured by 2 top studs. Series #2 cube covers are satin trans-dark pink. Side panel shows a collage of the various animals in the 4 randomized colors; only 1 animal per cube. The back of the box shows all 5 Shopping Cubes.


Box contents: Cube in satin trans-dark pink and bright yellowish green (I have to say my favorite outfit as a young girl had this color combo :-) closed with its own contents, building instructions pamphlet, largest bag of parts, and sticker sheet. These fit nice and tight into the cavity of the box, above the cube itself, so they don't get much shifting like in traditional boxes. So, the stickers arrive in good shape.

Review: 41409 Emma's Shopping Play Cube

A Toy Store is the set-up for Emma's new Series #2 Cube with a satin pink front. Planes, Trains & Teddy Bears, oh my! What else can we find stuffed into this cute travel container?


Just like Series #1 the box's teardrop shape allows the cube to protrude out the front, secured by 2 top studs. The box front let's us know there's a "surprise" animal by the empty studs near the cash register. Since the appearance of one out of four colors is random, the image leaves it out. The side panel shows us all the new animals with four possible colors. Each of the 5 core Friends gets their own "Shopping" Cube with unique type of store or shop.


Box contents: Cube closed with contents; Sticker sheet; instructions sheet; and largest non-numbered parts bag.

Review: 41372 Stephanie's Gymnastics Show

Set 41372: Stephanie's Gymnastics Show
Pieces: 241
Year: 2019



Stephanie and Mia compete for gold in three gymnastics events. It may be a friendly show, but only one can stand at the top of the podium.



The box front is consistent with the current Friends styling - BBF heart insert in the top right corner, mini-doll cameos in the bottom right corner let us know who is included, and the bottom left corner insert highlights the trampoline action feature. The main box image shows the kit in a high school gymnasium scene with parents and friends cheering on our friends. 



The back of the box highlights all the fun story telling features. Each of the three gymnastic events can be swapped out to take center stage. 

Review: 41385 Emma's Summer Heart Box

Searching for gems in the azure blue sea inside her Heart Box, Emma is up against a crabby collector!


The heart-shaped box front shows two real-life Friends fans ready for a swimming adventure. Notice the Lavender Seahorse? Rumor is we're getting one this next wave of 2020.


Box back uses the yellow crab as the "actual size" demo for pieces in this set. All 5 of the summer heart boxes from 2019 are along the bottom. All contain Aqua and Vibrant Coral as the correlating colors -- paired with each of their own color combos.

Building Challenge: Picnic in a Park

-Post your creation image with a neutral & clutter-free background in this Flickr thread by May 3
-Creations must be built with real LEGO bricks, no digital renders
-One image per creation, or collage with a few views of your park setting ...

Creations built for this challenge!

~FriendsBricks