My analysis on some issues raised from Sunday's new TopGear #Blogpost

“There’s no chemistry between them, it’s so awkward”

True, but the key word you’ve not inserted here is yet. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and as they gain experience filming alongside each other, they’ll get to know each other, there’ll be inside jokes and the programme will flow a lot better. It’s unnatural now, but have a little patience people.

In fact, if you can brush off the nostalgia and idolisation of the previous trio, go back and watch the first episode of season 1 and some following episodes, including season 2, and notice the lack of chemistry and in some cases cringey-ness of the episodes. If you’re going to compare new TopGear with anything, it should’t be later episodes of old TopGear, rather the earlier, pilot ones- the equivalent to this one.

Saying that, I’m worried we could end up in a situation like Manchester United (for those who are aware of their circumstances), whose long time manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired in the glory of his 13th Premier League title at MUFC, and yet with an all-star team, and ‘the chosen one’ successor to Ferguson, David Moyes, the team couldn’t get it together, and came nowhere near the title the next year, Moyes became a villain and was sacked.

“It’s sooo scripted”

Of course it’s scripted. Previous TopGear was scripted. Hell, even most ‘reality’ TV shows run off some form of script. As you can see from the video below, much of the improvised funny bits never make the cut, and as you can see Richard is carrying a script with him. That’s fine.

The difference is that they have the chemistry and confidence to make the segments flow and make the words and actions on the script be natural to them, as if it truly is improvised. In this case, a good script editor-presenter relationship is key (Richard Porter and the previous trio), and again, this should develop in time.

For new TopGear, as a result of their more serious, less ‘blithering idiot’ personalities, some parts of the show (paticularly the challenge which I largely disliked, bar a few funny quips) aren’t suited to them, and so are clunky so to speak and the humour that they are aiming for, isn’t being created. Which brings me nicely onto the next section…

“They’re trying to copy old TopGear”

I suppose, but in many ways, how can they not? TopGear is a brand, that thanks to its illustrious history, has as many brands do, traditions, shenanigans or or ways of presenting themselves in order for them to be recognized as that brand. If they have a strong, specific, positive brand image, they aren’t going to ant to stray far from it. (no idea what I’m on about I know nothing about economics). Since the new programme is branded as ‘TopGear’, as was the previous one… screw it, what I’m trying to say is that it is still technically TopGear, as far ass the BBC and it hopes its customers are concerned.

However, I am very much in agreement that there needs to be a much more dramatic change. Such TopGear shenanigans so so typical of TopGear, that they could be copyrighted (and probably are), so it makes sense that the BBC doesn’t want to let them go. There really need a complete change of humour style. Digging deep I found some quips and parts that were quite funny and almost character-centric, particularly with Sabine, and Chris Harris (although that was live, and much less serious than the main TG), but for the most part the cast trying to use specific TG jokes was often not well implemented, unnatural, clunky and cringe-worthy at best. The humour needs to needs to be created around the casts’ individual personalities, like previous TG.

“Why can’t we have Clarkson/Bring back Clarkson/Clarkson4eva/This sucks without Clarkson/Clarkson is so much better than Evans. Clarkson Clarkson Clarkson.”

Take your blinkers off for Christ’s sake. You’ll get your fix of Clarkson this winter (for an extortionate amount of money per month on something called Amazon Prime yayyyyyy). Clarkson’s gone from TopGear for sure, now log off of the Daily Mail Online and try and open your mind to the talent (with, perhaps, exceptions) on new TopGear.

“Chris Evans should die/go suck one/[insert expletive here]/be sacked or is awful/unbearable/offensive to my ears/cringey/lame/“

The poor guy. I’m not going to deny that he was bad, because lets face it he was, but I feel like there’s an undeserved amount of hate going around, from people who haven’t watched with an open mind and just followed the crowd on their opinions, on something he put so much effort into. And clearly it’s getting to Evans-

Top Gear audience grew throughout the hour. FACT. Won its slot. FACT. Still number one on i Player. FACT. These are THE FACTS folks.

That’s a recent tweet from Evans.

Extra Gear

I really like the idea of Extra Gear, and thought that the show went well, and there could definitely be chemistry developing between Rory Reid and Chris Harris. However, this spin-off was, I believe, not designed in the way it should be. It felt too much like a second TopGear- there was a guest and all! Rory’s behind the scenes stuff was good, but we didn’t get enough news and Chris Harris review.

My advice? Ditch the guest, have more news and Chris Harris segement. Extra Gear should be much more factual and down to earth. The only people watching are the real car guys like you and me who want the cars and the geeky goodness, not celebs, and that should be their target audience. Us.

I understand that not everyone is going to agree, so feel free to spam away below