It is the end of an era. LEGO has today announced that in 2023 they will be rebooting the Friends theme. A new group of friends will guide the next bunch of kids on their adventures in Heartlake City.
The new line-up has a focus on increased representation for people of all races, genders and abilities. There’s boys now!
While I am sad to say farewell to Emma, Mia, Stephanie, Olivia and Andrea I’m sure that in time I will come to love the new characters. Let’s meet them and get a first look at some of the 2023 Friends sets.
Meet Aliya, Autumn, Leo, Zac, Liann, Olly, Paisley and Nova
ALIYA
Aliya read her first chapter book when she was only five-years-old. The only thing bigger than Aliya’s brain is her sweet and gentle heart. But as kind as she is to her friends and family, Aliya is sometimes tough on herself; as the child of two successful parents, she feels the pressure of high expectations. Aliya is seen as a leader among her peers, but she is also a perfectionist. Sometimes her friends can talk her down and convince her to take a breather and let others help her, and other times… she crashes hard.
AUTUMN
Despite being born with a limb difference, Autumn never met a challenge she didn’t want to take on. She loves the outdoors and lives on a ranch, and is devoted to animals as well as protecting the planet. Because Autumn spends so much time with animals, she can get a little annoyed with the drama of people, and needs alone time to decompress – something her best friend, Aliya, understands.
LEO
Leo is the new kid in town, and is passionate about cooking and eating – he grew up in the kitchen by his grandma’s side. As the oldest sibling, Leo is familiar with caring for people and diffusing arguments, but when it comes to his peers, he is anxious to avoid confrontation in order to keep up the good vibes of the group, even at his own expense.
ZAC
Zac was destined for the spotlight. He’s smart, he’s cute, he’s athletic, he’s funny, a great dancer and even a decent singer during karaoke nights! He’s talented at martial arts, has won a couple motocross races, the list goes on and on and on. With so much success, you’d think a guy like Zac might be a little bit of a showoff…and you’d be right!?
LIANN
Anyone who says Liann is disorganised just doesn’t understand her organisation style! Liann is one of the few people who can match Autumn’s boundless energy – and you can usually find her at the skatepark. The only time she slows down is when she is hyper-focused on a drawing. Because she’s easily distracted and zones out as soon as she gets bored, she can get herself into trouble, and her impulsive streak sometimes causes problems for not just her, but her friends too.?
PAISLEY
It’s not that Paisley doesn’t have a lot on her mind…it’s more that she doesn’t even know how to begin to express herself! Big crowds and noisy rooms have always made Paisley feel anxious. Despite being a lady of few words, Paisley has many talents, including a beautiful voice and she is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist.
NOVA
Online, Nova is super popular. Her streaming channel has over 500,000 followers, her online handle in the gaming community is well-known, and she gets tons of likes and comments on pretty much everything she posts. In real life, well…Nova is a bit of a loner.
OLLY
Whether it’s setting up the Heartlake High fashion show, organising a bake sale or video editing a clip, Olly is always the hardest working person in the room. His charm and charisma matched with his gorgeous outfits make him a memorable person, and he often has an influence on the biggest and best events. Growing up in a working-class family, Olly was not able to afford designer brands or private classes, but there is nothing in the world that can stop him when he sets his mind to something.
2023 Sets revealed
41724 Paisley’s House $69.99
41727 Dog Rescue Center $89.99
41728 Heartlake Downtown Diner $44.99
41730 Autumn’s House $119.99
41731 Heartlake International School $159.99
What are your thoughts on the future of LEGO Friends? When I first got this news last night I was pretty shocked but after taking the day to think it over I am excited for the future of my favourite theme.
Autumns House looks great. The Friends line consistently does “City” buildings and structures better than the recent City lines.
Interesting info in the video too including the new non-pink branding. The “Controversies” section of the Lego Friends section has a lot to say about why pink and purple are bad, but I thought the reasoning behind keeping it was that the adults buying toys for girls were more likely to buy girl-coloured boxes in the toy aisle. I want this theme to continue to succeed, so I hope this change works out okay.
Nice to see Mia in one of these sets. I like that they’ve kept the door open for cameos.