by "shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
Published 02/14/2017 at 11:25
by "shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
Published 02/14/2017 at 11:25
Tags: The Grand Tour
STARS: 7
I like it. It’s not perfect by any means, and I was hoping for some bigger changes, but it’s a good and entertaining show.
I do have some nits to pick:
- I don’t like the new track. It’s too slow and not that interesting to watch.
- “The American” shtick was kinda sorta funny the first few times, but now I just roll my eyes.
- The celebrity brain crash bit on the first episode would’ve been a great way to kill that part of the show and move on ... but no, they kept doing it. Gee, I wonder if May will say, “Does that mean they’re not coming on?” this time!?!
That said, TGT really should just stand for Top Gear in a Tent. I’m OK with that. I can certainly understand not liking The Grand Tour, if you were sick of Top Gear the way it was and were hoping this fresh start would mean big new changes. However, if you liked Top Gear up until the bitter end, but somehow think The Grand Tour is massively different and awful, then you’re just an old man yelling at a cloud.
Also, minus a million internets to anybody who complains about the show being scripted. Top Gear was scripted from day one, and they’ve never claimed it to be otherwise.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/14/2017 at 11:58, STARS: 0
I’d like to watch this show. I definitely liked old TG, and we got Amazon Prime a couple months ago. For some reason, I haven’t found the time to check it out yet.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
02/14/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 1
Pretty much my feelings exactly.
I understand that the Stig belongs to Top Gear, but I much prefer the silent test driver to the inane American schtick. He’s easily the thing I dislike most about TGT.
Celebrity Brain Crash I don’t mind as much, but I wouldn’t miss it if it were gone.
And as amusing as the Eboladrome was when they introduced it, the track isn’t nearly as exciting to watch as TG’s.
Other than that though, it’s basically the exact same thing they were doing at the BBC, which I enjoyed. I’m really rather baffled by all the people who complain that it’s just the same old thing they’ve always done. I thought that was the whole point.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
02/14/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 0
I think they kept the Celebrity Brain Crash thing around through the whole series for consistency, but I think it’s really their way of saying “this is played out and kinda dumb now, no more celebrity segments”. I don’t think it’ll be back. At least I hope not.
On scripting, that’s true... but theres a difference between making a well-planned joke or doing something stupid but plausable and having James jump a Maserati onto a decrepit boat. Same issue they had in TG season 19 with Richard stopping Jeremy’s escape by shooting him with a tank. The scripting should be such that you shouldn’t know where it starts and ends, eg the issues they had in Alabama. It looked like something they would do deliberately but it wasn’t. And the Reliant Robin. They did say afterwards that it was modified, and obviously it was scripted due to the people that were rolling him back over, but it seemed believable at the time that the three-wheeler could be rolled almost at will.
Imo “The American” still came off with some funny stuff at the end, but most of it was crap. I’d rather see him either shut up or give serious feedback about the car.
The new track isn’t as interesting to watch, but it’s better than the old one for ranking cars in real world conditions. Tight turns, bumps, no true straight etc. I know it has bits that do seem to belong to a track too, but it’s kind of interesting to notice when a car that should have been faster gets derailed by the bumps.
"CTSenVy" (CTSenVy)
02/14/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 1
Sums up my thoughts too.
It’s a shame they are having Mike Skinner play that stupid role. In interviews and radio shows he comes across as being funny and has a lot of really good stories, but they never get to use that with what they use him for.
"DrScientist" (DrScientist)
02/14/2017 at 13:04, STARS: 1
right there with you on brain crash, the american, and the track.
i do however feel like there were more actual car reviews, rather than... i don’t know... small truck (not pickup) or farm machinery reviews. they seemed to have a lot of challenges at the end there with 3 vehicles that no one would ever even consider operating, let alone WANT to operate.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/14/2017 at 13:10, STARS: 0
That could be. Although personally their actual vehicle reviews were often the least interesting part to me. Unless they were doing stupid stuff like outrunning baddies in a Corvette with a Fiesta :)
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/14/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 1
I hope you’re right about Celebrity Brain Crash. I have thought about that as well as a possibilty.
Yes, the scripting isn’t always great, but they’re no all winners. I’ve been watching a lot of older Top Gears lately. Let me tell you, some of them are ROUGH. I think a lot of people have some rose colored glasses on about the old episodes.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/14/2017 at 13:23, STARS: 1
Yeah, I feel the same way about Mike Skinner. I didn’t expound on that and a few other things, because I wanted to stay concise.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/14/2017 at 13:28, STARS: 1
If you liked it Top Gear, I think you’ll like Te Grand Tour. It’ll be there when you’re ready. While I enjoyed them all, I felt each episode got better and better through the first 2/3 of the series got better and better. So if you find yourself disappointed by the first couple, I’d suggest you keep going.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/14/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 0
Thanks. I think it’s one of those things to do over Spring Break when the wife and daughter are out of town.
"nerd_racing" (nerd189)
02/14/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 0
I had a 30 day trial and I watched GT and Avatar the legend of Kora. Other than that it wasn’t worth it to me.
My thoughts, I liked the old top gear but it was very long in the tooth. GT was an extension of that and I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped. I need to watch the newer post clarkson top gears now to compare.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
02/14/2017 at 13:34, STARS: 0
Oh, there are, but there’s badly done and there’s blatantly done.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/14/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 1
Yeah, but again that’s not really new like a lot of people seem to think. Also, I still enjoy it.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/14/2017 at 13:39, STARS: 0
My wife wanted Prime for the purchasing perks. I haven’t actually tried to watch any Amazon video yet. But I’m sure I’ll give TGT a shot at some point. I just don’t have a lot of time for TV these days.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
02/14/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 0
I enjoy it when they do something stupid and scripted but don’t pretend that it was serious. Eg the Ambulances.
I don’t like the stuff where they’re like “no, really, this happened and now I’m dead”. Eg the jump onto the boat.
But you’re right, it was there all along... but it DID get far more prevalent in the newer stuff... right up tho the last season. They did a bit of a 180 there. It was far more watchable than seasons just ahead of it.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
02/20/2017 at 09:12, STARS: 0
You know, I have completely lost interest in the entire Top Gear Thing. Old, new, BBC new, whatever. I invest my time — and $6/mo — in Roadkill, Roadkill Garage and Engine Masters. I find David Freiburger mildly annoying, but generally likeable. My favorite is Steve Dulcich. And there are a couple of older guys that show up now and again that I like. My dream, maybe for Summer of 2018, is to have Rusty, the ‘71 Vandura, roadworthy and tag along for Hot Rod Drag Week.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/20/2017 at 09:51, STARS: 0
Roadkill is my absolute favorite show, hands down. I still like watching the orangutan, the old man, and the hamster bungle about though. Haven’t bothered with the new Top Gear though.
I can’t wait to see you get that van road worthy again.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
02/20/2017 at 09:57, STARS: 0
I’ve got wheels and tires for it now, but it’s being the (epic) rainy season in northern California right now, and Rusty’s just got a tarp on it right now. Once I have wheels and tires, I’ll have no excuses. (Plus, with two kids in college, we’re BROKE.)
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/20/2017 at 10:06, STARS: 0
Yeah, I’m not looking forward to the two kids in college thing.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
02/20/2017 at 10:13, STARS: 0
But if they’re still wearing Death Star t-shirts, you probably have a few years to go.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/20/2017 at 10:15, STARS: 0
Yes, the oldest is still in her first year of preschool.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
02/20/2017 at 10:20, STARS: 0
Does your wife work?
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/20/2017 at 10:26, STARS: 0
Yes. We’re considering having her stay home though. We can do it, but we will be properly broke. Her employer is on very shaky ground right now, they lost by far their biggest client last year. We’re kinda hoping she gets laid off, because then she’ll get a severance package.