The Grand Tour thread (PLUS Post-BBC Clarkson discussion)

[Chrill]

Quite the opposite, I enjoyed it. It felt a bit more down to Earth. No stupid over the top pranks (yet). They simply did their best driving. When Hammond went over that steep "hill", Clarkson's reaction appeared genuine at first. The next situation, when he actually spotted the man, was definitely more planned.

I like it when the unexpected happens, and I'd quite like it to be unexpected for those three.

[Dave]

I enjoyed today's episode - good old fashioned Top Gear style build loads of rubbish stuff, blow things up with the assistance of the British military, a great road test of that amazing NSX.

It just feels less scripted when they do stuff in Britain.

[Ameecher]

I enjoyed this one but they need to give up on celebrity brain crash. It's painful.

[orudge]

I watched both specials and the Germany episode this afternoon - I did enjoy the specials, although I do think they worked better when watched together. I imagine the first part on its own might not have been so good perhaps.

I would think Celebrity Brain Crash might last for the rest of this series, and then hopefully be put out to pasture!

[NekoMaster]

I don't mind the Brain crash thing, I think its kinda funny sometimes how they have their "celebrities" die.

[NekoMaster]

I'm actually almost scared to watch more of the Grand Tour because of Jeramy's Meat Wagon... drunk or sobre, that thing makes me sick and I'm not even vegan.

[Ameecher]

This one had me laughing the most of the lot. Love the buy a car for x amount of money challenges; but they did turn it in to a bit of forced finish again. I think I'll just have to accept that this is the norm now.

[Chrill]

Yeah, the Maserati challenge was pretty decent up until the whole "driving around the docks" part. Hammond going in circles by the containers, Clarkson "accidentally" losing his car, May crashing into the water.

Honestly this series of the GT have been very mixed for me. Some of the New Top Gear episodes were better. I am looking forward to the new series of that, no Evans need being listened to.

[Dave]

I think over time the hype will subside and they'll realise that all this set piece "entertainment" stuff isn't what made Top Gear good.

If Hammond had done that port section as a separate piece where they announced up front that's what he'd do, it'd be fun. The fact it was sold as really part of the challenge was just rubbish.

A lot of the obviously contrived stuff really annoys me.

[Chrill]

Sorry, Grand Tour. New New Top Gear is better. It just is. The Grand Tour felt old right from the start, but New New Top Gear was great. I loved the segment on the Ferrari FXXK and I enjoyed the Kazakhstan high mileage challenge too. I'll be following the new new Top Gear for sure.

[orudge]

Yes, Top Gear certainly was a lot better yesterday than the last series. Rolling back some of the Evans changes (rally car, etc) is definitely positive, and I did enjoy the films.

I liked the Grand Tour, but I think in some ways people were expecting too much - after all, many folk complained that Top Gear (with Clarkson and co) was rubbish or not as good as it used to be, so it was only natural that not every episode of the Grand Tour would be fantastic.

[Ameecher]

I liked it. Some slightly wooden bits but as the 3 of them relax around each other I think they will improve. I've made my views on Grand Tour clear before on here and I repeat something else now. Those who like Clarkson and co get that, AND you get another car entertainment show in to the bargain.

[Pilot]

Well, having watched the first Episode of this series of Top Gear, I was rather impressed, certainly seemed to be a lot better than when Evans was around. I'm not so sure about the "Extra Gear" show however, seems a bit too much like the dodgy backstage shows that things like the XFactor and Strictly Come Dancing do.

[te_lanus]

I watched the new new top gear this morning, and it was good in an American/Australian top gear way, the camaraderie feels a bit plastic in a way. What I mean is the group dynamics feels a bit artificial, like my friend that was here this morning said, "it feels like I'm watching a new spin-off of top gear, like Top Gear Canada or something"

[Chrill]

The studio segments felt more artificial, but the roadtrip felt rather genuine. I loved when Harris and LeBlanc crashed in the quarry. The accident was clearly an actual accident, and their reactions looked real. I think they will only improve.

[te_lanus]

This weeks show was ok, but still has the feel of a spin-off, the first segment was good, the studio was boring, and the race segment really felt good, but thing Rutledge and Tanner would have been better in that segment.

[Chrill]

Well it IS a spin-off after all. They've replaced all the hosts and went in a slightly new direction. I'm happy I have both New New Top Gear and The Grand Tour to watch. They're both worth the 60 minutes per episode. I hope for a step up from series 2 of Grand Tour.