I think they are bootlegging "candy" so they can enjoy it while playing pool. I guess the detective is trying to shut them down. If anything is going to get the modular line shut down, this has got to be it! lol

I get it I guess I was just trying to figure out why this is a thing.....the modulars seem to be getting the "star wars syndrome". (So many options that would seem to be more popular but lego ignores them)

To me this proofs the fact that lego is putting its cross-hair more specifically on kids.

quite the opposite actually. No kid would understand the prohibition angle unless it was explained to them.

To me this proofs the fact that lego is putting its cross-hair more specifically on kids.

 

Interesting, I was thinking the exact opposite since candy is obviously a kid-friendly substitution for liquor. Not sure if anyone outside of US knows about prohibition era in US, which was same time period as modulars..

Yeah, it's hilarious, they were probably thinking up this scenario and someone said "wait guys, we can't have liquor, let's change it to candy."

Yeah, it's hilarious, they were probably thinking up this scenario and someone said "wait guys, we can't have liquor, let's change it to candy."

 

It would be really cute if when LEGO Shop at Home starts selling it, they offer a promotional polybag "soda pop stand" that just happened to have a few bottles that fit the barrels and the kitchen upstairs.

quite the opposite actually. No kid would understand the prohibition angle unless it was explained to them.

I'm not sure I would have figured out what they were going for had I not watched the video.  Using cookies would have made it more confusing for myself if I was just going to study the set/box and try to figure out what was going on.

 

I will say that for my kid, once I explained to him that they were using the hiding spots to sneak the cookies past the detectives...he would have a blast with it.

I'm not sure I would have figured out what they were going for had I not watched the video.  Using cookies would have made it more confusing for myself if I was just going to study the set/box and try to figure out what was going on.

 

I will say that for my kid, once I explained to him that they were using the hiding spots to sneak the cookies past the detectives...he would have a blast with it.

This is what I'm saying.....without the video it doesn't make much sense.

I'm not sure I would have figured out what they were going for had I not watched the video. Using cookies would have made it more confusing for myself if I was just going to study the set/box and try to figure out what was going on.

I will say that for my kid, once I explained to him that they were using the hiding spots to sneak the cookies past the detectives...he would have a blast with it.

Kids love sneaky stuff. They are hard wired to buck the system and the man. :)

Now knowing the back story, this makes the set a little more appealing to me with the twist on history. The set itself still doesn't give me that "wow" factor. They should have done rum balls or brandy beans instead of cookies.

I'll be changing ours into a meth lab with distribution and try to make the detective look like d!ck tracy

Illegal cookies, eh? Whatcha puttin' in them cookies, bub?

I know what's in mine....

I'm not sure the back story is that important.  Had they not had the "play features" for hiding stuff everyone would have been like. "It's a detective's office.  He plays pool downstairs and gets his hair cut next door.  A crazy cat lady lives in the upper apartment next door."  Kids don't need a back story or a setup, they will make up some of the craziest stuff you've ever heard, adults tend to grow out of the creative phase, become the man upstairs, and need the story.

I kinda want to Bricklink a black/white/gray version of this set to go full-noir. Appropriate minifig parts would probably be the toughest to find.

Not sure if this is common knowledge but pricing for Detective's Office:

 

US $159.99 - CA $199.99 - DE 149.99

Saw the set in person today at the store. Really nice. Store manager told me she spent 5 hours building it. According to her it will be available for sale on dec 17

Edited November 22, 201411 yr by Contrails

That movable ceiling Fan sold me!
I agree with Rockefeller about the Premise of this set, but Aesthetically, its a beauty.
 

I don't own a single modular and this one excites me.  I'm glad they didn't do just a typical police station.

I like it because things like a barber shop or pool hall weren't going to be worthy of a standalone modular building, but combining them together is fun.

40056 Thanksgiving Feast has some bottles that are good substitutes. LEGO is not stupid, they just can't do alcohol smuggling: pool bar and cookies? Come on. Even lego says it's alcohol. This set is really fun.

 

If they stop the modular line after this, I am going to kidnap Jamie, throw him in a hole with heaps of LEGO and play the "put the modular in the basket" game.

Not sure if anyone outside of US knows about prohibition era in US, which was same time period as modulars..

 

There is an education system outside of the US you know...... and for those that didn't use it there's always Boardwalk Empire 

There is an education system outside of the US you know...... and for those that didn't use it there's always Boardwalk Empire 

 

Haha, I wasn't implying anything there.. Actually, I always thought US education system was a laggard to the rest of the civilized world. Back in the 70's/80's, we certainly didn't learn much about other countries in grade school. At least not in my schools.

 

So.. Now I am curious if there was any alcohol bootlegging going on over in Europe/GB in early 1900's or if this was just a US thing.. Will look into that later I suppose.

Haha, I wasn't implying anything there.. Actually, I always thought US education system was a laggard to the rest of the civilized world. Back in the 70's/80's, we certainly didn't learn much about other countries in grade school. At least not in my schools.

 

So.. Now I am curious if there was any alcohol bootlegging going on over in Europe/GB in early 1900's or if this was just a US thing.. Will look into that later I suppose.

Without looking anything up I'd say there was nothing like that in Europe ^.^

Most european countries are rather proud when it comes to their alcoholic drinks so I cannot imagine it.

 

I like what LEGO did there though ***** "smuggling candy... because of the prohibition!" hrhr

After seeing the introduction video the DO has become more interesting than before.

Without looking anything up I'd say there was nothing like that in Europe ^.^

Most european countries are rather proud when it comes to their alcoholic drinks so I cannot imagine it.

I like what LEGO did there though ***** "smuggling candy... because of the prohibition!" hrhr

After seeing the introduction video the DO has become more interesting than before.

I wasn't aware any European countries instituted prohibition but after reading the Wikipedia article I found out that some of the Nordic countries did for a while.

On the rest of the continent, governments rather tend to use heavy taxation on alcohol to discourage heavy use. Or to fill their pockets, depending on your personal view :)

Would they ever get rid of the modular theme? I here a few folks mention this. Isn't that like saying they are getting rid of Star Wars even though that is licensed.

Would they ever get rid of the modular theme? I here a few folks mention this. Isn't that like saying they are getting rid of Star Wars even though that is licensed.

Get rid of? Unlikely imo. Fanbase for MBS is growing daily. Adapt... possibly.