You forgot about the non-factional classic castle sets: the smithery, the weapon's workshop and the best one of these, the guarded Inn. A very iconic set. I'm glad i got one.
The late 90s and early 2000s Lego sets are really hit or miss. Castle in particular was hit pretty hard with the blocky and unpleasing aesthetic. There was still some good stuff like western, space or adventurers, but even that wasn't super consistent. Imo they only really got back on track around 2006 to 2007ish
I started this one ready to throw hands but I actually agree with most of your picks. Hard disagree on Fright Knights. Willa’s Manor is garbage. Kingdoms: while I agree that MVR is great, the joust is better. Wonderful build techniques, great minifigs and bardings. Makes for an impressive display.
I will attempt a contrarian viewpoint on the themes, but I agreed with you on many. Classic - 383/6083 Knight's Tournament. Great little set with exclusive figures and those gold flags. Lion Knights - Agree on the Mountain Fortress. Have both castles, and it has much more personality Black Falcons - 6074 Black Falcon Fortress. Would have preferred it was on a baseplate, but great little fortress and that printed panel is great Forestmen - 6071 Forestmen Crossing. Amazing baseplate, figures, and that rope swing is a classic part Black Knights - 6086. Totally agree, its the best Wolfpack - I suppose 6075 Tower, but these theme had great figures, bad sets Dragon Knights - 6076 Dark Dragon's Den. Pretty similar to 6082, just not as chaotic to me. I don't care for any of this theme's sets honestly Royal Knights - Team 6090, sorry. I have both the castle and drawbridge, but that castle is too good. Fright Knights - Don't care, they are all bad, haha KK1 - While I have King Leo's Castle, I'll say any set with the chrome parts. They are awesome. KK2 - I'll go with 8877 Vladek's Dark Fortress, though I haven't collected any of this theme. Fantasy Era - So many amazing sets, maybe the best Castle theme ever. I'll go with 10193 Medieval Market Village. Amazing scene set focusing on the villagers, not the armies. Kingdoms - Hard to argue with 7189, as it's another amazing villager set, but I'll go with 10223 Joust. Amazing re-imagining of the old classic joust sets Castle 2013 - I suppose the King's Castle, didn't really get into the newest iteration of castle sets. Bonus Dark Forest - Having all the sets, I'll agree 6079 is the biggest and best.
You forgot about the non-factional classic castle sets: the smithery, the weapon's workshop and the best one of these, the guarded Inn. A very iconic set. I'm glad i got one.
The late 90s and early 2000s Lego sets are really hit or miss. Castle in particular was hit pretty hard with the blocky and unpleasing aesthetic. There was still some good stuff like western, space or adventurers, but even that wasn't super consistent. Imo they only really got back on track around 2006 to 2007ish
10193 Medieval Market Village is the best fantasy era castel set and 10223 Kingdoms Joust is the best kingdoms set.
I started this one ready to throw hands but I actually agree with most of your picks.
Hard disagree on Fright Knights. Willa’s Manor is garbage.
Kingdoms: while I agree that MVR is great, the joust is better. Wonderful build techniques, great minifigs and bardings. Makes for an impressive display.
I will attempt a contrarian viewpoint on the themes, but I agreed with you on many.
Classic - 383/6083 Knight's Tournament. Great little set with exclusive figures and those gold flags.
Lion Knights - Agree on the Mountain Fortress. Have both castles, and it has much more personality
Black Falcons - 6074 Black Falcon Fortress. Would have preferred it was on a baseplate, but great little fortress and that printed panel is great
Forestmen - 6071 Forestmen Crossing. Amazing baseplate, figures, and that rope swing is a classic part
Black Knights - 6086. Totally agree, its the best
Wolfpack - I suppose 6075 Tower, but these theme had great figures, bad sets
Dragon Knights - 6076 Dark Dragon's Den. Pretty similar to 6082, just not as chaotic to me. I don't care for any of this theme's sets honestly
Royal Knights - Team 6090, sorry. I have both the castle and drawbridge, but that castle is too good.
Fright Knights - Don't care, they are all bad, haha
KK1 - While I have King Leo's Castle, I'll say any set with the chrome parts. They are awesome.
KK2 - I'll go with 8877 Vladek's Dark Fortress, though I haven't collected any of this theme.
Fantasy Era - So many amazing sets, maybe the best Castle theme ever. I'll go with 10193 Medieval Market Village. Amazing scene set focusing on the villagers, not the armies.
Kingdoms - Hard to argue with 7189, as it's another amazing villager set, but I'll go with 10223 Joust. Amazing re-imagining of the old classic joust sets
Castle 2013 - I suppose the King's Castle, didn't really get into the newest iteration of castle sets.
Bonus Dark Forest - Having all the sets, I'll agree 6079 is the biggest and best.
I disagree on Lion Knights. I would choose the Guarded Inn.
Fright Knights I strongly disagree. Horrible set. I will pick Traitor's Transport.
Classic - there is no contest
Lion Knights - agree on the Mountain Fortress (it can be made even better with the other castle around it
Big sets are not always the best
No dwarves mine is much better
First!