I adored the original 'Trip' but was disappointed with this sequel (which I watched in the form of the original episodes). Part of what made The Trip so compelling was the tension between the characters. Coogan could barely stand to be in Brydon's company. That tension has all but disappeared here, robbing the conversation of its edge. At times it's almost indistinguishable from what I imagine an actual travel documentary with Brydon and Coogan would be like.
The homely character of The Trip is lost. Italy is fabulous but it overwhelms the unassuming plot. The beautiful theme song of The Trip is used inconsistently and jarringingly. Every time it is played it forces barely existent pathos where before it had heightened it.
This may sound like a complaint that it wasn't a repeat of the first series but my point is that the elements that made it so charming are gone and aren't replaced with anything. The imitations lose their novelty and the viewer experiences the irritation with Brydon that Coogan experienced in the first series.
The homely character of The Trip is lost. Italy is fabulous but it overwhelms the unassuming plot. The beautiful theme song of The Trip is used inconsistently and jarringingly. Every time it is played it forces barely existent pathos where before it had heightened it.
This may sound like a complaint that it wasn't a repeat of the first series but my point is that the elements that made it so charming are gone and aren't replaced with anything. The imitations lose their novelty and the viewer experiences the irritation with Brydon that Coogan experienced in the first series.