Grand Tour Episode 2 Mixed Utter Ridiculousness With Flashes Of Brilliance
Most of you will be aware that I wasn’t a huge fan of The Grand Tour’s debut episode. I seemed to be very much in the minority with my more negative review of the hypercar infused installment, and I reckon the only way I could have pissed off the petrolhead community any more is if I’d have set an R32 Skyline GT-R on fire. And put the flames out with my own urine.
So, one week on, I was very keen to get stuck into the second episode of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s Top Gear follow-up, to see how it measured up. And as much as I don’t want a virtual mob brandishing virtual pitchforks at my door again, I have to report that I wasn’t 100 per cent sold on this effort either.
There was certainly a lot to like. The Aston Martin Vulcan film was utterly stunning, and the decision to take it around the tight, twisty and bumpy ‘Ebola Drome’ rather than a full size track was a brave one.
Yes, I very much enjoyed watching Chris Harris take a Vulcan around Yas Marina circuit on Top Gear earlier this year, but the Grand Tour Vulcan film gave me a much better idea of just how much effort it takes to drive the damn thing. Clarkson’s always been good at relating what a car’s like to drive, and this was Jezza at his very best.
It was also great to see James heading out and sampling some local car culture. It was like a throwback to the sort of segment that might have been on Top Gear many, many years ago, and I sincerely hope they continue this feature in each of the show’s stops. Although I’m not sure they’ll have found quite so much in the way of tyres smoking antics in Whitby…
So, those were the good bits, but what about the not so good? The big military exercise feature that the episode hinged around is the most important point to touch on. It had its amusing points and some epic sequences (I’m thinking the Audi S8 car chase), and I must admit there was a perverse pleasure to be had in seeing the boys form the world’s worst special forces team. But it frequently descended into farce, and had the feel of a bad action film spoof.
Elsewhere, the already tired celebrity death joke made an unwelcome appearance, and “The American” continued to be deeply unfunny. Which is a shame, as that balls to the wall Vulcan lap looked amazing.
Am I being overly harsh? Perhaps, but we all know the brilliance this trio and the people behind the scenes were capable of on TG, so I’ve no doubt the very best GT has to offer is yet to come.
What did you think of episode 2?
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Get rid of the American it’s embarrassing
Last week was better, I think it needs more cars!
They really should sack the American.
It was fantastic!! Can you imagine how glorious it would have been if they remade the Albania challenge or the Jensen interceptor piece with that budget and those effects!!!
I just want to see what the car looks like actually DOING the lap.
I thought Operation Stumble was absolutely hilarious…even if it was scripted. The jokes were practically coming at a machine gun pace. Add in Charlize Theron getting mauled by a lion, the epic Vulcan review, and the other bits and this was an epic show. Watching Jeremy get blown up by a hand grenade after having his trousers down was hilarious. Watching James May and Hammond shoot each other…lol…had me rolling.
I think they could make special forces episode more automotive. Firstly I laughed really hard, but at the end it was hard to keep watching same thing.
They should drop an american in next season and invite Button or Webber to do hot laps.
I would like to point out that I don’t think anyone has gotten the comedic point of the American. They went from a racing driver who never said a word to one whl doesn’t shut up. And the whole celebrity thing not actually happening. Both are just slaps in the face to the BBC.
Why did James say the other cars don’t even come close to Aston’s 1 to 1 power to weight ratio when there are lot of cars that come close or beyond? I mean just from top of my head Koenigsegg One:1 (yes it’s even in the name of the car), Ariel Atom V8, Hennesey Venom GT and I’m sure there are others
I enjoyed epiode one immensely, episode two - Amercian is annoying, solider part was okay but far too long, the drifing section with May was not funny or eventful enough and I do not really like the look of the Vulcan, its a bit Vulgar. Finally, Clackson was great with the review as always.