[NiXTriX2004]

The show is so weird now. It seems like they are trying too hard and coming off a little artificial and at the same time it also seems like they aren't trying hard enough in terms of challenges. Chris Evans is not pleasing to watch at all. Matt LeBlanc should be given more of a role.

[mayankk]

Evans has been going on about the show hitting 4.7mn viewerships.
That is true, but I think its more of a curiosity viewership.

However, Clarkson has been quiet. Why?
This may be because the show's former star allegedly stands to gain financially if the reboot is a success. At an event in London earlier this month, the 56-year-old presenter said that some elements of the press had suggested "I am trying to scupper [Evans]. But I discovered the other day that every time it gets recommissioned I get paid, so that’s a curious bit of BBC contract but I wish them all the very best."
http://www.theweek.co.uk/top-gear/65...e-of-criticism

[Fullrevs]

The show is definitely quite weird. A lot of the dialogues were a direct copy from the old hosts. Especially the way Evans introduces a car. The legendary introduction to Stig.

I was quite apprehensive about Matt Le Blanc but he seems to be the only good part of it all. I do not know if he was that skilled as a driver but he seems to be quite talented.

The quality of post production is still very good in my opinion. Lets see how the season unfolds.

[sukiwa]

Watched first episode on AXN. It felt hosts were desperately trying to make it funny and it appeared very much scripted, nothing natural.

[Hatari]

Im sure BBC knows the new Top Gear can never be as good as the earlier one.
Just like you cant imagine anyone else continuing Friends, but the 6 who starred in it.

[KiloAlpha]

I watched it yesterday, on AXN. Sad, very sad. They have kept the format, which is kinda OK, but the hosts not only did not share the chemistry of the previous trio, they also tried very hard to show that they did.

Fell flat on its face.

My wife, though totally disinterested in cars, would be glued to the Clarkson-May-Hammond hosted episodes. It was that good. Yesterday, she read a book through the episode.

If I remember correctly, in the first season of Clarkson-May-Hammond hosted Top Gear, there wasn't the kind of tom foolery that we saw in subsequent seasons. They were all superb presenters, which held our interest, but the amazing humour came after the chemistry.

Time for a new format.

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by KiloAlpha

I -----SNIP----

Time for a new format.

Season 2.
May was introduced as a blithering idiot.
And he comes back with this in the news:
“I hate to interrupt but this is quite honestly the biggest load of limp wristed twaddle I’ve ever heard in all my 5 weeks in television. These two are not men – Richard Hammond every morning sticks his head in a bucket of hair product. He’s got a dog but it’s a poodle – and I don’t know what you’re laughing about Clarkson, because you won’t drink brown beer. And this is the man who says “Flatulence, oh it’s not funny” when clearly it is. I am actually the only proper bloke on this programme, I live in a tumbled down house full of old motorbikes, and I think a bloke can drive a convertible, BUT, it has to be the right one.”

I think they were on their way to what they became. You just don't see it in the new show.

[kopakabana]

Watched the second episode and to be honest, it was much better than the first one. Still cant digest Chris Evans. Don't know why he is shouting all the time.
However, i liked the SUV challenge in South Africa, especially the race on Sani Pass. Awesome scenery, brought back a few memories.

[extreme_torque]

If the first episode highligted that there is no chemistry and only scripted dialogues, the second one confirned there can be no chemistry! I was imagining may, hammond and clarkson in those three crossovers, enjoying the scenary along with dollops of friendly banter. Cannot wait for the amazon series to start.

P.S. Anybody else also felt that the Merc GLC was destroyed just for the heck of it all. Poor Merc.

[mustang_shelby]

I was not expecting BBC to retain the same old format of the show. Perhaps they are trying to prove that the success of the show was due to the format and not the presenters. But in any case, both the episodes so far have been a let down. Chris Evans does not come across as an expert on cars the way the CMH trio did, and sometimes his reactions suggest that he is driving these type of cars for the first time(which may not be reality, just his overdone enthusiasm).
There is no bashing of cars that the presenters do not like, which was a key theme of the old show and quite a bit of fun.
Frankly, I was getting a bit bored with old Top Gear in the last 2 seasons, but I would take that anytime over the new show.
Matt Le Blanc, though, has been a pleasant surprise, and maybe this show will do good to his career.

[Sherlocked]

Matt LeBlanc along with the BBC Technical team members are the only saving grace to the latest Top Gear. Chris Evans is just jumping all over the place and as correctly said above, simply shouting.

It's very difficult for BBC or anyone for the matter to bring back the chemistry of the trio. The way the three pulled each other's leg was fun as well as joyous to watch and never felt that it was getting too long in the tooth.
In the first episode in the UK/USA challenge when LeBlanc overtook Chris in his Reliant Rialto, Chris gave him a thumps up and said, 'Buddy..'. Man, that felt so weird! When was the last time Jezza or May or Hammond gave thumps up to the other presenter who's overtooking them in a challange?

But I must say, Matt LeBlanc was a delight to watch! I'd say his film of the Nomad would even beat Hammond, if he was to review the very same car.
So I'd watch Top Gear just for Matt LeBlanc and for the efforts of the guys behind the cameras, that's for sure.

[MARCUS_520i]

I think I'm the black sheep here, who really liked it with the new guys!

Matt LeBlanc does it for me. Chris Evans, not so much. But, that's just him.

Also, I fail to understand the herd mentality/joining the bandwagon vibe here(as well as on every other car forum), that of hating on the new series! It's absolutely silly, if you ask me.

Jeremy Clarkson, is not the end of the world. Neither is he a car God of some sort.
He's just a racist, middle-aged, pompous British television presenter, who, thanks to all his political stunts, received what he deserved. One must never mess with the political issues of a country; especially not a foreign one! His Jupiter sized ego probably never understood that.

Also, everyone hating on the new series, y'all do know that the JC, JM, RH Top Gear too, was a reboot of the original series that went on from 1977 till 2001!
Never came across anyone losing their minds as much as the fanboys right now are.

IMO, the new cast definitely deserves a chance.
Else, this is totally like the classic Indian arranged marriage situation, where you've already made up your mind to decline the prospective groom/bride, even before you've met them; that's exactly how most of the haters have been going on about the new series.

Just my 2 cents

[Sherlocked]

Originally Posted by MARCUS_520i

Also, I fail to understand the herd mentality/joining the bandwagon vibe here(as well as on every other car forum), that of hating on the new series!

Herd mentality is when people make judgements about something which is influenced in any other way and isn't rational.

All those who are reviewing the new cast is because they have themselves watched the show and are saying simply what they feel.

If people say that Honda Mobilio feels cheap from inside is because it actually feels cheap and so what if the review says it too. Would you say that people are just following the herd mentality here too?

Jeremy Clarkson, is not the end of the world. Neither is he a car God of some sort.
He's just a racist, middle-aged, pompous British television presenter, who, thanks to all his political stunts, received what he deserved. One must never mess with the political issues of a country; especially not a foreign one! His Jupiter sized ego probably never understood that.

Well no offence to you but these words make me feel that you yourself are a bit unpleased, offended and provoked by the guy.

Also, everyone hating on the new series, y'all do know that the JC, JM, RH Top Gear too, was a reboot of the original series that went on from 1977 till 2001!
Never came across anyone losing their minds as much as the fanboys right now are.

Nobody is loosing their mind here buddy nor does anyone has a problem with the format. When ever a new generation of a car is launched, we all immediately start comparing it with the previous generation model. Don't we? It's the same here as well

And I'm sure this new Top Gear will give us all the more reason to watch the trio's new show on Amazon.

Cheers!!

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by MARCUS_520i

Also, I fail to understand the herd mentality/joining the bandwagon vibe here(as well as on every other car forum), that of hating on the new series! It's absolutely silly, if you ask me.

Jeremy Clarkson, is not the end of the world. Neither is he a car God of some sort.
He's just a racist, middle-aged, pompous British television presenter, who, thanks to all his political stunts, received what he deserved. One must never mess with the political issues of a country; especially not a foreign one! His Jupiter sized ego probably never understood that.

I agree. The new series is absolutely silly.
Only responding because you assumed "herd mentality" instead of realizing there are moderately brained people who have called the show crap AFTER watching it.
FYI, none of his "political" shenanigans got him canned. They may have led up to it, yeah. Cheerio.

[KMT]

Originally Posted by MARCUS_520i

I think I'm the black sheep here, who really liked it with the new guys!

Matt LeBlanc does it for me. Chris Evans, not so much. But, that's just him.

Also, I fail to understand the herd mentality/joining the bandwagon vibe here(as well as on every other car forum), that of hating on the new series! It's absolutely silly, if you ask me.

Jeremy Clarkson, is not the end of the world. Neither is he a car God of some sort.
He's just a racist, middle-aged, pompous British television presenter, who, thanks to all his political stunts, received what he deserved. One must never mess with the political issues of a country; especially not a foreign one! His Jupiter sized ego probably never understood that.

Also, everyone hating on the new series, y'all do know that the JC, JM, RH Top Gear too, was a reboot of the original series that went on from 1977 till 2001!
Never came across anyone losing their minds as much as the fanboys right now are.

IMO, the new cast definitely deserves a chance.
Else, this is totally like the classic Indian arranged marriage situation, where you've already made up your mind to decline the prospective groom/bride, even before you've met them; that's exactly how most of the haters have been going on about the new series.

Just my 2 cents

Thank you for being the voice of reason.
I was wondering if I was the only person who thoroughly enjoyed the new series, especially Matt LeBlanc.

Couldn't stand that racist bully Clarkson by the end of it.