LEGO Harry Potter: Dobby The House-Elf (76421) Review

The LEGO Harry Potter theme is a line of sets I thought I’d never get into, but I must admit that some of the sets are fantastic, I like The Burrow and Hogwarts Express related sets.

When LEGO dropped news of more Harry Potter goodies coming our way earlier this year, I was hesitant with one of them in particular, Dobby. A lot of fans didn’t take a shine to the brick-built House-Elf, myself included, with his straight thin legs and gappy ears. Coming in at £24.99 it seemed reasonable for the 403 piece count, but still outside my comfort zone for something that looked like it did.

However, upon nabbing it at a reduced price of just £18, I thought what the heck, I’ll give it a go – here’s how I got on.

The Box & Contents:

The box design is great and features the brick-built Dobby  centre stage. On the front you’ll also see the set details along with the three main characters from. The movies, Harry, Ron and Hermione. On the back however are a few different closeups, one showing how the head turns.

Inside the box are 3 bags, a small sticker sheet and an instruction manual. I must say that this is my first experience of paper bags inside a set and strangly a big grin spread across my face, I don’t know why but it’s nice to finally see something LEGO mentioned a good while ago.

The bags feel strong and are clearly capable of holding and securing the pieces inside. It also seemed to give the set a sense of luxury, it’s odd saying that as LEGO is a premium product alwwady, but in my opinion paper bags take it to the next level.

The Build:

Dobby would have been the last on my list of LEGO sets to produce, there is so much more LEGO could do from the Wizarding World and not just Harry Potter related, the new Hogwarts Legacy game has proven popular with fans so why not a set or two focusing on that?

Although it’s a set not many asked for, LEGO produces it. I’ll be honest and say its not actually that bad, as some fans have made it out to be. Granted this brick-built version looks a little off, proportion wise, but it’s OK, not great, just OK!

The build was enjoyable and used some good techniques, but for the most part it was a standard experience that was over far too soon. The head and face are the most substantial part of it, being a bulky block of bits, the Eyes being my favourite part which are printed too.

Dobby’s ears are, how can I put this nicely, too big and have a gaping hole through them where the hinge sticks out to much. Moving onto the body and the rags the character wears in the movies, it looks OK, the combination of sloped tiles and bare studs works rather well. It’s the flat, almost 2D, look of it a can’t get my head around, was Dobby flat in the books/movies?

A nice addition and easter egg is the Heart, which is hidden and built over quite early on. You wouldn’t know it was there unless you built it.

His legs are thin and although are sturdy, look monstrous. Combine all the bad bits about the legs, circular knobbly knees, straight thin legs and Wallace & Gromit style feet, there isn’t anything good about this section of the build.

The side builds though are what the set got right. The book & sock and the cake, these builds look great and somewhat claw back a few extra points to the set.

As you can see from the image above, there is also a plinth which you stand Dobby onto, helping him stay upright as he has a tendacy to fall over. The plinth is another solid build and one that makes the set complete, it wouldn’t have been right to like it plinth-less like the LEGO Marvel Groot set. 

With a combination of curved bricks and tiles, the stand is chunky and looks the part. Having a sticker with Dobby on it is good but not exactly needed, perhaps a place to attached the cake and book to would have made better sense.

Overall the set is nothing special, which is a real shame as LEGO have done well recently with other Harry Potter sets.

Is it worth picking up? In short no, this is truly one for the hardcore fans and Dobby lovers. For a recuded price I’d still say it isn’t worth it, as there are next to no good parts worth mentioning, apart from the printed eye pieces and angled plates.

Let’s just say I wouldn’t want this on display starring at me during the night!

Do you agree with my review? Lete know via the comments section below.