LEGO Star Wars 75419 Death Star is officially revealed and the world has a lot to say about it – but not much of it is good.
One day on from the reveal of 75419 Death Star, mainstream media, Star Wars fans, and the LEGO community have all had a chance to weigh in on everything to do with the upcoming UCS set. There were always going to be fiery opinions about a set that breaks several records, and the reception has been controversial to say the least.
We've broken down some of the biggest talking points from across the internet below.
Wait, it's not a sphere?
"Didn’t know it was Pancake Day already!" quipped thebricketeer on the LEGO Group's official reveal on Instagram, while thebrickpost commented: "That's no moon... that's a giant coaster."
It's hard to ignore the big, flat elephant in the room. When most people think of the Death Star, they think of the ominous spherical space station. The dollhouse-effect clearly came as a shock to many, rather than a pleasant surprise. It's not helped by the fact that the box images showed a full Death Star, leaving some under the impression that more of the exterior would be shown.
"$1000 and it’s only a cross-section?!?" wrote reddut user LettuceC on the main discussion thread. "I assumed from the thumbnail image that the other side would be the exterior. I’m sorry, but what a joke."
Don't turn it around
Even if you can look past the messy aesthetics of the back, there are also practical issues with how it's been finished – or not finished, as it were.
"The back looking bad is what I was expecting (no point wasting more parts), but it makes me irrationally irritated that it's not flush so it can't be pushed up against a wall," pointed out CX52J. "I was hoping it may even have hooks built in so it could be easily wall-mounted."
The LEGO Group clearly expects customers to display 75419 Death Star at one angle and one angle only, but the fact that there will be gaps with it against a wall or shelf backing mean that even that angle isn't perfect or polished.
'The easy way out'
Some have voiced concern that 75419 Death Star is indicative of where the LEGO Group is as a brand right now, especially for 18+ licensed sets.
"LEGO produces its very first $1000 set and it's…this. Yikes," wrote thedarkmoonrises on reddit. "You'd think they'd at least create something that could serve as the "crown jewel" of the LEGO brand. Instead, it's more of a reflection of what the brand has become. It's clumsy and uninspired."
Zooming on the UCS Death Star doesn't expose the same level of detail and references that past builds like 75152 Millennium Falcon, as pointed out by Bonnie Bun-Buns on X, describing the release as the LEGO Group 'taking the easy way out'.
It's not all bad...
That said, in a set of over 9,000 pieces, there are naturally features that people are enjoying. As LEGO YouTuber just2good points out above, there's a clear love for Star Wars LEGO canon that's apparent through various Easter eggs and references, from a Minikit to the Hot Tub Stormtrooper. 75419 was certainly made by people with a love for the theme, and that pays off.
"Day 1 for me but each to their own," wrote lego_star_wars_charlton on Instagram, with more people chiming in to reply that they're planning to purchase it too.
...but even if you like it, it's far too expensive
For many, however, who do like the concept or some of the details, the vast majority seem to have largely failed to be convinced by 76419 Death Star. It can perhaps be summed up in a comment on reddit from user worldcupguy: "$1000 set but has stickers."
The general sentiment is that, for the most expensive LEGO set ever, the LEGO Group needed to pull out all the stops – and it hasn't, at least not to the extent that fans were hoping for.
"Ultimate Collector Series shouldn't ever have stickers," wrote donkeyrocket, while canderouscze added in the same thread: "And barely any legprinting or dual moulded legs… for a 1k set, that should be a no-brainer."
Those features are staples that are important to LEGO fans and, in bringing out what should be the ultimate collectible, many in the community feel like those obvious must-haves have been lost.
Especially when you remember what came before
After all, it's not like a LEGO Death Star hasn't been done before. The poor reception to 75419 Death Star has only reminded long-term fans of how much they loved earlier versions, which nailed the spherical shape of the space station – albeit at a smaller size.
"Not to mention this is objectively worse than the OG LEGO Death Star, which can be acquired online for ~$300 now," said consciousrepo on X.
Arguably, 75419 aimed to do the impossible in pleasing the LEGO Star Wars community with the most expensive set ever. While there are some glimmers of praise amongst the noise, the vast majority (and the loudest voices) have plenty of criticism to voice.
75419 Death Star is available for LEGO Insiders from October 1 and for everyone else from October 4. Retailing at £899.99 / $999.99 / €999.99, early adopters can also add 40771 TIE Fighter with Imperial Hangar Rack to their order for no extra cost between October 1 and 7, or while stocks last. Check out our full visual tour of the set here.
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