My Grand Tour episode 1 Review (or: This is how It's Done)

"Batman the Horse" (batmanthehorse)
11/17/2016 at 23:46 • Filed to: the Grand Tour, Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May

Let me be concise: This is how you do it. Y’all (BBC) got dunked on. Posterized. Shutout. Other... sports metaphors! Not that you didn’t see it coming. Oh, no I’m sure you saw it coming but, much like a LaFerrari joke, it was coming and there was nothing you could do about it.

Everything you wanted was there again: the three very distinct personas and the interplay that comes with it. The interplay is especially fun and funny. When these three genuine friends get together with Andy Wilman, they make some very, very funny television. The other memorable Top Gear features are there as well: the genius cinematography and editing which I feel might be the most unsung hero of the relaunched Clarkson, Hammond and May Brand™.

It was smart to start with what was essentially Top Gear’s unfinished masterpiece as the central focus of the Grand Tour’s first episode but it was also a safe choice. I expect things will be getting more ridiculous very soon.

What the full ‘Ama-ZIN’ experience looks like. The trivia crawl is actually pretty fun and includes every artist and song that is in the episode.

DISCUSSION (6)

scoob > Batman the Horse
11/17/2016 at 23:56

That song thing is awesome, reminds me of going through this forum so often.

Andrew Fails > Batman the Horse
11/18/2016 at 01:59

I’ll be honest, I was underwhelmed. I thought all of the tent stuff was very weak and most of the jokes were tired. Cinematography was great as ever though.

Wheelerguy > Batman the Horse
11/18/2016 at 02:38

On one hand, the 3-episode binge will be the most wonderful thing I’ll ever receive for my 19th birthday.

On the other hand... my brother can’t justify going for a Prime membership.

Sam > Andrew Fails
11/18/2016 at 03:56

Yep. The shots were amazing.

CobraJoe > Andrew Fails
11/18/2016 at 09:36

New series, new set, new locations, new track.... They’re all going to be a bit timid for a while.

I think the biggest change was the length of the show. There was no hard limit of 56ish minutes, so they had time to blend into every segment and do some of the silly jokes.

I’m sure it’ll be better once they get into the groove with the new show.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Andrew Fails
11/18/2016 at 09:39

I figured for the first episode they’d have to rehash some jokes and ease viewers back into it. Kinda like the new Star Wars. Give us a bunch of nostalgia, with just a little bit of new deviation to gently steer us down the new path. I have high hopes.

I was a bit disappointed with the new test “track” though. Felt more jokey than an actual measuring rod by which to compare performance cars.