Constructing the ‘Twilight’ Lego set was the remedy session I didn’t know I wanted

I’ve one thing to confess upfront earlier than we get into this. And do not come for me within the feedback, please.

I’ve solely seen the primary Twilight movie, so I can not actually say that I am a real fan. For what it is value, I actually loved that film. Particularly that scene the place Bella struggles to make use of a ketchup bottle.

“Well, then, why’d you spend $220 on the Twilight Cullen House Lego set, Dylan?” you are most likely saying to your self. It is easy: My spouse is a Twilight superfan, and I believed it would be loads of enjoyable for the each of us to undertake the huge, 2,000-plus-piece reproduction of the Cullen’s trendy forest mansion that Lego launched in mid-February. Now, that is fairly the chunk of change for a field of plastic bricks, however as we constructed the three-story behemoth, we shortly realized that we have been getting far more out of the expertise than simply our cash’s value.

After virtually a month of ready since we positioned our preorder, our long-awaited cargo arrived at our door. I shook the field simply to make certain, and from the sound of it, there have been undoubtedly Lego items in there. We lower open the package deal and marveled on the set in all its glory, albeit feeling considerably nervous. Have been we able to tackle a undertaking like this? How lengthy wouldn’t it take? Would Jacob’s minifigure include a pair of ripped denim shorts? We have been going to seek out out. We waited till the next weekend so we would have as a lot time as we wanted, after which started our pre-build preparations.

The field that the set got here in was, not surprisingly, fairly massive. For scale, this is a photograph of my canine sitting subsequent to it:

As you may see, the field itself is nearly precisely one Stevie tall, which is fairly rattling massive. Upon opening the field, we have been greeted with an entire lot of Lego items (additionally not stunning). Fortunately, the over-2,000-piece set was neatly portioned out into 18 separate baggage, all numbered to coincide with the included booklet’s step-by-step directions. That was an enormous aid to the 2 of us — we would by no means tackled a Lego set of this dimension earlier than, so we did not know what to anticipate when it got here to the precise technique of placing every thing collectively. However, it appeared like our fingers have been going to be held all the way in which to the end line. Splitting every part up into manageable and comprehensible chunks saved us from feeling overwhelmed by the ocean of coloured plastic that was strewn throughout our kitchen desk.

The workspace.
Credit score: Dylan Haas / Mashable

Just a few hours later…
Credit score: Dylan Haas / Mashable

We fastidiously opened the primary bag that Lego kindly meal-prepped for us, which included a brick removing instrument in case we made any errors and a sheet of stickers that may be used on particular items all through the method. We emptied out the items from the primary group and began making our means by way of the directions, which kicked issues off with Charlie Swan’s truck. It was a breeze to place collectively, because of the easy-to-follow directions, and seemed nice when it was accomplished. It even has working wheels!

Then, it was time to maneuver on to the home, which received a bit extra sophisticated. The directions have been nonetheless simply as easy, however our methodology of dumping all of the bricks from every bag onto the desk wasn’t working anymore. Too a lot of them seemed alike, and it might take us minutes simply to seek out the one half we wanted. The small moments of panic that may set in every time it appeared like we have been lacking a bit weren’t enjoyable, both. We by no means have been, and every bag had some extras in it simply in case one thing did vanish into the void.

One thing tells me that lots of people will likely be pleased with the inclusion of Bella’s dad.
Credit score: Dylan Haas / Mashable

So, we modified our plan of assault. Going ahead, each time we opened a brand new bag, we would fastidiously sift and type by way of every plastic piece, grouping them with their an identical cohorts. This fashion, we would know precisely the place every thing was and what number of of every piece we had always. As soon as we received the cling of our new recreation plan, we began zooming by way of the remainder of the set. (Properly, comparatively zooming. It nonetheless took us about eight hours to finish from begin to end.)

We have been a well-oiled machine, shortly glancing backwards and forwards between the instruction booklet and the miniature Cullen family, including to it every time. We labored on completely different sections concurrently and with finesse as if we would been doing it our entire lives. We have been formally in The Movement State™. Is that this what Lego hobbyists felt like on a regular basis?

Brick by brick, flooring by flooring.
Credit score: Dylan Haas / Mashable

We constructed the compound actually from the bottom up, ranging from the muse all the way in which to the third flooring. As we constructed, we have been continually impressed by the sheer element that went into the objects on every flooring of the home — stuff you would not see until you opened the entire thing up and inspected it carefully, just like the Cullen’s wall of commencement caps or their grand piano. These objects require you to be a bit extra surgical whereas constructing because of their small items, however the result’s tremendous rewarding.

Part of the constructing expertise that I personally cherished was the stress of not at all times figuring out what you have been constructing instantly. The directions are cautious to not spoil the tip product earlier than you get there your self, so loads of instances, you are observing an odd grouping of bricks, questioning whether it is, the truth is, something in any respect. It is an awesome train in relinquishing management and trusting the method, which may get particularly difficult when it looks as if no matter you are constructing simply is not coming collectively. It at all times got here collectively, although. I really feel like there is a life lesson someplace in that.

“You better hold on tight, spider monkey.”
Credit score: Dylan Haas / Mashable

One other certainly one of my favourite particulars is the Cullen’s grand piano.
Credit score: Dylan Haas / Mashable

We saved progressing by way of the set, ultimately hitting autopilot. Now, we have been well-versed sufficient to multitask — 50 % constructing, and the opposite 50 % simply yapping. My spouse would discuss me by way of all of the Twilight film references I did not perceive, and perk up with pleasure every time I used to be capable of name one out myself. It was a pleasure to attach along with her over what Lego detractors would check with as a kids’s toy. It felt nostalgic, like we have been in an easier time. For these subsequent few hours, I wasn’t considering cynically, which feels wild to say in 2025. I wasn’t desirous about planes falling out of the sky or in regards to the dire situation of our political panorama. I used to be solely desirous about how every of those tiny plastic items would snap collectively, how I used to be having fun with high quality time with my favourite particular person, and the way, no less than at this second in time, every thing felt prefer it was OK.

Look, I’m not saying that it’s best to bury your head and ignore what’s happening on the earth — truly, I counsel closely in opposition to that. But when the state of all of it is attending to be overwhelming, perhaps I’m saying that it’s best to decide up a Lego set and simply see what occurs. You may be shocked by how therapeutic it may be.

Earlier than we knew it, we have been placing the ending touches on the set, which concerned making a wolf model of Jacob and the verdant surrounding space of the Cullen abode. We additionally put collectively all the character Minifigures, together with Carlisle, Alice, Rosalie, Charlie, human-form Jacob, and, in fact, Bella and Edward. The latter two even got here with an additional piece that permits you to connect Bella to Edward’s again so you may completely reenact the long-lasting tree-climbing scene.

The ultimate product.
Credit score: Dylan Haas / Mashable

Lastly, our job was accomplished. We fastidiously lifted the reproduction and positioned it on our bookshelf the place we may recognize its magnificence. We stepped again to benefit from the view, happy with the work we would put into it and feeling unexpectedly reinvigorated. I am not making an attempt to sound dramatic — it isn’t like this Lego set essentially modified us as individuals. However, it was a second of respite throughout a time crammed with uncertainty, and that was sufficient.

If you have not already gleaned that I believe Lego’s Twilight collaboration is completely definitely worth the cash, contemplate this my affirmation. I am most actually a Lego and a Twilight man now. So, I suppose it is time for me to observe the remainder of these motion pictures.

And in case you have been nonetheless questioning: No, Jacob’s minifigure didn’t include a pair of ripped denim shorts.