Pretty much this. That segment dragged on so long they had to pause halfway through to do other segments, still was pretty funny just didn't need to rewind so much. Seems like a waste going to south africa and not really doing much there other than visiting one tire smoke derby, the special forces stuff took place in jordan lol.
The Grand Tour (from the guys in Top Gear)
- Thread starter Chukzombi
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Pretty much this. That segment dragged on so long they had to pause halfway through to do other segments, still was pretty funny just didn't need to rewind so much. Seems like a waste going to south africa and not really doing much there other than visiting one tire smoke derby, the special forces stuff took place in jordan lol.
The first 2 episodes have been way over-produced. It's like they have all this money now and are looking for ways to spend it, rather than just being themselves with their usual shenanigans. Hopefully they can find their grove and get back to what they're best at.
Chukzombi
Millie's Staff Member
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Chris
Potato del Grande
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Im enjoying it nearly as much as Top Gear but the episodes feel longer in a bad way. Just worried about it being too comfortable for them now, buying "presents" in the middle of India or Vietnam in a shitty car was funny because of the hardship - will they always have awesome supercars now because they are off BBC budgets?
Hekotat
FoH nuclear response team
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Third episode seemed much better and closer to their roots. I do feel that they are trying hard, but I think they are trying hard to be different from Top Gear. I'm sure they'll find their niche, Clarkson is far from dumb and they'll eventually get it right.
I almost wonder how much they have to stray from what they have done before to keep from getting sued.
I almost wonder how much they have to stray from what they have done before to keep from getting sued.
Enzee
Trakanon Raider
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I'm guessing they recorded almost the entire season, except for the tent parts, so they are sort of stuck with the American for this season. I think they thought it was funny, but didn't realize no once else did until it was too late.
I am still enjoying the show, but it's very uneven. Some moments are gold, such as the Italy trip, the military exercise and environmental cars, and then others are kind of trash because they feel too forced. Celebrity brain crash and the American, especially. For example, James May asking 'does this mean they won't be on?' every time the celebrity dies was funny the first time, but it is stupid now. The old show rarely felt scripted, even when ridiculous things happened that you knew obviously were.
I am still enjoying the show, but it's very uneven. Some moments are gold, such as the Italy trip, the military exercise and environmental cars, and then others are kind of trash because they feel too forced. Celebrity brain crash and the American, especially. For example, James May asking 'does this mean they won't be on?' every time the celebrity dies was funny the first time, but it is stupid now. The old show rarely felt scripted, even when ridiculous things happened that you knew obviously were.
Grimmlokk
Ahn'Qiraj Raider
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They've made the challenges feel too much like the American Top Gear. Suuuuper obvious produced shenanigans and wackiness. It's always been fake but it used to be subtler and kind of believable, within their universe.
Still funny, but they really need to find their balance.
The Grand Tour is Broken, and Needs a BBC Executive to Fix It
Still funny, but they really need to find their balance.
The Grand Tour is Broken, and Needs a BBC Executive to Fix It
Gravel
Mr. Poopybutthole
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Not sure I agree with that article. It's more than likely growing pains. Top Gear was honed over more than 20 seasons.
We're comparing a show in its first season to one that had years to perfect itself. Now, obviously they're not starting from scratch since this essentially is, "Top Gear part 2."
I'd say if the next season still had retarded shit like the American and felt as heavily scripted, maybe it would be an issue of needing more creative direction. But as is, they already filmed all of this. They're not just going to cut last week's challenge (with the eco-vehicles) because that's a massive amount of money they already spent on it and filmed. Likewise, the rest of this season will be filled with terrible segments, because they already shot them all.
Top Gear had a formula that was crafted over a very long period of time. All of those ideas weren't winners, and they culled them. The Grand Tour is suffering a bit from both being a new endeavor, but also trying to capture some of that Top Gear magic while not being Top Gear. It's a tough thing to balance and unfortunately they will have to wait until the next season before they can tinker with it.
I do wonder if they could find something better to do than the celebrity killings and "Conversation Street" on the fly, since those seem to be filmed closer to air time.
That all aside, I think my disappointment from this show has more to do with the fact that I was hoping with a new massive budget and longer shooting time that we're end up with something more akin to the epic specials they had, and less the old Top Gear formula. Instead of dicking around on an 11 mile trek across Britain in some Land Rovers, that we'd maybe get a trip across the Alps, or a challenge in the deserts of Australia. Instead we got an awkward Special Operations parody starring old men and May digging a hole and making bricks.
We're comparing a show in its first season to one that had years to perfect itself. Now, obviously they're not starting from scratch since this essentially is, "Top Gear part 2."
I'd say if the next season still had retarded shit like the American and felt as heavily scripted, maybe it would be an issue of needing more creative direction. But as is, they already filmed all of this. They're not just going to cut last week's challenge (with the eco-vehicles) because that's a massive amount of money they already spent on it and filmed. Likewise, the rest of this season will be filled with terrible segments, because they already shot them all.
Top Gear had a formula that was crafted over a very long period of time. All of those ideas weren't winners, and they culled them. The Grand Tour is suffering a bit from both being a new endeavor, but also trying to capture some of that Top Gear magic while not being Top Gear. It's a tough thing to balance and unfortunately they will have to wait until the next season before they can tinker with it.
I do wonder if they could find something better to do than the celebrity killings and "Conversation Street" on the fly, since those seem to be filmed closer to air time.
That all aside, I think my disappointment from this show has more to do with the fact that I was hoping with a new massive budget and longer shooting time that we're end up with something more akin to the epic specials they had, and less the old Top Gear formula. Instead of dicking around on an 11 mile trek across Britain in some Land Rovers, that we'd maybe get a trip across the Alps, or a challenge in the deserts of Australia. Instead we got an awkward Special Operations parody starring old men and May digging a hole and making bricks.
Grimmlokk
Ahn'Qiraj Raider
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Apparently the only brought that Roper dude back in to write with them partway through shooting, hopefully that means it feels more natural going forward.
The American is barely on screen and says a few lines an episode, fewer recently. Don't care. And I'm actually enjoying the celebrity death-a-thon. Something I seem to be alone in.
I just want the in the field stuff to feel like the old show. It's so ham-fisted right now. Shit's always been set up an scripted, it's not like Richard actually built a camper that folded out in to 15 rooms and the guys didn't convert a van in to a hovercraft. They just sold it better.
I'd like a classic style cheap car challenge. Old Porsche and old super-cars were some of the best things ever. Those things lend themselves to the guys just competing and having a go at each other.
It is all a bit nitpicky, they'll dial it in as they go forward. And it will never really be classic Top Gear. Still good shit.
The American is barely on screen and says a few lines an episode, fewer recently. Don't care. And I'm actually enjoying the celebrity death-a-thon. Something I seem to be alone in.
I just want the in the field stuff to feel like the old show. It's so ham-fisted right now. Shit's always been set up an scripted, it's not like Richard actually built a camper that folded out in to 15 rooms and the guys didn't convert a van in to a hovercraft. They just sold it better.
I'd like a classic style cheap car challenge. Old Porsche and old super-cars were some of the best things ever. Those things lend themselves to the guys just competing and having a go at each other.
It is all a bit nitpicky, they'll dial it in as they go forward. And it will never really be classic Top Gear. Still good shit.
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