REVIEW: LEGO Masters, Season 1 Episode Nine 'Star Wars'

 REVIEW: LEGO Masters, Season 1 Episode Nine 'Star Wars'

This ninth episode of LEGO Masters, 'Star Wars', is an odd watch for me, because I'm not a fan of Star Wars. It just doesn't do anything for me, despite being a fan of science fiction in general. It makes a watch like this feel almost like listening in to an alien language at certain points of the episode, as I really don't understand some of the hints or references to the different aspects of Star Wars lore. 

That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy watching this episode however. Despite not being well versed in Star Wars mythology, I still found it a very fun watch. Even the scenes with Will Arnett interacting with R2D2, C-3PO and BB-8 brought a smile to my face. It's clever just how realistic they managed to make these robots seem, as they entered the LEGO Masters studio. It actually feels like watching real robots interacting with the host, despite it obviously being a mix of practical effects and a guy dressed up in a C3-PO costume. 

The finalists' first of two builds this week is to build a droid. The most impressive of these is Tyler and Amy's EZ-PZ, a waiter droid on his first job delivering drinks in a fancy space bar. This droid has a lot of personality, with an impressive movement that reflects its hands wobbling as it carries the plate of drinks above its head. 

Then there's Mark and Boone's SBTG85, a droid who works as a welder for the dark side, but eventually decides to switch forces and fight for rather than against the empire. Mark and Boone's builds are always incredible, but this one in particular has a lot of character, especially when its panel pops off to reveal its change of heart in regards to its allegiance to the dark forces. It really tells a story, in a way that the other builds do not.

Lastly, Sam and Jessica deliver the 'MP3', a droid that has been abandoned and plays music to get noticed. Their attempt is still impressive in its own right with its use of bright colours and its overall charming appearance, but it lets itself down when it unfortunately stops working.

The second part of the challenge involves the teams recreating moments from Star Wars' past, and this is the part of the episode which probably meant the least to me. I am sure fans of Star Wars recognise these scenes that are apparently iconic parts of the film series, but I have no idea what any of them are, and so it was hard for me as a viewer to notice if they had done a good job at capturing the essence of these moments that were being presented to the Brickmasters. To be fair, they do flash pictures on the screen of what these scenes look like, which does help give some context in that regard, but it probably still means more to a Star Wars fan than somebody like me who isn't really interested in the franchise. 

That said, I still found the builds impressive. In particular Mark and Boone's on a scene called the 'Endor Imperial Bunker'. Their build had an insane amount of detail, and you could really see the amount of work and effort that had been put in to bringing this sequence to life. It's really no wonder that it was picked the best of the bunch by the judges.

I was also impressed by Sam and Jessica's 'Battle of Crait'. They have come a long way in the competition, from being relative outsiders to strong contenders for LEGO Masters champion. This week their build is so alive and vibrant; they really did a fantastic job at making it feel lived in with the red brick built alien sand shooting up out of the ground. You kind of have to wonder if they might just take the title from under the noses of Mark and Boone. 

Overall, whilst this episode probably means more to a Star Wars fanatic, it's still an enjoyable watch nonetheless. The builds, as ever, are extremely impressive, and you really get a sense of how seriously these builders take their LEGO crafting. It's almost like watching a piece of art being constructed; you really feel their passion coming through the screen, and it's infectious to watch. 

What are your thoughts on LEGO Masters' ninth episode? Let me know in the comments.