One of reality TV’s healthiest franchises is coming to Aotearoa next month. Tara Ward performs a preliminary power ranking of the six pairs vying to become Masters of the Brick Universe.

Throw your Lego pieces to the wind and step on them barefoot, because Lego Masters NZ is almost here. Starting Monday, May 9, New Zealand’s version of the colorful reality competition will see local Lego enthusiasts compete to create the best designs. This morning, TVNZ announced the six teams preparing to face off in the Brick Pit of Dreams.

Hosted by comedian Dai Henwood, Lego Masters NZ will challenge these teams to create Lego artwork that showcases their imagination and storytelling skills, and wows us with their technical flair and problem-solving expertise. Canadian Mason Robin Sather, a certified Lego professional, will watch their every move and set the challenges and decide which team will be named the first Lego Masters of Aotearoa.

As you’d expect, Lego Masters NZ will have a strong New Zealand theme, with challenges including a getaway to Kiwiana Island, a ‘Cricket Nation Special’ and the classic ‘halved’ Test. . There will also be a Power Brick, a magic item that protects a team and increases their chances of advancing to the Grand Finals. Teams will use a brick pit containing 2.5 million pieces, roughly the same amount of Lego currently stuck to the back of my couch.

Lego Masters NZ stands for critical thinking, creativity and originality. This ranking contains none of that. We’ve peered through our Lego magnifying glass, skimmed through TVNZ’s PR presentations and examined official photos, and ranked these intrepid pundits before they’ve even set a mechanical foot inside the brick pit. It doesn’t mean anything unless it’s correct, in which case it means over 30% off the Lego sale. Let’s brick.

THE TEAMS

6. Emily and Sarah

Christchurch friends Emily and Sarah are this season’s underdogs simply because they didn’t combine their creative Lego skills before coming to the show. It could be either a terrible error in judgment or a stroke of artistic genius. Did Lennon and McCartney make music together before creating the Beatles? Did Michelangelo climb on scaffolding before painting the Sistine Chapel? Emily and Sarah will break this, but hopefully not to pieces.

5. Andrew and Georgia

This father and daughter team hail from opposite ends of the South Island, but distance is no obstacle to their love of Lego. Andrew has been a fan since he was a kid and Georgie loves watching Lego YouTube videos, so prepare for some classic intergenerational banter and a dose of fun family tension, mostly who gets to put away the 2.5 million bricks at the end. of each episode.

4. Amy and Adam

Amy and Adam should be ranked number one solely based on Adam’s beautiful flamingo costume, but sadly, it’s not Suit Masters NZ. This husband and wife team will likely play a quiet game, hiding in the middle of the pack until they’re ready to strike like a big pink bird on one leg. Cheer.

3. Emily and Liam

These former housemates may display an air of laid-back charm in their official photo, but look closely and you’ll see they’re as competitive as Lego Friend Stephanie was when Lego Friend Scarlett scored the first goal at Lego soccer practice. Emily and Liam have exhibited their builds at brick shows and are inspired by popular culture, so fingers crossed we’ll see the first engagement ceremony of Married at First Sight Australia Lego extravaganza.

2. Glenn and Jack

Glenn and Jake became friends at a Lego build show, strangers meeting like a pair of 4×4 brick magnets. Despite living two hours apart, the pals geared up for Lego Masters NZ by meeting regularly to “develop their ideas” and work on their “concept challenges”. It’s battle talk, so expect plenty of technical excellence and shocking talk about where they’ll stick their rider plates and snot bricks. I love seeing him.

1. Jono and Dan

Much like idea men Glenn and Jake, Jono and Dan met at a brick convention and bonded over their passion for tiny pieces of plastic. These brick fanatics have the experience and knowledge to win, but they also look cool. When asked what they would do if their competitor’s brick build collapsed in the final minutes of the Grand Finals, Jono said he would also eliminate his own build from the table. It’s a shitshow of a strategy. Get ready for absolute scenes.

Lego Masters NZ will air on Monday and Tuesday evenings from May 9 and will be available to stream on TVNZ OnDemand.

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