watched the new The Grand Tour last night

I made it through about half of episode 2 before turning it off out of boredom. I found TG irritating and contrived for the most part and I'm ready to say the same about GT after watching 1.5 episodes. I doubt I'll watch any more episodes.

Driven5 wrote: Maybe they should have just made GT a series the travel specials and challenges that are what really brought TG more into the mainstream for even non-car-enthusiasts.

The problem there may be what they can and can't do to avoid BBC copyrights.

Ok, guys, episode 2 was a homage to that Tom Cruise movie "Edge of Tomorrow" where he's a soldier that dies repeatedly and has to start over. It was a one time thing and fun to watch for those of us that liked that movie. And you can move past it to Episode 3 which I watched last night. Which was excellent and all about cars. And now I'm in love with the DB-11 (which I didn't care for in static pictures).

While GRM is mostly about cheap affordable cars, I'm also a bit tired of the "I m cheaper than you are" attitude of the people that intentionally drive beaters and cheap cars anymore. I have fun driving them, too. I just don't think it should be a competition (well, except for the GRM Challenge, that is... ). And I want to watch and learn about currently unobtainable cars because they may become attainable in the future (gotta have goals, right?). I mean I currently drive a car that I thought was unobtainable when new...

I didn't finish episode 2, but last nights (ep 3.) was the bet yet other than the first 10 mins intro of ep. 1.

I think they are finding their stride. I even liked the celeb death with Simon Peg better than the prior ones. I like the way they played naughty school boys in that they now work for an American company and have made nice with America for the first couple of episodes. Last night that they poked fun at us (said with my American hat on) with the whole Hellcat thing while making fun of themselves at the same time. It definitly seems to be jelling again.

Chris_V wrote: Ok, guys, episode 2 was a homage to that Tom Cruise movie "Edge of Tomorrow" where he's a soldier that dies repeatedly and has to start over.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Episode 3. Finally, almost back to normal. And that bonus footage, that was nice.

Driven5 wrote:

Chris_V wrote: Ok, guys, episode 2 was a homage to that Tom Cruise movie "Edge of Tomorrow" where he's a soldier that dies repeatedly and has to start over.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Well, I liked it, but I understood what they were doing, too.

Chris_V wrote:

Driven5 wrote:

Chris_V wrote: Ok, guys, episode 2 was a homage to that Tom Cruise movie "Edge of Tomorrow" where he's a soldier that dies repeatedly and has to start over.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Well, I liked it, but I understood what they were doing, too.

Inside jokes are cool. Basing an entire 30 min segment on an inside joke... Hmm...

Chris_V wrote:

Driven5 wrote:

Chris_V wrote: Ok, guys, episode 2 was a homage to that Tom Cruise movie "Edge of Tomorrow" where he's a soldier that dies repeatedly and has to start over.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Well, I liked it, but I understood what they were doing, too.

I had just recently seen the Tom Cruise movie and liked it so I found the gt farce of it very funny.

they're Grand tour nation feed on Facebook is 50% interesting stuff. 50% buy our crap or join or drive tribe....

Seems to me like they're trying to milk this for all its worth.

Chris_V wrote:

Driven5 wrote:

Chris_V wrote: Ok, guys, episode 2 was a homage to that Tom Cruise movie "Edge of Tomorrow" where he's a soldier that dies repeatedly and has to start over.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Well, I liked it, but I understood what they were doing, too.

I understand what it was, but that doesn't really help explain whatever the hell it was they thought they were 'doing' with it.

Watched episode 3 yesterday. So much better! Just the boys having fun being boys.

T.J. wrote: I made it through about half of episode 2 before turning it off out of boredom. I found TG irritating and contrived for the most part and I'm ready to say the same about GT after watching 1.5 episodes. I doubt I'll watch any more episodes.

What were you expecting?

One thing about Top Gear that's transferred to the new show: the inevitable complaints about how the show isn't as good as it used to be. I think that started with episode 2 of Top Gear.

I watched 2, thought it was better than one. And that Vulcan sounds AMAZING.

Episode 3 was pretty good. Had a proper TG feel to it.

Keith Tanner wrote: One thing about Top Gear that's transferred to the new show: the inevitable complaints about how the show isn't as good as it used to be. I think that started with episode 2 of Top Gear.

Absolutely. I haven't not laughed during one of these yet. THat is a win to me.

TG was entertaining for about 3 seasons after discovering it. Then it started getting old - but still some good stuff in it. For me TG/GT fills the niche for great production, cool cars and comedy - although if TG was getting old - GT is starting out a bit dated. Like others have said, it's a buddy show with cars in it. I like wheeler dealers for the Edd parts. For me what's missing is that I'd like to see real build projects with some of the how-to bits like the lamborghini jalpa being built here, the fiat bianchini build, a challenge build, budget race car build... The existing reality stuff is just crap. The build shows on velocity are mostly 30 minute ads for the sponsors which makes them worse than the reality shows. I've also noticed that even the build shows are cutting the amount of actual build content. Realistically, what I want is probably more suited to a high quality youtube channel than cable though.

The Grand Tour has its place much like EVO, Car and Driver, and even GRM.

That said I've grown out of the phase where I worship at the alter of the supercar. Cool that they exist? Yes but I'd rather see what everyone in this community is up to (the Jalapa, RiceRod and R63 being my favorites) than read about yet another lighter faster Porsche 911 or a new Ferrari 4xx that I can barely tell the difference between because builds here are relatable. Those aren't.

Plus I don't have to listen to a bunch of dweebs tell me "If Ferrari wanted a twin turbo V12 setup with a wide body kit, air ride, and painted a ludicrous orange color with rally stripe. They'd have spec'd it that way from the factory." Yea well I want one and if I had one I'd do it.

Driven5 wrote:

Chris_V wrote: Ok, guys, episode 2 was a homage to that Tom Cruise movie "Edge of Tomorrow" where he's a soldier that dies repeatedly and has to start over.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Or doesn't mean you can't do it in half the time.

Chris_V wrote:

Driven5 wrote:

Chris_V wrote: Ok, guys, episode 2 was a homage to that Tom Cruise movie "Edge of Tomorrow" where he's a soldier that dies repeatedly and has to start over.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Well, I liked it, but I understood what they were doing, too.

Understood just fine. Didn't mean they couldn't have executed it better/faster. You make it sound like everyone who thought it dragged on or wasn't worthwhile in the first place didn't understand it. That's bullE36 M3.

Was happy not to see this guy this week:

So much hate. Y'all act like it's real or something. I just enjoy it for what it is. A comedy show that has shiny cars in it.

EDIT: Then again, I liked American TG too.

In reply to nderwater:

That's just because you don't understand what they are doing.

...Nope can't even type it with a straight face. That guy needs to meet the same Celebrity Brain Crash ending as Celebrity Brain Crash does.

Episode 3 was enough of an improvement to watch episode 4. Once they get rid of the two aforementioned bits, they'll have made it back to almost as good as when they left TG...Which is to say, still trying too hard to keep the chemistry they once had alive with forced jokes/gags that are nowhere near as naturally funny and entertaining as these guys were 5 or 10 seasons ago.

In reply to Driven5:

And either way I'll still watch them.