Review: LEGO Minifigures Series 22
December 23, 2021
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A new year means a new numbered LEGO Collectible Minifigures (CMF) series, and 2022 will usher in Series 22 on 1 January, with 12 new characters to collect!
Personally, the core numbered LEGO Minifigures series have always been my favourite over the licensed IP-driven series, as I much prefer the varied cast of characters that aren’t typically confined by a movie or other entertainment property.
Series 22 is preceded by the Marvel Studios and Looney Tunes series from 2021, and will be the first LEGO Minifigures series to kick off 2022!
Update: LEGO Minifigures Series 22 has been delayed in Australia and New Zealand, but will be available at the end of February 2022.
Special thanks to The LEGO Group for sending these minifigures for review.
Here’s a look at the Series 22 blind bags, which have a “random” minifigure inside. I like the light, almost baby blue colour scheme they selected this time around as it’s quite fresh, and seems like a blend of Series 5, 17 and The Simpsons
Each LEGO Minifigures Series 22 blind bag will retail for US$4.99 in the US, AU$5.99 in Australia and £3.49 in the UK, and they’ll be available worldwide from 1 January 2022 onwards.
Here’s a look at the blue box design is also pretty neat, which showcases all 12 characters on the sides!
LEGO Series 22 Minifigures Box Distribution
The good news is that there are 3 complete sets in each box of Series 22 Minifigures – which is quite typical with the modern era of the 12-character sets. No chase or rare minifigures, and great news if you plan to buy a sealed box, and split the contents with 2 other friends.
For those asking, here was the order of minifigures in my box. Please note that this is a highly imprecise art, and that boxes can be different if the blind bags move on the inside.
Big disclaimer: My box could be an outlier, so this may not apply to other boxes. Always try and feel your blind bags to be doubly sure.
Here’s a look at the character checklist and leaflet, and instructions on the reverse side.
Here’s the complete list of characters, along with their official names.
A really interesting observation on the official names from LEGO that all the characters names are gender-neutral – previously, costumed minifigures were named “_____ costume girl”, or “____ costume guy”, but now they’re called “fans”.
It’s a small change, but it’s great to see LEGO making good on its commitment to remove gender bias from their toys.
- Robot Repair Tech
- Chilli Costume Fan
- Troubadour
- Snow Guardian
- Horse & Groom
- Figure Skating Champion
- Night Protector
- Forest Elf
- Birdwatcher
- Raccoon Costume Fan
- Space Creature
- Wheelchair Racer
If you click the name of each minifigure, you’ll instantly jump to the corresponding minifigure review! For the “feelers out there”, my reviews also contain a “How To Find One” section with actual tips on how you can best identify the minifigs in their blind bags.
If you’re new to my LEGO Minifigure reviews, I use a 5-point scale review scale to rate each minifig. Here’s what the numbers mean!
5/5 – I love it
4/5 – I really like it
3/5 – I like it
2/5 – I don’t like it
1/5 – I didn’t really like it
0/5 – I hate it
Unfortunately, I took photos of this series while away on holiday, so I don’t have access to my other minifigures for comparison shots, which I hope to add when I get back in late December!
Now all that’s done, let’s jump straight into the LEGO Minifigures Series 22 review!
1. Robot Repair Tech
First up, we have the Robot Repair Tech minifigure, a cheery yellow robot designed to repair other machines, and his trusty red companion.
There’s a mix of geometric patterns and warning stripes all across its legs and torso, and I also like the wrench symbol on its chest. The welding mask (first seen in Series 11’s Welder) also comes in yellow, with some cheery eyes printed on the visor, as well as bolts on the rim.
Unmasking the Robot Repair Tech reveals a really cool minifigure head, a robotic smiley face along with some cool semiconductor/motherboard circuits printed across its face! I can see the head being very popular with minifigure customisers who now have more robot faces to choose from!
I really like the side leg print, which has the continuation of the hazard stripes, and a large screw on its hip. It also comes with a robot arm, in which you can stick different accessories in – either a drill, wrench, or even the hammer for the Repair Tech to perform different functions!
The S logo printed on the Tech’s left arm seems to be an obscure reference to this minifigure, supposedly handed out from LEGO’s Service Centre Health & Safety, of which there’s no readily available information on the net.
From the Reddit post, I’m assuming that this is a reference to LEGO’s Health & Safety division, and maybe it was handed out to employees as an award/recognition of safe practices?
The Robot Repair Tech comes with a red little droid, which gives off heavy Pixar vibes thanks to his large thoughtful eyes, which are on printed 1 x 1 half circle tiles. You get a bonus eye as well which is a nice touch.
I really like this little dude, as it adds a lot to the Robot Repair Tech, and as a bonus, you get a bit of building to do, which is quite rare for a Collectible Minifigure.
Here’s the best feature of the Robot Repair Tech – on the back of his head are more circuitry (along with a large chip that acts as the CPU), but below it is a battery indicator, which is positioned so that you can still se it while wearing the mask!
The back printing is also great, with a high voltage symbol, on what seems to be a flap or cover that looks like it can be opened.
We’re off to a great start with the Robot Repair Tech, and I like whenever we get new Robots in the Collectible Minifigures theme, and the vibrant yellow colour scheme, and assigned occupation/role ensures that it has a bit of personality, and stands out against other regular robots.
How to find one: Try feeling for the parts used to build the Robot Repair Tech’s assistant – the studs with clips would be the easiest, as have a square profile, and feel quite sharp. Alternatively, you can also try to feel for the hammer piece or the 2 x 1 plate with rounded corners.
Minifig Rating: 4/5
2. Chilli Costume Fan
Series 22 is a costumed minifigure collector’s dream, with some really great new additions such as the Chilli Costume Fan! She joins the sub-theme of “edible costume minifigures“, joining alumni such as Hot Dog Man, Corn Cob Guy, Banana Guy, Pizza Costume Guy and Watermelon Guy.
Sure to be a hit with fans of spicy food (or hot sauce), the Chilli Costume Fan is dressed in a large chilli costume, and comes with a carton of milk as an accessory. For the unaware, milk neutralises the effect of capsaicin, the active chemical that inflicts pain on your taste buds if you consume too much of it.
Here’s a better look at the shape of the chilli costume – I like the moulded detail of the green stalk.
And in case you were wondering, here’s a comparison shot with a real Chilli. Pretty close!
As an added bonus, the Chilli Costume Fan’s torso has a graphic of a flaming chilli on it, and she also comes with a red hairpiece, which is a neat surprise that fits her overall spicy personality.
Her primary facial expression with sweat beading down her face is great as well!
And here’s her alternate face with a more traditional grin.
As a new edition to the Food Costume Minifigures sub-series, the Chilli Costume Fan really adds a whole lot of spice (sorry) to the collection, and the added bonus of printed torsos, spare hairpiece and a great primary facial expression make this one of the standout minifigures in the series.
Minifig Rating: 4/5
How to find one: The Chilli Costume Fan’s suit should be very easy to identify, just feel for the curved shape, which has a gap at one end. Alternatively, you can also feel for the 1 x 1 brick.
3. Troubadour
LEGO continues to shower medieval and castle LEGO fans with love thank to the Troubadour! He’s perfect for fans who have been waiting to add a Bard minifigure to their castle/medieval setups.
The Troubadour is typically a composer and performer of poetry, which emerged in the 11th century in Occitania, and this cheery minifigure fits the bill well. He’s attired in a blue striped suit, with a purple bib, and I also really like the design of his boots.
He comes with a brand new musical instrument – a Lute, which fits the era really well, and in this shot, you can also see the side leg printing and arm printing, which really tie the entire minifigure together. A cool little decoration is a sack of coins hanging by his belt.
As an added bonus, we get a blue variant of the Forestmen cap, along with a magenta feather.
The printed coins are another highlight, which has a crown stamped on them – a nod to tossing a coin to your Witcher perhaps? I hope these aren’t just confined to the Troubadour as I’d love to see these medieval-type coins make a return elsewhere!
As an added bonus, you get plenty of spares with the Troubadour – 2 extra coins and plumes!
As a fan of medieval LEGO and minifigures, the Troubadour is just brilliant, and one of my top picks from this series. If you’re like me and are a fan of Forestmen, the Troubadour will easily find a place in your LEGO Castle displays, why wouldn’t you want a Bard to serenade your armies or kings?
How to find one: Try feeling for the Lute, which is quite large, and has a tear-drop shaped body, connected to a small rod. The pegbox sticks out at an angle, and feels like the letter L. Alternatively, the flat coin tiles should also be easy to identify as there are 3 of them.
Minifig Rating: 5/5
4. Snow Guardian
Series 22 is an army builder’s dream, and the first of the “warrior-type” minifigures introduced is the Snow Guardian, a more fantasy-type character, that looks like he’s in charge of defending a snowy fortress, or some sort of mystical artifact hidden in the snow.
He’s dressed for sub-zero temperatures, with a white fur collar, and fur-lined hat, and I also love the printing across his torso and legs, which looks like a furry robe.
His shield has an awesome snowflake design on it, which occurs on his belt, as well as his back.
Also included is the new-ish and quite rare Greatsword, which first appeared in Series 20’s Tournament Knight, as well as this year’s 21325 Medieval Blacksmith.
The Snow Guardian has a dual-sided face, one with an angry expression (he has very expressive eyebrows!), and one with a slightly warmer and friendlier look.
He kinda reminds me of Santa Claus in a way, defending the North Pole against Whitewalkers or something.
Speaking of White Walkers and Game of Thrones references… here’s a look at the Husky Dog included. This one variant is a little special, with bright blue eyes – perhaps a reference that it’s been White Walker’d.
In fact, the entire concept of the Snow Guardian minifigure feels like it was inspired by Jon Snow, from Game of Thrones, perhaps an aged and grizzled version, with Ghost, his direwolf at his side.
I’m a big fan of any army-builder-type minifigures, so the Snow Guardian scores highly for me – I’m definitely going to amass a few of these for my collection!
How to find one: Try feeling for the Snow Guardian’s Shield, which is large and rounded, with a handle behind. His greatsword will also be quite easy to feel for as the blade is long and flat.
Minifig Rating: 4/5
5. Horse & Groom
Up next we have a Groom, aka a stable girl, along with an adorable new LEGO foal. Design-wise, the Groom would not look out of place in a LEGO City set, with a simple green plaid patterned jacket, and dark blue medium legs.
The Groom has Hidden Side’s Parker Jackson’s hairpiece – a dark red beanie with black over-shoulder braids, which is a brand new variant in this colour.
Here’s a look at her back and arm prints.
The Groom also has a great alternate face, which shows her beaming with a huge grin – you can see that she has braces on, which is great for teens/kids with braces to relate to.
The new LEGO Foal is the main attraction – we’ve had foals in the LEGO Friends theme before, but this is the first time we’ve had a LEGO version, and it’s pretty cute and a new addition for those that collect LEGO livestock/animals.
The Foal mould is pretty detailed, with a very attractive silhouette, tufts of hair, and even nose holes!
The Horse & Groom is just okay. While I did like the new LEGO Foal, the Groom is a little boring, outside of her face with braces, it just doesn’t bring anything completely fresh to the table, but will likely appeal to those who love horses, or own horses.
How to find one: Feel for the Foal, which is the bulkiest piece in the series – its four legs, and flat sides should be easy to feel for.
Minifig Rating: 2/5
6. Figure Skating Champion
After almost 11 years, Series 4’s Ice Skater finally has a male companion in Series 22’s Figure Skating Champion! Sporting the same star-speckled blue leotard, you can now complete the duo for a figure skating performance.
He has a large, confident grin on his, and a blonde version of the pompadour hairpiece, introduced in the Everyone is Awesome and Queer Eye set from this year.
Here’s a look at the Figure Skating Champion’s back and side printing, which has more of that silvery star pattern.
He also comes with an angled bar, and jumper plate, allowing you to pose him, midflight or in a variety of different poses, to add some dynamism to the display.
It’s nice of LEGO to finally give Series 4’s Ice Skater her partner – only a casual 11 year wait! That said, I would’ve liked a slightly different utfit design, as figure skating duos often have contrasting outfits to their partners.
How to find one: Try feeling for the trophy piece, which has easy to feel for handles. Alternatively, the jumper plate, a 2 x 1 plate with a singular stud should be easy to confirm.
Minifig Rating: 2/5
7. Night Protector
I love it when LEGO delves into fantasy, and the Night Protector – a sort of Moon Warrior is hands down one of the most novel minifigures in Series 22. She looks like some sort of spectre, or maybe an inhabitant of the moon, with her pale mint skin, and teal hair.
She’s ready for battle, ready to defend the Lunar surface with a very attractive oval shield, with a large moon and runes running across the edge, and she comes equipped with a trans-purple broadsword!
Oh, and you get a spare broadsword, so she can dual-wield broadswords too!
I really love her armour, which has a Elvish design influences, and dark purple outlines, along with scaled armour on her legs.
Here’s a look at her alternate face, and back printing.
The Night Protector is hands down my favourite minifigure in Series 22 – I absolutely love the fantastical influences, and just how unique her character design is, especially just how well her teal and purple colour scheme works.
Like the Snow Guardian, I’ll be looking to amass a small army of Night Protectors as I think they’ll look brilliant in a large group.
How to find one: The Night Protector’s shield is oval-shaped and flat, unlike the rounded and curved Snow Guardian shield. You can also confirm with her 2 swords, although you could get it confused with the Snow Guardian’s greatsword, so be extra careful there.
Minifig Rating: 5/5
8. Forest Elf
Series 22 continues on with incredible fantasy characters with the Forest Elf, a cute little Forest Sprite character, that’s keen on adventure.
I’m a little confused by the name as there’s nothing inherently Elvish about him, but maybe his ears are obscured by the large acorn he wears as a hat.
The Forest Elf is dressed in a leaf tunic, and also has an acorn belt buckle, and comes with a walking stick.
Here’s a better look at his acorn cap, which is one of the cutest LEGO minifigure accessories ever! The Forest Elf also comes with a leaf cape.
Here’s his back printing, which has more of his leaf tunic, and a large sash on the back, probably for collecting seeds, and other interesting finds as he journeys through the forest.
As if the Elf wasn’t cute enough on its own, he also comes with a Red Toadstool, with the most adorable smiley face printed on it! Oh and you also get an extra toadstool as well, which I fashioned into a small umbrella for the Forest Elf.
And last but not least, how adorable is his dual-sided happy face? Just the picture of innocence and wonder.
The Forest Elf is without doubt, the cutest minifigure in this entire series – blending adorable features and accessories with a dash of fantasy, which will likely make this one of the most popular minifigures in the series.
It’s also such a photogenic minifigure, so those into LEGO photography are going to have a great time, placing the Forest Elf in all sorts of nature-based settings.
How to find one: Try feeling for the Acorn Helmet, which has a large dome shape, with a slightly bumpy rim. Alternatively, you can also feel for the rod/stick piece.
Minifig Rating: 5/5
9. Birdwatcher
Up next we have the Birdwatcher, who as the name suggests is always out in the wilderness, looking out for birds! This Ornithology enthusiast has a black shirt, and khaki pants, and also comes with a pair of dark green binoculars (a new variant!), and a bright pink sling bag.
There are some nice decorations printed on the Birdwatcher such as side pockets on her cargo pants, and also a smartwatch on her left wrist!
The big draw of the Birdwatcher is the new LEGO Toucan, a brand new highly detailed mould! The printing, especially on the Toucan’s beak are outstanding, and this is a fantastic new animal element being added to the LEGO menagerie.
The Birdwatcher is a classic new minifigure that’s an excuse to bring out new animal moulds, but because of the Toucan’s great design, it still ends up as a pretty desirable minifigure. It also helps that the minifigure design is also pretty decent, especially if you’re after options for outdoorsy and nature-based parts.
How to find one: The plant element is the easiest part to feel for, as the three leaves that stick out are easily recognisable, and feel flexible.
Minifig Rating: 3/5
10. Raccoon Costume Fan
It wouldn’t be a Collectible Minifigue Series without a new Animal Costume Minifigure, and the newest addition to the lineup is the Raccoon Costume Fan!
Perfect for fans of trash pandas, the new Raccoon Suit is actually a recolour of Series 19’s Fox Costume Girl, but the new printing works quite well anyway, given foxes and raccoon have similar facial features, with their point ears and snouts.
Raccoons are known for digging through rubbish bins, and LEGO have fully embraced the trash panda moniker by including a green trash can, and a white sack that serves as a rubbish bag as her accessories.
Here’s a look at her tail – she has no back printing, but dual-moulded legs, which would be super useful for a Batman minifigure to finally give him some boots.
An unexpected twist with the Raccoon Costume Fan is that she’s actually an elderly woman! Here’s a look at her alternate face, which has kind eyes and a smile, and she also comes with a grey hairpiece to complete the look!
There might be a sad backstory here, a senior citizen having to rummage around the bins for food, or she just enjoys dumpster diving, looking for stuff that people throw out!
The Raccoon Costume Fan is a great new addition to the lineup of Animal Costume Minifigures, even if LEGO didn’t introduce a new head mould, it still works well for the most part.
I look forward to new Animal Costume minifigures each year, and can thoroughly say I’m pleased with the Raccoon Suit Fan, especially as she has a pretty neat secret identity, as an older lady.
How to find one: Try feeling for the trash can, which has a large cylindrical shape, with 2 handles on the end that is open.
Minifig Rating: 4/5
11. Space Creature
One of the most anticipated minifigures in Series 22 is the Space Creature, a new alien minifigure with his new purple Classic Space torso!
It’s a shame that most of the attention will be on the brand new purple Classic Space Torso, which will enable you to introduce a new Classic Space Astronaut colour – you’ll just need to supply the helmet, arms and legs to create one.
I’ll have a photo of an assembled Purple Classic Space minifigure as soon as I return home from holidays!
Purple Classic Space hype aside, the Space Creature is quite an interesting design, as it uses a minifigure head just for the mouth, with the use of his headgear, which has 2 eyestalks to complete the look.
He comes with a teal laser gun (new in this colour), and the Space Creature has plenty of cool details across his arms and legs.
On his back is a transparent minifigure head, with a hazard symbol that looks like a warning for a toxic chemical spill, looking like its the power source for its gun.
You can also see the Space Creature’s alternate face, which has a slightly smaller “mouth”.
While I’m delighted to finally have a torso for a purple Classic Space minifigure, the Space Creature is still a great standalone character, especially to expand the cast of Space/Sci-fi characters in the Collectible Minifgures series.
How to find one: The Space Creature’s neck bracket, which has an “L” shape is the easiest thing to feel for, or alternatively, you can feel for the studs used for the Laser Gun.
Minifig Rating: 4/5
12. Wheelchair Racer
Last but certainly not least is the Wheelchair Racer – the first minifigure with a disability featured in the Collectible Minifigures Series! The accomplished Wheelchair Racer is steely and determined to be the best despite his disability, and comes with a brand new racing wheelchair element.
To display the Wheelchair Racer on the baseplate, you get a transparent 1 x 1 round brick which suspends the wheelchair and fixes it in place.
I was really impressed with the new racing wheelchair, a brand new element, where you just attach the wheels to. The design is top-notch, and I love how the minifigure’s hands are aligned perfectly with the wheels, allowing the Wheelchair Racer to use it as intended.
Outside of the racing wheelchair, the Wheelchair Racer also comes with a brand new bike helmet, which has an impressively realistic mould, and his jersey can also double as a professional cyclists’.
The Wheelchair Racer is a fantastic addition to the Collectible Minifigures series, and a really effective (and accessible!) way to get minifigures with disabilities into the hands of everyday LEGO fans.
It’s a great message to share, especially with younger kids, normalising wheelchair racing and paralympic athletes, consistent with LEGO’s mission to improve visibility of diverse minifigures.
There was a pretty big faux pas… on the official imagery which had the Wheelchair Racer standing upright, alongside all the other minifigures. Awkward.
I really like the Wheelchair Racer, mostly because of the excellent racing wheelchair, and I have to give props to LEGO for going to such great lengths creating the new element, with such accuracy to the real thing.
How to find one: You can either wheel for the wheelchair’s frace, which feels like a small shovel, or the wheels, of which there are 3 and feel like small flat discs.
Minifig Rating: 4/5
Final Thoughts: For a numbered series, LEGO Minifigures Series 22 delivers on its promise – a new core series with a great mix of characters and new elements introduced to the massive theme.
There are some fantastic characters introduced, and Series 22 is an army builder’s dream – whether you want to amass an army of Night Protectors, Snow Guardians, or even Chilli Costume Fans, Forest Elves, or Space Creatures, there is something for everyone here.
For a long-running series, there is some fatigue beginning to creep in, and this series more than others feels like there are some high highs, with incredible new entrants such as the Night Protector, Forest Elf, and Wheelchair Racer, to some more forgettable characters like Groom, Figure Skating Champion and Birdwatcher, 2 of which are notable because they introduce new animal moulds.
Unless you’re a completionist, Series 22 isn’t a series I would recommend getting a complete set of. If you’re not crazy over Classic Space, or even LEGO animals, or pairing up your Series 4 Ice Skater, there are some minifigures that you can skip over.
I would also like to acknowledge LEGO’s commitment to not only removing gender bias with the removal of “guy” and “girl” from costume minifigure names, but also for the 50-50 gender split, with 5 female minifigures, 5 male minifigures, 1 robot and 1 alien.
The inclusion of the Wheelchair Racer also ensures that this is one of the most diverse and inclusive series yet.
Here are my top 5 from Series 22
- Night Protector
- Forest Elf
- Troubadour
- Wheelchair Racer
- Snow Guardian
CMF Series 22 is a fun mixed bag of minifigures, with a bit of something for everyone, and an especially great series for fantasy and army-builder fans.
Overall Rating: 3/5 ★★★✰✰
LEGO Minifigures Series 22 blind bag will available on 1 January 2022 globally, and each blind bag will retail for US$4.99 in the US, AU$5.99 in Australia and £3.49 in the UK.
What do you think of the LEGO Minifigures series 22? Let me know what your favourite characters are in the comments!
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