I agree the new episodes aren't super amazing.... but... It's TV. It's the first season of some very experienced people working with an entirely new production crew, writers, directors, etc. That the show is watchable at all is an accomplishment. Give them some time to figure out what to do better.
I laughed at it. Sounds like a good show. I do agree though some of it has felt forced so far. Still way better than a lot of crap on TV.
Also i agree with whomever previously said James May's own shows are awesome with the 'james may' TG character dialed back. I could watch that guy do shows about putting a lawnmower together. Oh wait, he made that show, I watched it, and i loved it.
I think they've hit their stride with episode 4. That was back to the chuckle level of pre shark jumping New Top Gear. I found everything amusing and even 'the American' wasn't as clunky as his first appearance. I've heard various complaint from around the web about the trifecta Hyper car test being pointless as it's been done already by Chris Harris (I've heard they filmed the same cars on the same day) but people are missing the point. The cars are only the tools with both New TG, New new TG and the Grand Tour. It's a buddy show with three characters doing dumb E36 M3 with pretty cars and great cinematography as the back drop. It's the only 'car' related thing my wife and daughters (15 and 22) watch, and that has nothing to do with the cars.
If episode 5 and onwards are 75% as good as episode 4 then season one will be a great success.
Just finished three. It was borderline. Four had better bring the A game or I won't bother with the rest of them.
The sustainable eco car thing was hilarious imo
Enviro-mental indeed 
Maybe I'm just a fangoil but I see the guys really coming into their stride with the new show.
Four was much improved over the first three. Still a bit of stupid, but it wasn't excessive.
Toyman01 wrote: Just finished three. It was borderline. Four had better bring the A game or I won't bother with the rest of them.
Ranking to date:
best: Ep 4. They've hit their stride, even half as good as this one, the will make it big time.
2nd: Ep 1. Great start
3rd: Ep 3. OK, but the die re-live thing went on way too long, especially if you didn't know the joke.
4th: Ep 2. I didn't even finish it as it was so clunky
Seriously, Episode 4 is as good as 'old new top gear' just prior to hopping over the shark.
The trailer for #5 looks promising. "Battleship" with cars? Oh yeah. 
GT came to Canada, finally. Watched 3 and 4 last night (saw bad Youtube feeds of 1 and 2). I enjoyed them. Yes they were stupid; they've always been stupid. But as I've explained to my wife, it's a bit like Star Trek to me. I've known these 'characters' for over 10 years now (Star Trek characters over 40 years). Hanging out with old friends for an hour is always fun. Even when it's 'stupid'
Adrian_Thompson wrote:Toyman01 wrote: Just finished three. It was borderline. Four had better bring the A game or I won't bother with the rest of them.Ranking to date: best: Ep 4. They've hit their stride, even half as good as this one, the will make it big time. 2nd: Ep 1. Great start 3rd: Ep 3. OK, but the die re-live thing went on way too long, especially if you didn't know the joke. 4th: Ep 2. I didn't even finish it as it was so clunky Seriously, Episode 4 is as good as 'old new top gear' just prior to hopping over the shark.
Wait, episode 2 was the die/repeat episode. Episode 3 was the tour with the Aston, Rolls, and Hellcat. And it was fun, and to me the best one so far (the challenge in 4 was a bit hokey for me).
In reply to Chris_V:
My memory ain't what it used to be then 
Reverse those two. In my defense I watch them the night they come out so it was like weeks ago now!
They need to axe the dead celebrity bit - we get it already, there is no star in a reasonably priced car segment anymore.
The American driver is growing on me, but it's hard to beat the Stig character.
I loved seeing James May continually trying to build his mud car and Hammond beating the crap out of the Challenger.
Just finished watching episode 4 and it genuinely made me laugh. I found episodes 1-3 painful, but like where 4 went.
collinskl1 wrote: The American driver is growing on me, but it's hard to beat the Stig character.
I think that is the thing--you cannot replace the Stig. I would assume that a literal faceless driver is not ok with the copywrites (and frankly boring to watch if you don't see the driver), and you need someone in there.
I like him and the schtick myself.
They should add a French woman racer and have them compare times for the cars. It would be fun and yes I do have a thing for French women (and Spanish women, and Canadian women, and.......)
I just saw on Instagram that Mike Skinner holds the Goodwood FoS fast time record for NASCAR type vehicles. The little clip also showed some personality, and didn't mention anything Communist.
I think he'll develop into the role.
3.
4.
2.
1.
Jeff wrote: They should add a French woman racer and have them compare times for the cars. It would be fun and yes I do have a thing for French women (and Spanish women, and Canadian women, and.......)
I'm sensing a trend here....
is it weird that in that last test the car i want least is the alfa romeo? I still would really like one, but i'd rather have the other ones. Especially that Zenos thing.
What I thought was weird about last night (in retrospect, at least) is that I was totally okay with the "Battleship" thing, but pissed when they door-dinged the MX-5.
They were hard on that poor Mazda. Still, I enjoyed both films and Conversation St. The only flat part was the initial intro.
I've been in a 4C. It is the funniest sounding car I've ever heard. It makes a very flatulent noise frequently, some sort of turbo venting but it's not a normal noise. Almost like a combo of partly open throttle and bov together. Sexy to look at, but you laugh at it instead of with it.
IIRC, it's heavier than the Miata.
Ep 5 is the best yet. Less scripted forced banter, no American Driver. Take out Celebrity Brain Waste of Time and it's my favorite so far.
Yes Yes Yes. Really liked this one. Over way to fast. My son and I laughed alot.
I am noticing that Captain slow is not so slow.
Very cool thing he did about the GT40.
Oh. And I was thinking that the great minds here can probably come up with a couple more catch phrase's for the GT merchandise.
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