Never mind about the new Top Gear the BBC put on without Clarkson, May and Hammond. That was painful to watch. This one instead, is more like the good old days of the proper Top Gear, but as you would expect it in a new season: more of the same, but better. Not quite sure about the celebrity part (you will have to watch it to understand what I am on about), but even then in the old Top Gear that was the one parts which I used to find a bit hit and miss, depending on who the celebrity was. The cars screaming round the track, are certainly true to the old Top Gear style, as well as the presenters, and what they do with said cars. The opening scene is brilliant, funny, cheeky, and with a song to match, and Clarkson uses it to give the two fingers to the BBC management who oversaw the demise of Top Gear. I love the new test track, although a bit of a change from the old familiar one. Hoping for the track sections to get proper names, as the show moves forward. Quite happy to already be on Amazon Prime, and not have to fork out for a new subscription to be able to watch this. BBC, you definitely missed a trick here, for allowing these 3 to get away from you, and thinking that you could re-invent the show just by re-using and tweaking the format. It's about the people, and this surely proves it.
7 Reviews
A return to form, and then some...
bowdidgej17 November 2016
I'll try and make this quick. No spoilers.
After watching the first episode I think it's safe to say that this is it, the big one, the long awaited show that's brought to you by one of the finest production crews in the world and the three blokes that are simply unafraid to have a laugh and take risks while having fun.
Yes, I admit that there are some differences that may take some getting used to for former fans of a certain BBC show, or just some aspects that'll not be to peoples tastes, but even so, this is one of the very few good things to happen in 2016 and one of the few that is able to live up to the hype.
Clarkson, Hammond, May, you've done it again. Eagerly looking forward to the remaining episodes!
After watching the first episode I think it's safe to say that this is it, the big one, the long awaited show that's brought to you by one of the finest production crews in the world and the three blokes that are simply unafraid to have a laugh and take risks while having fun.
Yes, I admit that there are some differences that may take some getting used to for former fans of a certain BBC show, or just some aspects that'll not be to peoples tastes, but even so, this is one of the very few good things to happen in 2016 and one of the few that is able to live up to the hype.
Clarkson, Hammond, May, you've done it again. Eagerly looking forward to the remaining episodes!
They're back!!!!
kc13516 July 2017
I finally got to watch the first episode of The Grand Tour. I'm so happy to be in the company of Jeremy, Richard and James. I love cars, but most of all I am a big fan of the best car-show hosts on the planet. Great to see you again, guys! :-) I wish you all the best with your new show.
Grand Tour Pilot
SaintedSons26 January 2017
I was thrilled that this came through for Clarkeson, Hammond and May! Their chemistry is undeniable as is the case here. I was glad it had the same vibe as "Top Gear," but a little different. I've read some reviews evidently complaining about that but guess what? I feel the real fans wouldn't want it any other way. I'm looking forward to the next episodes, but my only complaint is,"Where's The Stig??" Hopefully that will come back because it was also part of the charm for me as well as hysterical! I do miss where it's in England. I wish these gentlemen lots of success and happiness. They still got it in my opinion.
The Holy Trinity
rrella15 December 2023
The Holy Trinity of the La Ferrari, P1 and 918 was a sight to behold. But the real Holy Trinity was seeing these three chaps back on the screen together. For all the cars, segments, celebrities and adventures Top Gear had, it was always about these three together. You cannot manufacture the chemistry amongst Jeremy, James and Richard.
Is Grand Tour a little corny? Yes. Is it maybe too much scripted? Yes. But it still has the charm, adventures and LOVE that the original Top Gear had.
As I hear the trio will be wrapping things up with their last Amazon special, I just want to say THANK YOU for these three presenters for entertaining millions around the world for over two decades. Absolute masterclass.
Cheers Gents.
Is Grand Tour a little corny? Yes. Is it maybe too much scripted? Yes. But it still has the charm, adventures and LOVE that the original Top Gear had.
As I hear the trio will be wrapping things up with their last Amazon special, I just want to say THANK YOU for these three presenters for entertaining millions around the world for over two decades. Absolute masterclass.
Cheers Gents.
Second rate rip off
n-middleton-11724 November 2016
I was so bitterly disappointed with this episode, I wanted to give it a much lower score than I already have.
The episode has a few witty jokes, and some of the same chemistry that made the trio of Hammond, Clarkson, and May so successful. However, it lacked any real substance. They introduced a whole lot of new elements to the show that were clearly aimed at mimicking the old Top Gear format, but didn't really pull it off as they appeared to be getting too outlandish, just to get a giggle.
The old Top Gear began to become less and less about the cars and more about the dynamic between the hosts anyway, but this first episode just came across as a shameless copy. Rather than look to distinguish themselves from the old Top Gear, they've just tried to do the same...but different...and sadly feels more like a cheap fake Rolex, than the real deal.
The episode also has something rather significant to answer for, as their lap time for the "holy trinity" of hypercars yielded different results to another journalist test conducted at the exact same time, but who aired their results some time ago now.
The show certainly has the potential to do well with that trio, but they need to work out if it was the hosts' chemistry that made the show, or the format. If it's the format, then stop mimicking Top Gear, and let them define their own show. If it is the format that made the show successful though, then go back and watch the old Top Gear. Either way, this show will be doomed to fail if it doesn't get into its own track soon enough.
The episode has a few witty jokes, and some of the same chemistry that made the trio of Hammond, Clarkson, and May so successful. However, it lacked any real substance. They introduced a whole lot of new elements to the show that were clearly aimed at mimicking the old Top Gear format, but didn't really pull it off as they appeared to be getting too outlandish, just to get a giggle.
The old Top Gear began to become less and less about the cars and more about the dynamic between the hosts anyway, but this first episode just came across as a shameless copy. Rather than look to distinguish themselves from the old Top Gear, they've just tried to do the same...but different...and sadly feels more like a cheap fake Rolex, than the real deal.
The episode also has something rather significant to answer for, as their lap time for the "holy trinity" of hypercars yielded different results to another journalist test conducted at the exact same time, but who aired their results some time ago now.
The show certainly has the potential to do well with that trio, but they need to work out if it was the hosts' chemistry that made the show, or the format. If it's the format, then stop mimicking Top Gear, and let them define their own show. If it is the format that made the show successful though, then go back and watch the old Top Gear. Either way, this show will be doomed to fail if it doesn't get into its own track soon enough.
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