The Grand Tour is tired

by Volker Weber

What will happen is we’ll end up watching the natural, slow death Top Gear would have had, only much more expensively: it’ll get worse, people will switch off, and it will end. Perhaps the BBC will have the last laugh after all.

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Comments

i think he's right on overscripted.
But in that passage i think he's wrong. They are surely struggeling with their new freedom, but there's enough time to adjust, especially because, there are allways elements that are pure fun.
i didn't like the military part, but i loved Hammond acting like a silly boy, even as it was scripted and it wass too much here and there.

Kai Schmalenbach, 2016-12-10

And in the comments the fanboys go "oh, give it time, stop criticising after only four episodes". Funny that, it was perfectly fine doing that with the new Top Gear after roughly the same number of episodes...

Armin Grewe, 2016-12-10

I keep watching it on fast forward, it does seem to drag.

I prefer both the original and the new BBC version - especially when combined with the more technical "Extra Gear" show. I tend to watch the main "entertainment" show with the family and the technical one another time. Splitting it out works well for me.

sean cull, 2016-12-10

@Armin who needed 4 Episodes to decide Chris Evans was totally wrong? :-)
But at least this problem is solved by now and Matt LeBlanc could be a perfect choice, so maybe next year there are two wonderful shows for petrolheads :)

Kai Schmalenbach, 2016-12-10

Really? You want LeBlanc only? He never really did fit in at all... talk of overdoing it (on purpose, but partly not on the live parts)... they all do.
There are pieces I do not like so much, but it is good fun, better than with the 'let us try hard' version of 'Top Gear after'. It came across a bit like the Top Gear export versions to the US or Australia which were really boring and overdone and felt like you had to try to squeeze the fun through a too small pipe and copy what only worked with 'The Three'...

I would rather have Chris Harris have a go at things, more then either of the last two by far. LeBlanc running the show? Sorry, does not compute for me.

But heh, Kai, there are already two shows, The Grand Tour and Fifth Gear... (scnr)

Alexander Koch, 2016-12-11

There's a session from the Edinburgh International Television Festival where Andy Wilman talks about the "transition" and some of the legal challenges. If you are a fan of the show(s) you might find that interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yLzAU48ruA

Max Nierbauer, 2016-12-11

My list of things to change - quickly.

Scripting
Giving the track elements stupid names, the old track names had meaning, giving comedy names belittles what was a great track
Celebrity brain crash - or what ever it's called, the joke was never that funny
Stupid "look at us famous stars" entrance into the tent, it's just uncomfortable to watch

Something I would like to see more of. Conversation Street, especially the subtle comedy intro image

I have a love hate relationship with TopGear. Personally, I think Clarkson is an arse. Can't stand the man. But as a trio they have a chemistry that is totally watchable..... but looks like becoming past tense.

Ian Bradbury, 2016-12-12

Having just watched #4 and #5 I have to say they are improving a lot compared to the first episodes. So there is hope.

Thomas Kahmann , 2016-12-17

Thomas, thanks!

Alexander Koch, 2016-12-17

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