Threezero Game of Thrones

 I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Game of Thrones. Like more than a few folks, I loved the show up until the last season. I won't spoil anything for those of you that haven't seen it and might want too, but I was just disappointed in how several of the characters storylines ended up. I did start collecting Threezero's figures representing the line a few years ago though.  While not on par with say Hot Toys, there are a few of the characters I think they have done really well. Arya, from the early seasons, and Hound are two of them. I've recently started reading the books for the first time, and it has sparked my interest in the Threezero figures again, so I thought I would share some photos here on my blog. I have read complaints on some of the action figure discussion boards about The Hound's hair, but I like that they didn't use sculpted hair for him. I think it adds to his realism.  As I said previously, I think he is one of their best likenesses (that I own) to date.

Arya is another good likeness IMHO. Threezero has announced a version of her from Season 8 of the show, that I will need to add to my collection as well. Here is the version of her from the early seasons. Again, a very well done figure.

She's a lot of fun to pose and play with. I was inspired by this photo of her I found on the net to have a play session with her and her sword.

I should have put a different hand on her to see if I could achieve a closer resemblance to the photo above, but below is my interpretation of the above shot of the actress.

Her joints move smoothly and easily, making it fun to pose her in various positions.

All the Threezero figures come with minimal accessories when compared to Hot Toys for instance, or even Star Ace and the Harry Potter line, but the price points are a bit less than Hot Toys for the most part as well. Arya comes with her sword Needle, and a short dagger, and several different styles of hands.

More "inspired by" play time...........this time I was inspired by the photo above. The Clegane figure didn't come with a regular set of hands, both of his options were the armored/gloved style.

Victoire Musings

 I'm a bit late to the East 59th party, after just deciding to take the leap to collect the line this year. The line is designed by Chris Stoeckel, a man whose designs I have admired  for years. I first saw his designs  on the Studio Commissary, ( a wonderful doll board mostly devoted to Gene Marshall and her friends) through fellow collectors lucky enough to own his work in 16" scale.  When I became aware of Chris designing for Victoire Roux, through Integrity Toys, I had moved away from the 12" scale and was determined not to be sucked back into that vortex again. I admired the dolls from afar, through other collectors for years. This past year I found a couple of the East 59th dolls for sale for a price that was just too good to resist, and  feeling the need for something different in my collection,   I decided to take the plunge and place an order. The rest, as they say is history.....................I have jumped completely down the rabbit hole, and am totally enamored of the line. I have been scouring Ebay and dealer sites trying to play "catch up" on what I have missed out on since the East 59th line was introduced in 2017.  This morning I was looking at my collection thus far, specifically my different Victoire's' and decided it might be a fun installment for the blog to look at her character, the different sculpts and screenings as she has been portrayed thus far. I'll start at the beginning, with the only doll I have from the original Victoire line, Pret a Partir, from 2014. I was lucky to acquire her from a friend. The original sculpt is a bit more stylized than Victoire's current incarnation. I think both versions are beautiful.

I believe the original Victoire line issued the last dolls in the regular line in 2014. East 59th was introduced in 2017, but Victoire did not make her appearance in the East 59th line until 2018 with the introduction of Blue Gold Victoire seen below. The sculpt was completely redone to fit in with the more realistic aesthetic of the other characters in the line.

A shot of both sculpts side by side. I love both versions, but am partial to the more realistic features of Victoire 2.0.

In 2019 we got an updated screening for Victoire. The first version of the new screening was featured on Late Night Dream Victoire. This screening features forward glancing eyes, and lips painted a little fuller.

In 2020, we were given two beautiful versions of Victoire in the Integrity basics series, (a raven and a redhead) both with the second forward glance screening. Pin Up Allure is one of those basics. She has been a favorite for me to play with and redress. Below she is redressed  in Mid Day Venture Aurelia's suit.

Next is a comparison of screenings one and two.  Pin Up Allure (screening two) is on the left. Lunch at 21, with the original screening on the right.

And a shot including the original Victoire sculpt.

The 2020 holiday collection introduced us to Della Roux, Victoire's sister. Della also uses the Victoire head sculpt. I saw an interview with Chris recently where he stated that people had been asking for Victoire in a darker skin tone, but as Chris is very committed to the "stories" of the East 59th characters, Victoire in one of the darker skin tones just didn't ring true to the character. Della was the perfect solution. She has a completely different screening than Victoire to further differentiate the characters.  She was a huge hit with collectors and sold out very quickly. A shot below of the sisters, Della on the left (redressed in a Barbie reproduction ensemble), Dramatic Evening Victoire on the right.

And in closing a final shot with Della added to the line up showing all the different screenings of this beautiful sculpt(s) since her debut. I am very much looking forward to what the future brings for both Victoire and Della Roux.

@BarbieStyle Doll 1 Review

 I received the first doll in the @BarbieStyle series, where collectors vote on the items to be included in the giftset. Admittedly, I was a bit late to this party and just found out about the dolls on this girls release date.  Luckily, I got my order in in time for her to arrive this week. Her price point is $100, but I had $20 off  on my account, so I got her for $80 plus shipping. There are a lot of things I really like about this doll, and a few I'm disappointed in. I thought I'd review her on the blog, for those of you that don't have her, or would be interested in her.  I'll start with the packaging. The packaging is some of the best I've seen from Mattel. The box is a trifold faux "marble" with a magnetic clasp with the Barbie @BarbieStyle Logo. Very nice. If anyone is familiar with Integrity's E59th line, the way the box closes is very reminiscent of that line. I typically throw out all my Barbie packaging. This box I will keep.

When you open up the box  the middle is a 3 part section housing the doll in the middle, and each of the 2 outfits on either side. I unboxed my Barbie before I shot a picture of her in the packaging, but the middle section where Barbie was housed is covered by an easily removable plastic insert with a pink "foggy" look bottom, for modesty I suppose, although she is wearing underwear, as shown below.

I love the pictures from the BarbieStyle Instagram site on the fold out top right and left sides of the box. The packaging is also surprisingly easy to  remove the clothing from. The clothing is on cardboard cut outs that insert into the back of the box. The plastic covering the clothing also has tabs that slot into the cardboard, where you can easily remove without damage to the box. I like this. A stand is included in the back of the box. Also easily removeable. It is just a generic waist gripper type of stand used with many of Mattel's collectible dolls.

Barbie herself is on a made to move body. She comes wearing plain white panties and t-shirt with her sunglasses on. One of the cons I see with the set is that her sunglasses are sewn onto strips of hair at the sides of her head as well as the top. I wish they would have packaged them separately with the rest of the accessories, as not to risk cutting the hair while trying to get the sunglasses off her.  A plus is that Mattel gave her a manicure and pedicure, using white "polish." A nice added touch.

A shot of her manicure.

And her pedicure

Accessories include the aforementioned sunglasses, 2 pairs of shoes, black strappy heels and gray and black trainers. Her phone, which is gold and has a picture of her "apps" on the front. There is also a black handbag.  Jewelry would have been nice. She looks sort of unfinished in the dress especially without earrings.

A shot of the accessories minus the sunglasses. I like the way the trainers are accented with black. Gives them a more "realistic" vibe.

Main outfit pieces include a blue dress/black faux leather jacket and  pink suit jacket and pants. The dress is pull up style.

And here is my BIGGEST gripe with the set...........VELCRO. Why, oh why would Mattel take so much care with how well done the packaging is, give us a beautiful made to move doll with mani/pedi, and put VELCRO on the clothing. Ughhh........If I am going to buy a high end item I DO NOT want to see velcro used! For me, it "cheapens" the product. The white tee closes with velcro, as do the pants in the suit set. I will say it again. UGHHH........come on Mattel.

Barbie herself is quite lovely. Her lips are a very pretty shade of pink. She has blue side glancing eyes that are screened well IMHO. Her hair is in a very cute style, and it is very soft, no noticeable product in it to make it stiff. And I for one LOVE the made to move bodies!

Another shot of her dressed in the pink suit. Both jackets are actually lined except for the sleeves, and the pink jacket has a Barbie Signature tag in it.

And since she can't wear both outfits at once, I pulled BMR1959 Kira out to wear the other outfit. While I love the pleather jacket, I hate they used a huge zipper for the main zip. The accent zippers on the sides are smaller and in scale, but that huge zipper on the front  just takes away from the realistic look of the outfit 

(for me anyway).

All in all I'm really pleased with the set and will buy the other offerings in the series. I've wanted to see a play friendly set targeted for collectors for a long time now, and I have followed and loved the Barbie Style Instagram page and wished that Mattel would produce some of the clothing pictured for collectors.  I want to support them now that they have finally put this set out there. As I have noted above, there are things I really like about the set and a few things I really wish were different, but overall I'm really glad I got it and I look forward to the other offerings in the series.