The hype was big before the release of this set. Many had read the books but others only knew about the movies and the story told in them, The Lord of the Rings. How would the last set be interpreted? As the pictures of the dolls were leaked before the movie, the spolier effect took place with doll people knowing who he would end upp marrying. The King of Kings. King Aragorn and his beautiful and beloved half Elven Arwen.  

There were a few sets released from this series with this being the crown jewel of them all. Of course with King Aragorn and his Elven bride. 

B3449 The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King gift set, 2003

 Ken as Aragorn was made with the Tango face sculpt. 

Barbie as Arwen was made with the Mackie face. Without the option of new made sculpts, this was the best choice for her timid smile.  

This series had a lot of promise when it first was released. Together Forever. Famous novel, movie or theater couples. I mean, who doesn't take in all the heroes and heroines and a Happily Ever After? And Mattel interpreted the sotry characters into dolls with costumes of great details. For the first set they even made a new sculpt for Ken. To this date, this is the only Ken doll ever made with this sculpt. Ken & Barbie as Romeo & Juliet. Can it be more romantic than that? And with the wonderful historical costumes with all little details. It's just a win win concept. And there were only two sets made... 

 #19364 Ken & Barbie as Romeo & Juliet from 1998 (copyright year of 1997)

 Ken as Romeo with a unique sculpt.

Barbie as Juliet with the Mackie face. She has pretty brown eyes amd long dark brown hair in a braid, with gold and silver ribbons tied around it.  

...ehh doll? There is this new show on Swedish television called Bytt är bytt. That means something like swapped is swapped. There are two contestants - well they compete together against the show, so to speak. There are seven people with different kind of collector items or antiques with a range of estimated values from 5000 to 500000 Skr in the studio. Then it's up to the contestants to put two items up against each other and choose the most valuebale one, or rather dismiss the less valued one, as they will win whatever the value of the last standing item, preferably the half a mil. One of the items was a Barbie doll. Not just any Barbie doll.... 

Capture: "Compared to a doll that is not Top of the Line"

It was a nice #1 blonde Ponytail Barbie, complete with her accessories in the small plastic bag with the booklet and her stand. They had her up against a chess board in glass and bronze and they did pick the right item, due to value but to call this girl "Not top of the line"?? Sheesh. Her value was in the show estimated to 25000 Skr but it would be more close to 30K, although that step wasn't an option (5K, 10K, 25K, 50K, 100K, 250K, 500K) but the chess board wsa second top item of all. I think. Didn't catch the whole show. 

Anyway. Not top of the line??? Get a grip...