The new LEGO Ideas set is a recreation of NBC's The Office—the third floor of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, specifically. This is not the first time LEGO has recreated an iconic TV show setting in brick form. They created Central Perk from Friends in 2019 and Jerry's apartment from Seinfeld last year. But this new Office set is a cut above both of those, owing to its layout and its copious Easter eggs.
From a meta standpoint, it's fascinating to see how each sitcom's format informed its corresponding LEGO set. Seinfeld and Friends were multi-camera shows; their actors performed in front of a live studio audience, and numerous, static cameras captured the same scene from different angles and field sizes, which were later spliced together in post-production. The narrative faced outward in one direction, against the proverbial fourth wall that separated the stage from the audience.
The LEGO designers accentuated this inherent theatricality. They used black scaffolding to prop up the background of Central Perk. They lined the top of the Seinfeld set with stage lights. Both LEGO sets were akin to the taxidermy dioramas in the Museum of Natural History, intended to be viewed from one side only. They wouldn't be authentic to their respective shows if they weren't.
The Office, on the other hand, was a more modern, single-camera show—a mockumentary of cubicle life, with no live audience or canned laughter. This cinematic approach allowed us to explore the office from a variety of perspectives: closeups and extreme closeups, high angles and low angles, all from multiple viewpoints. When the camera followed a character from one room to the next, we learned how everything connected—how the conference room dumped into the main cubicle area, or how Michael could make a direct beeline from his office to Pam's reception desk.
And that's what this LEGO Ideas set really nails: that familiarity of space and distancing that we've passively absorbed from watching the show. Everything looks right, and is placed where it should be. The annex where Toby, Kelly, and Ryan sit is notably absent, as is the break room with the snack machines and circular table. But the central area of the floor, where most of the narrative action took place, feels perfect.
The set includes 15 mini-figures. They are: Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, Dwight Schrute, Pam Beasley, Ryan Howard, Stanley Hudson, Phyllis Lapin, Angela Martin, Oscar Gutierrez, Kevin Malone, Kelly Kapoor, Creed Bratton, Meredith Palmer, Toby Flenderson, and Darryl Philbin. That's basically everyone, with two notable omissions: Andy Bernard, who joined the cast in Season 3 and Erin Hannon, who joined the cast in Season 5.
There are numerous references and Easter eggs scattered throughout the set, ranging from iconic to obscure. Michael's office contains both his 'World's Best Boss" coffee mug and his Dundie Award. His office separates from the rest of the set for individual display.
Dwight's stapler is encased in jello, a callback to the Season 1 pilot. There's Stanley holding a massive pretzel; we learn in Season 3, Episode 5 that Pretzel Day is a highlight of Stanley's year. We see the webpage for Schrute Farms on Dwight's desktop computer; Phyllis has the webpage for Vance Refrigeration on hers. And of course, Pam's watercolor, an emotional anchor for the entire show, hangs in its usual spot near the hallway intersection.
The build is simple and straightforward. Anyone, of any level of experience, could complete this build with little problem. The age recommendation on the box, 18+ years old, is less an indication of skill and more an indication of target audience. But even for an experienced builder, there are some pleasant surprises scattered throughout. The photocopier looks exactly like a photocopier; the row of folders looks exactly like a row of folders. Every computer has both a keyboard and a mousepad. I'll always be impressed by LEGO's minimalist design ethos. Using very few pieces in a very small space, the designers create the impression of household items and appliances, scaled to the prohibitive proportions of the minifigure. It takes discipline and creativity.
There's an irony to this LEGO set's existence. The original setting that inspired it was visually mundane; in fact, its mundanity was the entire point. But over the course of nine seasons, what was once looked pedestrian became iconic, thanks to the colorful personalities that lived in and inhabited those spaces. It was no longer a reception desk; it was where two co-workers flirted and fell in love. It was no longer a hallway; it was where three co-workers parkour'd their way to infamy. This LEGO set, which depicts a "typical," drab workplace, evokes warm, fuzzy feelings. And that is the biggest irony of all.
LEGO Ideas: The Office, Set #21336, retails for $119.99. It is composed of 1164 pieces. It was originally conceived by LEGO fan Jaijai Lewis. It was then refined and designed by LEGO designers Laura and Chris Perron. It is available now.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/lego-ideas-the-office-stuffed-with-dunder-mifflin-easter-eggs