Discuss The Grand Tour

I finished the first part of season 1 and thought it was really finding a groove. I really enjoyed it. Sure, it's similar to Top Gear but how can it not? They're both Jeremy's show. The big budget is pretty evident which admitedly, is nice grinning

5 replies (on page 1 of 1)

Jump to last post

Really loving it! I mean, how can you not enjoy the trio? I'm glad Amazon picked these guys up and continued something phenomenal. That opening sequence of the first episode was the best opener (and most expensive) out of every single other opener before. Very much looking forward to the next season! Hope there are more episodes in it though

I find it very entertaining. Hopefully they rotate running jokes like "The American" and "Celebrity Brain Crash" into new running jokes each season. A running joke is funny, but only for so long. And give James May more reports like he did on the Ferrari vs. Ford! A little history occasionally interspersed with the nonsense is quite nice. IMHO.

got better towards end of the season, more organic so to speak.

It's a huge step up over their time at the BBC. Clearly the budget is much higher now but I think it's also a matter of more freedom for the producers as they no longer have to care for the rigid "car show" format that much. I'd rate the overall result as very good although their performance is uneven: some sections are excellent while others not so much.

The best:

  • Clarkson's "Brexit" opening sequence in E1 is a punch in the face and instant knock-out for the BBC and some other self-important types. Epic.

  • Got rid of what has always been the most boring part of Top Gear, the "Star in a reasonably-priced car" segment.

  • "Celebrities" don't get to talk on the show anymore, instead they die in spectacular ways while trying to reach the studio, which is mildly entertaining, and doesn't take too much time (although I wouldn't mind if they did away with the "celebrities" altogether, who cares about them anyway).

  • "The American" with his grumpy and/or snarky commentary does an excellent job replacing the Stig, which I thought would be difficult.

  • Hilariously excellent segments: hostage rescue (E2), environmentally-friendly car bodies (E4), "proper" SUV and electric charging (E9).

  • Other good segments: battleships and Morocco (E5), Namibia (E7-8) [but mostly for the stunning views], the Maseratis (E11)

The worst:

  • Some attempts at jokes I think they could do without. I don't really need to hear about Clarkson's "gentleman's sausage" in every episode and every now and then things such as making fun of the Finnish names ("Kinky Wankinnen") come off as trying too hard. (On the other hand, replacing May's gear stick with a dildo and calling it "dick shift" was a good one.)

  • Every "British" car out there is still the greatest, and "British" brands and their products are over-represented: I was hoping this would end now that the BBC is not involved.

  • Product placement without much subtlety: let's just hope they at least got paid a lot for it.

  • Particularly bad segments: "Grand Touring" in Italy (E3) [mostly boring freeway driving in boring cars, except the Charger], apocalypse preparedness (E9), Austria/Germany trip in "British" SUVs (E12) [even more boring cars plus all the predictable jokes about the same couple of placenames that have been told for years already].

In short, they're at their best when in cheap second-hand cars they're free to modify or just crash. The worst is whenever there are current "British" cars involved, as suddenly it seems there's nothing too bad that can be said about them. Overall, the first season is solid but I hope the choice of cars becomes less insular over time, it's sort of dragging them down.

[Please read using Jeremy Clarkson's voice] This show could very well be the greatest "guys" show ... in the world.

Can't find a movie or TV show? Login to create it.

Global

s focus the search bar
p open profile menu
esc close an open window
? open keyboard shortcut window

On media pages

b go back (or to parent when applicable)
e go to edit page

On TV season pages

(right arrow) go to next season
(left arrow) go to previous season

On TV episode pages

(right arrow) go to next episode
(left arrow) go to previous episode

On all image pages

a open add image window

On all edit pages

t open translation selector
ctrl+ s submit form

On discussion pages

n create new discussion
w toggle watching status
p toggle public/private
c toggle close/open
a open activity
r reply to discussion
l go to last reply
ctrl+ enter submit your message
(right arrow) next page
(left arrow) previous page

Settings

Want to rate or add this item to a list?

Login