Unpopular opinion: I don't like the Grand Tour
Before I get started, I have watched every episode of The Grand Tour and every episode of Top Gear (post 2002), so this opinion is based on 14 years of happy viewing. Another thing I need to get out of the way quickly is I enjoyed the most recent episode of Top Gear. Sure, episode 1 wasn’t great and Evans was too loud, but the core elements were there, and I am very confident the next series will be a great watch.
Like most of you, when I found out the release date of The Grand Tour, I began counting down the days until they boys were back! When the day came, I sat down at my computer and launched the video through Amazon Prime and sat back with a cup of tea. The intro sequence was spectacular, it really was! Then… well…. nothing happened! They faffed around in the tent for a very long time establishing nothing. It all felt like time wasting to me, which is a very worrying thing for a format that felt like it had run out of ideas years ago. The main film was decent, can’t really complain much about it but Chris Harris released the same review a year before and did a much better job in my opinion.
It just felt like they were trying to be entertaining instead of making it about the cars, constantly finding ways of making James the outcast. It just felt forced.
They then introduced “The Ebola Ring”, which is a good concept, as the track features on Top Gear were where the show was at its strongest. A film about the car, no mucking about. But again, they were just trying to stick jokes in places that just weren’t necessary. The track didn’t need the long introduction it got, and the American just made it all worse.
Because they couldn’t use the Stig and get him to listen to silly music as he did the lap, they decided instead of just showing the lap, they’d put someone in the car to say “controversial” things to try and make it funny. It seems this feature is very unpopular, so I can see it being dropped for the next series.
Celebrity Brain Crash was funny the first time it happened, but they just felt the need to repeat it several times (and it KEEPS appearing in every episode).
Overall, the first episode just left me feeling cold. I couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t worth the wait, as it was a bunch of forced jokes and a tired format. Then again, the second episode would be better, right?
Good grief no.
They managed to lower the bar they set from the first episode (which wasn’t high, trust me). In my opinion, it was by far the worst episode they’ve ever done. It was a case of making a 10 minute film into the feature of the episode. Repeating the same parts several times, it just got very tedious and boring. You felt that you were being told where to laugh as they would make the same joke again just to make sure you didn’t miss it. When they told James to go and get the car for the 10th time and he got sniped, I seriously considered giving up on the episode.
This episode proved more than anything that the chemistry of the presenters doesn’t mean anything when they are being scripted into saying silly things to each other.
The 4th episode had the same problem. They took a film that easily could have been fitted into 15 minutes and stretched it into the whole episode. The episode felt long, tired and very, very boring. Once again, they repeated the jokes in case you didn’t get it the first time. James’s car fell apart, hahahah! Laugh at the joke. No? What if we try it again. Funny that time? Surely?! This is also the case with Celebrity Brain Crash. They keep using the same joke over and over in case you missed it the first time. That said, the Porsche vs BMW segment at the start was very good. Managed to be about the cars and entertaining at the same time. More of the same and I wouldn’t be as critical.
I think episode 3 annoyed me the most. It had the potential to be a great episode, but it was completely ruined by the “Hammond being American” joke that, once again, they repeated over and over. It just makes you feel that they can’t put in a film without it being wacky, funny and in your face.
The show has not captured the essence of the original show that made it the hit it was. It felt slick, whitty and fresh. The Grand Tour is none of these things. It is slow, disjointed and not funny.
In fact, I’d go as far as saying it has been dumbed down.
Comments
I feel the same way. What annoyed me the most about EP3 was the sudden change of character from the trio. Clarkson was always the one all about POWEEEER and being loud, and suddenly he’s all refined and annoyed by probably the most badass muscle car out there. I would love to have a Hellcat following me on my road trips, I tell ya that much.
That wasn’t the problem, as Jeremy can pull off the serious act as well. It just wasn’t a good episode.
I agree with you they are not the same as they used to be but give them a chance its just the first season and its a whole new system for them you dont have to be so negative about them give the show some time and they will be back
Very true. By no means am I giving up on the show, I will watch all the episodes and I do hope it gets better.
to each his own I guess…
Glad you got the point of the article. I am also glad you enjoy the show, as I really don’t want it to fail. As you said, this is just my opinion…
I agree with some of the points u make here, but yet i still love the Grand Tour I apprechiate ur oppinion, and i see where ur comming from, even though i partly disagre. But one thing’s for sure, it’s not the old Top Gear.
I agree with everything you said. I think they tried to make it about the three of them and their jokes with a side of cars rather than a car show with three really funny guys.
I personally like the American. I just wish he would be allowed to give his opinions on the car instead of amazon scripting him. Also I think amazon is trying to make it a comedy with car guys in it more than a show about cars. Hopefully season 2 is actually a car show
You could believe what happened in Top Gear, but in the Grand Tour, they get shot dozens of times. That’s why I liked Top Gear more
But top gear at least the clarkson one is long dead never to return. Although the BBC may try and bring copy’s out but it just won’t be the trio so won’t work as well. The grand tour isn’t topgear although it may sometimes see as if it’s trying but old habits die hard the grand tour is a new show let it grow and become itself it’s a spotty teen let it find its place in the tv world
Sometimes seems as if it’s trying
Spot on
Well at least you get what the show is, they even said in an interview that the show IS wacky, funny and in your face.
True, but I just don’t feel that they can pull it off. I think it feels very forced and very scripted.
The only part I agree with you on is the constant repetition of the same joke.
But everything else I think you are completely incorrect.
You have forgotten that this is the first season and that they need to find out what works and what doesn’t.
But what I have a huge amount of hate for is new topgear you said they did things better are you serious it was absolutely pathetic all oh yes your correct oh yes I agree with you.
I can’t believe that if your like you said someone who has watch every season that you thought that new TG was good.
Any chance you work for the BBC or are you just in love with the friends guy. :) just look at the viewer figures and how Chris couldn’t even stick it out for more than one season that’s how pathetic it was
Honestly, I expected someone to ask if I worked at the BBC quicker than this… No, I don’t. And you’d better believe it, I DO enjoy BBC Top Gear.
I think the ultimate irony here is the fact you are telling my to give The Grand Tour a chance after it seems you have completely written off Top Gear…