Weekly Set Review: Court Jester

[architect]

Join the weekly Classic Castle set review discussion. Please post your opinions on the set play ability, piece selection, design, etc. Which sets stand up to our catapult of critique and which ones crumble in shame!

This week’s set is 7953 Court Jester.

Court Jester was released in 2010 for Kingdoms. This impulse set contains a juggling jester entertaining on his colorful stage.

Various accessories such as a white and red jester's hat, juggling balls, and flags are included.

[Robin Hood]

Not waiting around are we Ben?

I like this, I really like this. The jester, apart from being a fig I've yet to aquire, isn't something espically noteworthy. It's nice to get a different colour, and I'll probably get it, but nothing earth-shattering. What I really like about it is the rest of the model. It just really makes me happy to see a bit of effort and creativity going into the "extra" thing in an impulse set. I will admit to having been less than enthused in other impulse sets, the troll one being the best example, but I am quite pleased with this one. It's not a stunning, blow-me-away, build, but it's recognizable as something, something real, that makes perfect sense. Having a stage with a jester is logical, and makes sense. And I can even imagine kids playing with/on it, where in most impulse, I just see it as little more than an army builder. Spot on Lego! This is one I intend to buy.

Dan

[Username]

Pretty cool impulse set that would go get with an MMV setup or within the castle walls. I like that is it a change of pace from attack carts, catapults, etc that we have seen a lot in impulse sets. Even has some useful bricks for MOCing.

[OverLoad]

From what i can see, it looks like a nice little set, containing a fig I've yet to get on my own, and lots of red and white, which is always nice. Apart from that, I like that LEGO made the set actually look like a set, in comparison to other impulse sets like the Manta Warrior, where it was a fig and some bley rocks. Looks like I'll be picking up a few of these.

[Elephant Knight]

A pretty meh set. A cool jester, and a nice little stand for him to perform on, but nothing spectacular. I might pick one up, depending on if I come across it. Best thing is that the jester has new colors.

EKnight

[RichardAM]

Next week can we review the upcoming Harry Potter sets?

[DaleDVM]

Having a jester in a new color is great. This guy and Harley Quinn are like Polar opposites. One a good Jester and the other evil...

I really like the stage. It is a cute idea for a small set like this. The usefulness of the few parts in this impulse is a nice plus. The gold flag seems a little out of place. I would have preferred a white flag to complete the look of the set.

I will pick up a couple of these guys. As I sit here typing I wonder if telescopes would make good clubs for juggling?

[Forestboy]

Next week can we review the upcoming Harry Potter sets?

I know you didn't really ask me, but couldn't we only review one, being, Hogwarts Castle (Remind me if there is another)? Besides, all we've seen from it are pictures from toy fairs, and not a super HQ photo from TLG or anything (Like the jester one above). Anyway, sorry for intruding...on to the set!

I think this set looks great. Now, it's not a mind blowing set, but I'm a sucker for impulses. Main attraction of the set, the Jester, everything else is extra parts basically. And 22 pieces for $3.49...is about 15 cents per piece is pretty high, but hey, it's an impulse, what do you expect? And like DaleDVM said, the gold flag is a bit out of place. But Anyway, a nice little set I'm definitely getting. I'll say a 7/10; a good. The pieces a pretty nice, fig is nice, pretty much a little cool set. I'll be looking for it soon. (Me thinks I smell a June release of Kingdoms! )

Interesting that we're doing Kingdoms sets before they come out, but I likey .

[architect]

The stage is one of the best features of a castle impulse set to date. Personally I was hoping for a jester without red in his cap. Yellow, blue, green, or purple would have added more variety to the overall jester population. I do heartily approve of placing a popular figure such as this in an affordable set.

Ben

[Athos]

The stage looks nice. Though I'm not real fond of the colors, as I have a rather large supply of red bricks, I guess it fits with the red and white of the faction. Its nice to see a civilian set again. The only thing that's missing is an angry peasant throwing rotten fruit.

Steve

[Username]

The only thing that's missing is an angry peasant throwing rotten fruit.

Or a monkey with a money cup.

[Blueandwhite]

I'm a bit disappointed in this fellow. Beyond the colours, he looks virtually identical to his Crownie predecessor. The same face and basic torso print (the crown having been replaced with a lion). He's okay but I would have preferred something a bit different like a diamond or checkered torso. Still, as an impulse it isn't too bad.

[Count Blacktron]

Is this set review being done on an actual set, or are we just reviewing the picture of a set that LEGO may or may not release? Or does anybody actually own one of these now? Has it been released?

[OverLoad]

Is this set review being done on an actual set, or are we just reviewing the picture of a set that LEGO may or may not release? Or does anybody actually own one of these now? Has it been released?

As far as I know, no, this set has not been released on a massive scale. Rather, a few people who have their connections have gotten their versions of the set, and if you wish to find their reviews, I'd suggest checking around Flickr.

On another note, what color is the plate for the stage? Is it just brown, or red? My screen's brightness is kind of messed up today, and I can't really tell. :S

[Kevin1990]

Its a nice little impluse set. As many points have already been said it has some good features and some bad ones.

Personally I was hoping for a jester without red in his cap. Yellow, blue, green, or purple would have added more variety to the overall jester population.

I agree on this.. we have a red/black jester hat, and a red/blue yester had to get a little varietion on jesters an other colour would of been great.

I do like it that the jester is standing on a little platform this way the little impluse set is easier to put in a moc.
The two "balls" wich he is juggaling aren't really a good choise I think they should of giving him minifig heads or something else.. there are alot of ways to create a way that looks like he really is juggaling instead of just two round 1x1 plate.

I think I will get one if I come across one just to have it.. but it will deffently stay with one of them and not more.
any way if I had to rate the impluse set I would give it a 5.5