Television Top Gear
- Thread starter Ramshock
- Start date
Which is not an answer to the question
Sorry Id lost interest...but anyway since when do they have to drive normal cars on TG/GT? The Burma special was trucks/lorries and there have been many instances of non car segments. Anyway the beach buggies as you know are VW Beetles with a shell on its still a car. I enjoyed it, its getting formulaic but its still enjoyable. India special was fine too but the best ones for me were the Polar and the Peru specials.
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The specials were highlights no doubt. I thought India was one of the weakest, though, next to the Romanian. Peru was great, as were Africa and my personal favourite, the Vietnam one. Even the Argenitinan had some magic moments with a true road movie feel about it. Polar was cool, too
The specials were highlights no doubt. I thought India was one of the weakest, though, next to the Romanian. Peru was great, as were Africa and my personal favourite, the Vietnam one. Even the Argenitinan had some magic moments with a true road movie feel about it. Polar was cool, too
Africa too..how could I forget Oliver
I only ever used to watch Top Gear on Dave but enjoyed it so on Clarksons last BBC series I set up the series link on the box. Then he got sacked and it got cancelled.
Sorry everyone.
I didn't watch a second of the last series but looking at the trailer I might have a look. Not that I particularly dislike Evans or anything I just didn't bother with it.
Sorry everyone.
I didn't watch a second of the last series but looking at the trailer I might have a look. Not that I particularly dislike Evans or anything I just didn't bother with it.
New season just started on BBC 2.
This is a huge improvement already.
forgot this was on , worth d/ling to watch later ?
Chemistry is a bit forced but I like it!
Back to the old low energy scripted stuff. Hope the whole season isn't a tribute act. Still good Sunday night tv though
I'm actually enjoying it more than the grand tour
That show was a huge disappointment and at times just downright shit. I didn't even finish watching the series.
Now the annoying Evans has gone This has potential.
That show was a huge disappointment and at times just downright shit. I didn't even finish watching the series.
Now the annoying Evans has gone This has potential.
People on Twitter are actually complaining that this format is too scripted. 
Hmm was expecting it to be better than what it was. Found it more annoying than enjoyable. Matt let Blanc was only one who was holding my interest.
This is the worse thing to have burnt it's way into my corneas in a long time.
I enjoyed that. Le Blanc doesn't feel entirely natural, but the other guys are good.
Better than any of the Grand Tour episodes I watched.
Better than any of the Grand Tour episodes I watched.
I thought it was very good - not perfect of course, but really who the feck is looking for perfection on a show like this? An enjoyable hour is all I ask, and it delivered for me.
Watching Extra Gear now - the new presenter seems very nervous, but I'm sure he'll settle as the series goes on.
Watching Extra Gear now - the new presenter seems very nervous, but I'm sure he'll settle as the series goes on.
Just watched it and totally agree. I really like Harris and Reid, still not a big fan of Le Blanc but he works much better with these two then he ever did with Evans.
Great to see that the normal Top Gear track is back and I really like the choice of car, also a relief to see that they've done away with the cringeworthy car crash of a feature with celebrity chat.. that was just so horrible.
Gave up watching the Grand Tour after about three episodes so pleased this looks like being a success once more.
Wow, did they not advertise it or something, I didn't know anything about it.
I don't think either are bad in their own right, I just think that the whole genre died about 4 years ago and everyone's only finally realising now.
Matt LeBlanc is still very good but nothing feels fresh or new about anything any of them are doing.
Matt LeBlanc is still very good but nothing feels fresh or new about anything any of them are doing.
Other than the scripted studio 'banter', I thought that was a really enjoyable hour of TV. New studio, new celeb car, return of the old track, three solid presenters who all have a genuine passion for cars - so far, so much better than the Chris Evans version.
That was incredibly boring.
I enjoyed it. Far better than last season or The Grand Tour
They definitely advertised it, that one with LeBlanc and the other two talking to the lawyers was on a lot. Crap comedy thing like "will you be speeding" "no" *footage of them driving fast*
I liked it too. It was better than some of the opinions in this thread would indicate. The challenge felt like old Top Gear, without all the bells and whistles TGT are trying to force into their show just because they can. Less is definitely more when it comes to stuff like this. Just three old bangers in the middle of nowhere instead of blowing millions of pounds on nonsense. The celebrity segment was also miles better than the shitshow they had last season, and it's good to see the return of the old track.
My only problem is the presenters. I find Chris Harris a bit wooden and uncharismatic most of the time. He only really comes out of his shell when he's behind the wheel of a fast car that he loves. It was the same last season too. I can't quite put the finger on what irks me with Rory Reid, but he's a bit annoying. At least Chris Evans is gone, though. LeBlanc was my favourite part of the previous season and he looks to stay that way. He's laid-back, cool and crudely American and it just works for me.
My only problem is the presenters. I find Chris Harris a bit wooden and uncharismatic most of the time. He only really comes out of his shell when he's behind the wheel of a fast car that he loves. It was the same last season too. I can't quite put the finger on what irks me with Rory Reid, but he's a bit annoying. At least Chris Evans is gone, though. LeBlanc was my favourite part of the previous season and he looks to stay that way. He's laid-back, cool and crudely American and it just works for me.
I'm about half way through and its comfortably the best Top Gear episode post split, possibly better than anything in the Grand Tour too.
The studio sections are a bit rough, and none of them can interview at all.
A bit of silly scripted nonsense, but on the whole quite good.
The studio sections are a bit rough, and none of them can interview at all.
A bit of silly scripted nonsense, but on the whole quite good.
Despite there clearly being a more favourable reaction from those who actually watched the show, seems that some reviewers are already keen to label it as "Flop Gear" just because it still doesn't have the original trio, which I just find pathetic.
Apparently only attracted just over two million compared to the four million or so for the start of the previous series, though I suspect some simply missed it and others will watch it on demand.
Apparently only attracted just over two million compared to the four million or so for the start of the previous series, though I suspect some simply missed it and others will watch it on demand.
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Anyone who finds this better than The Grand Tour needs to take the tinted glasses off.
The only guy who has anything going for him is the guy from Xtra Gear not the racing guy but the black one.
Matt is terrible and this racing guy is even worse.
Not that The Grand Tour was anything special but this is just terrible.
The only guy who has anything going for him is the guy from Xtra Gear not the racing guy but the black one.
Matt is terrible and this racing guy is even worse.
Not that The Grand Tour was anything special but this is just terrible.
Take your tinted glasses off.
I tried to..
Nothing to see there. I liked some of The Grand Tour but much of it was not good.
But the chemistry here is terrible, not saying it won´t get better but at least now we can´t blame Evans for this.
Harris is a charisma vacuum, he just comes over as being extremely dull and insipid.
Le Blanc is a bit wooden and just needs to relax.
Reid is just not a likeable character.
The big problem is that between the three of them there is 0% chemistry, at all, it's all forced and a bit cringey.
I missed it
It was a good episode I thought, the studio segments need work but that was always going to be the case. Between the Clarksonistas and those who want the BBC to fail at everything I feel like they're in a bit of a no-win situation though. And while I like Chris Harris I think he might rub some people up the wrong way.
Problem with Chris Harris is he needs to tone down the obnoxiousness and over-eagerness.. he's also repellent to females. Normally if I am watching Top Gear, mum and sisters don't mind having a watch in the background but whenever he came on screen and piped up.. they kept rolling their eyes and saying he's an idiot.
Top Gear is family viewing at its best, so he needs to work on how he comes across in the studio.
Top Gear is family viewing at its best, so he needs to work on how he comes across in the studio.
Is Chris Harris doing the condescending twat act on purpose for comedic value or is that just him? Either way, it's not funny.
I couldn't get into the new episode at all. Watched the first 20-30 minutes and then turned it off. Felt so contrived, didn't find the jokes funny, and I wish they'd stop trying to replicate the old formula. Was hoping they'd try a different approach but it wasn't to be.
They've definitely made him play up on the "car geek" character. That studio segment about spotting the little differences of the car's being made in different years etc was 100% set up. They're almost trying to make him the quirky James May, and make Rory the "cool" Hammond.
I just wish they let them act a bit more naturally. When Harris is doing the driving segments he is much more laid back and you can feel his excitement coming through.
I'm never watching this show again. So boring and lame.
Right, I suppose I should give this a go.
Nothing pisses me off more than seeing a perfectly decent car smashed up for no comedic value whatsoever.
These cars have travelled 500K miles with barely a scratch and an hour in Top Gear's hands and they trash them to pieces.
What a crying shame.
These cars have travelled 500K miles with barely a scratch and an hour in Top Gear's hands and they trash them to pieces.
What a crying shame.
I actually think he's a very good car reviewer, knows his stuff but it definitely comes across that he's been cast in a bit of May-esque role, which makes him rather annoying and look like a bit of a knob.