Just watched the first episode of the new-format Top Gear and... 

"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich) 05/30/2016 at 12:54 • Filed to: None

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... I found it to be mediocre overall.

The initial intro was good.

The Dodge Viper vs Corvette challenge was meh.

Sabine wasn’t nearly as exciting to watch as she was with the Nurenburgring challenge in the past.

The initial Reliant Rialto segment had a key element missing... there was no real challenge. It was just “here are two of the same cars... drive... and we give the crappier one to the American”.

Boring.

Instead of having two of the same cars, they should each picked their own cars... with the requirement that they have 3 wheels. So maybe had Evans with the Reliant and Leblanc with something like a Harley Davidson trike. And that could have led to some comedy... especially with Matt LeBlanc since he’s the American who doesn’t know anything about British cars. That, in turn, could have made the following Jeep/Land Rover segment more interesting.

And with Matt’s car broken down, they just flat-bedded it? No attempt at repairs by the Top Gear mechanics? And they just have him riding in the car on the flat bed? Boring.

Chris Evans is not bad... but Matt LeBlanc? Either he has to pick up his game/delivery or he has to go. The two don’t seem to have much chemistry.

And the stars in the car... not that great for the interview portion. Clarkson did it better. Though the idea of best first car and best car ever sounds good in theory, it just didn’t seem to translate well.

However I think the rallycross track idea is really good and has a lot of potential.

The Leblanc’s review of the Nomad was better. But when he said that it weighs “as much as your mother’s G-string”, the analogy was less-than-optimal.

Who wants to think of their mother wearing a G-string???

Now if he said something like “your girlfriend’s G-string” or “Lady Gaga’s G-String”, that would have been much better.

But aside from that, not bad.

Jeep vs Land Rover... a bit better, but didn’t knock my socks off.

Overall, the episode makes me think back to the time when I started my current job... where I not only had to take care of issues that came up, but also learn as I went along, was getting to know people (and trying to remember their names) and getting acclimated to my new environment.

Maybe it will get better after a few episodes and everyone has been given a chance to get more comfortable and ‘gel’...

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 13:00

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I like matt le blanc he was a pretty good choice, chris evans not so much and i dont dislike evans as much as others do. He just seems to lack charisma but maybe they all just need to settle into it like you say. Chris harris + le blanc would be a more compelling lead pair IMO.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 13:04

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Watching it tonight on BBC. I am curious because I’ve seen Leblanc on a lot of interviews and he seems to have no personality at all. I don’t like evans that much so it’ll be interesting to see.

Hopefully they learn quickly like TGUSA did and find their own little niche.

Wheelerguy > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 13:04

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I gave that episode a solid C+ in my review.

oppositelock.kinja.com/topgear-mark-iii-episode-one-the-definitive-oppositelo-1779466534

Also I might have come up with Sabine’s perfect Twiter handle: @ProjectKaiser.

djmt1 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/30/2016 at 13:09

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Rory is the dark horse (Oi you know what I mean) in this. He did a great job presenting Extra Gear and had much better chemistry with Sabine during her interview. Also they better use Harris properly because you can really tell that he has a car reviewing background when comparing his and Matt’s stints in the Nomad.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > djmt1 05/30/2016 at 13:11

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I havent watched extra gear yet so have no opinion on rory yet. Might put it on now actually. Harris i like just based on his YouTube shows.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 13:13

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“But when he said that it weighs “as much as your mother’s G-string”, the analogy was less-than-optimal”

Those are some harsh words!

djmt1 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/30/2016 at 13:14

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I wonder how well people will take to his reviews. They’re great for car people but I can easily see them going over many people’s heads. Same for Rory actually because Top Gear haven’t done actual car reviews for a long time.

Wheelerguy > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 13:15

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Need showing times for all US time zones so I can reschedule my review.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > djmt1 05/30/2016 at 13:16

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Yeah very true. Although i feel theres room for quality reviews along with more entertainment based stuff with le blanc and evans. Old new top gear did some fairly car guy oriented reviews from time to time.

Malanga > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 13:16

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Where's the best place to watch it?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Malanga 05/30/2016 at 13:17

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On my computer! LOL

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Wheelerguy 05/30/2016 at 13:22

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I found it via a torrent site. Once downloaded, I could watch it any time I want.

Wheelerguy > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 13:29

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Still, it would be nice to get the post live at the right moment, preferably alongside the FP one, sorta like Kotaku/TAY reviews.

Fact is, I’m waiting for the FP article to show up so I can ape io9's commenters with their recaps.

Swivel-eyed Loon > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 15:11

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Chris Evans’ voice is incredibly annoying. I doubt I’m going to make it through all six episodes. I’ll give it one more week.

How does one get ungrayed?

BobintheMtns > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 15:33

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So manwich used “mediocre” in his first sentrance, and not a single Mad Max meme?? I find everyone’s commenting...

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > BobintheMtns 05/30/2016 at 15:54

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Actually I forgot about that meme...

BobintheMtns > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 16:03

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Forgot about that meme? I find your recall...

Wurrwulf > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2016 at 17:34

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No no no no no! You cannot say that it was mediocre. You have to say that it was absolute filth, the scourge of the earth, it will never be better than dogshit, and that Chris Evans punched your grandmother in the face. This is the internet, you cannot be reasonable.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Wurrwulf 05/31/2016 at 01:01

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Chris Evans dug up my late grandmother’s grave just so he could punch her in the face!!!!!