[brotkasten]

Compared to the posts in the last thread, the reactions here are hilarious.

[Slizz]

Compared to the posts in the last thread, the reactions here are hilarious.

I still enjoyed it. I'm just saying compared to other challenges, this was a rather weak effort. Still can't wait for the actual show to start.

[guise]

It was good in parts, but mostly just disappointing.

Most of the 'challenges' could have done on a regular episode, not enough scenery and too much scripted and repetitive humour.

The most disappointing thing for me was the production values seemed really sloppy. Editing/continuity in the cutting of shots was really poor. Camera men & production crew in shot when they weren't meant to be. Sloppy cutting together of different camera angles (at the very beginning with Cameron, when the lawnmower got loose behind clarkson). An unmemorable soundtrack. There were nothing really jaw-dropping when it came to the cinematography, which is what i've come to expect from Top Gear specials and the BBC.

Hopefully the series gets better

[DrForester]

It was good in parts, but mostly just disappointing. Most of the 'challenges' could have done on a regular episode, not enough scenery and too much scripted and repetitive humour. The most disappointing thing for me was the production values seemed really sloppy. Editing/continuity in the cutting of shots was really poor. Camera men & production crew in shot when they weren't meant to be. Sloppy cutting together of different camera angles (at the very beginning with Cameron, when the lawnmower got loose behind clarkson). An unmemorable soundtrack. There were nothing really jaw-dropping when it came to the cinematography, which is what i've come to expect from Top Gear specials and the BBC. Hopefully the series gets better

I can forgive that. I'm shocked they got him to do a line for them.

[kharma45]

I thought the Cameron part was kinda cool in a way.

[Foliorum Viridum]

The Cameron part was deliberately badly edited as a wink to the audience that they knew it was silly, I thought. It made me laugh.

I just wish they left it at that. It was a nice little intro and that's all the scripting it needed.

[SunhiLegend]

Just finished watching on iplayer. Pretty average special, had its moments but there wasn't enough to make it anything other than average. Still enjoyed it though

[CHEEZMO™]

Saving this for future use.

[Riddick]

Well, that was terrible. The worst Top Gear special by far, completely devoid of content.

[joshcryer]

God, you guys are going to hate me, flame me, whatever, but I can't wait for Top Gear US. :P

[Dilly]

Found Jeremy's reaction during his first crash quite funny though.

Okaaaaaay.

[Yeah_its_Bob]

Yeah was not what I expected... :/ Hope it picks up

[jump_button]

enjoyed it alot but i feel the ending was a bit off its like they didn't know what to do

they need to have somewhere to aim for for the ending

[brotkasten]

God, you guys are going to hate me, flame me, whatever, but I can't wait for Top Gear US. :P

You're not the only one. I enjoyed the last US season more than the last UK season.

[rogue_pigeon]

The Cameron part was deliberately badly edited as a wink to the audience that they knew it was silly, I thought. It made me laugh.

Or more likely, they were doing the best they could given that the Top Gear crew only had a very short window to film, which wasn't when Cameron was available.

[Riddick]

enjoyed it alot but i feel the ending was a bit off its like they didn't know what to do they need to have somewhere to aim for for the ending

The trip was poorly planned altogether. Other than the scripted shit they didn't have a proper plan or target. And the scripted shit are becoming more annoying with each passing series.

[Exterminieren]

Yeah, undoubtedly the worst special they've done. A shame, too, because the last series they did was the best for years.

I think the thing that shone through is that the three of them weren't really all that enthused about their trip. It really struck me in the ending voiceover from Clarkson, basically neglecting to talk about India at all. The country didn't inspire them as Vietnam or the North Pole did, or bring them closer through adversity as Bolivia or the Deep South did. India was just a place they went, basically, rather than a journey they took.

This is easily one of Top Gear's most obvious tropes, and can be its greatest strength and its biggest weakness; when the presenters are genuinely enthused about a subject, the programme soars, and it's one of the funniest and warmest shows on TV. When they aren't, the results can be painful, with clunky scripting having to take the strain.

[krzy123]

As someone who's been on a "cross country" type drive in india, i need to check this out. We had a driver though, still it was scary as fuck :o

[Foliorum Viridum]

Or more likely, they were doing the best they could given that the Top Gear crew only had a very short window to film, which wasn't when Cameron was available.

Perhaps, I still feel like they could have easily edited it together better though if they wanted to. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt with that one... since I'm so incredibly harsh on the other 99% of the special :P

[Xater]

I didn't hate it but it didn't capture me either. I guess that's why I fell asleep. Same thing happend to me with the Doctor Who Xmas special....

[Cereal KiIIer]

What a fucking letdown...

[vanty]

Arguably the worst Top Gear ever, easily the worst TG special ever, yet the most popular rating on finalgear is 8/10... That's worse than any video game defence force.

[Foliorum Viridum]

FinalGear has always been awful.

[AlphaSnake]

Yeah, it wasn't a particular good special. Once again, too scripted. Example:

"Oh look at me, I'm just totally going to blissfully ignore all of the noise in the background while my car gets destroyed, I'm going to pretend like it's not happening and then notice and act surprised!"

Please, stop this fucking shtick already. Top Gear has fucking killed this and beaten it to the ground - it isn't funny. It was never funny. The show should be renamed to Monty Python's Top Gear Adventures, because they've damn near stole every clever and "funny" bit from the series and used it in TG. Stop. You are not Monty Python. You're a "reality" car show.

Bring on Top Gear USA.

[jett]

First time I noticed that they are getting really old.

Was okay, I was still entertained and got a few laughs outta me.

[BackwardsSuggestions]

Well I enjoyed it!

Humph

[jey_16]

I actually enjoyed it, maybe because I have been to those places and the scripted stuff doesn't bother me at all, it's still funny.

[TCRS]

The first hour was too long, too scripted and just plain boring. After the garden party it was quite good actually. Credits were funny, but now I'm hungry..

[rezuth]

So I took a break for some seasons, come back and this is what they are doing now? Jesus, I thought it was bad when they did the Bolivia Special. I'm almost so disturbed I want to do a video review of this shit.

Is there anything good I missed the last seasons?

[Acheron]

So I took a break for some seasons, come back and this is what they are doing now? Jesus, I thought it was bad when they did the Bolivia Special. I'm almost so disturbed I want to do a video review of this shit. Is there anything good I missed the last seasons?

I thought Bolivia was pretty good, except for the mud bit early on.

[AlphaSnake]

FinalGear has always been awful.

Arguably the worst Top Gear ever, easily the worst TG special ever, yet the most popular rating on finalgear is 8/10... That's worse than any video game defence force.

Do you mean Fifth Gear? If so, you're both idiots.

Fifth Gear has quality and insightful reviews that an actual car enthusiast would enjoy. Top Gear is just filled with pretty scenery and a dull script.

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

Do you mean Fifth Gear? If so, you're both idiots. Fifth Gear has quality and insightful reviews that an actual car enthusiast would enjoy. Top Gear is just filled with pretty scenery and a dull script.

FinalGear is a forum.

[Acheron]

Do you mean Fifth Gear? If so, you're both idiots. Fifth Gear has quality and insightful reviews that an actual car enthusiast would enjoy. Top Gear is just filled with pretty scenery and a dull script.

You don't get the number of eyeballs TG gets by catering to car enthusiasts, TG originally died doing that.

Secondly, I think Final Gear is a Top Gear fan site and it's over-rating the India Special like a group of TG fanboys would.

I was sorely disappointed with the special. Unlike Bolivia, Vietnam, Botswana and arguably the US and especially the Polar specials there was a lot of wacky hijinks and not a ton of actual driving. Even some of the special-like regular episodes like Romania killed this.

It seemed ridiculous when Jeremy went on about how the cars had wowed them (as usual) because all the audience saw them in them was for a few minutes between Hyderabad and Delhi and then the Himalayan bit. Sure the actual presenters may have been in them a lot but the audience didn't, there was no Oliver connection. It was basically like the Top Ground Gear Force special except not for charity and not cute.

[AlphaSnake]

FinalGear is a forum.

I know it is. But it sounded like they were comparing it to Fifth Gear almost. I use Final Gear all the time...and I've actually never heard anyone call it awful. If the intention was to say that Final Gear posters are overrating every Top Gear episode, then I agree.

[Dartastic]

I'm of the opinion that the India special was awful, outside of the banner bit. It was pretty scripted, obviously, but it was at least still sorta clever.

[Pristine_Condition]

Yeah, it wasn't a particular good special. Once again, too scripted. Example: "Oh look at me, I'm just totally going to blissfully ignore all of the noise in the background while my car gets destroyed, I'm going to pretend like it's not happening and then notice and act surprised!" Please, stop this fucking shtick already. Top Gear has fucking killed this and beaten it to the ground - it isn't funny. It was never funny. The show should be renamed to Monty Python's Top Gear Adventures, because they've damn near stole every clever and "funny" bit from the series and used it in TG. Stop. You are not Monty Python. You're a "reality" car show.

I agree with almost all this. Except for the part where you said it was never funny. Sometimes it was. It just isn't that much anymore. It comes off pretty stale now. It just isn't as well-executed as in the past.

Still, the show is often beautiful. The photography is still top-notch, and that'll keep me tuning in and hoping for the best in terms of the comedy bits.

Bring on Top Gear USA.

Best news of the week was @RutledgeWood announcing that the next eight-episode run of Top Gear USA will start airing on Feb 14th at 9PM.

Love that show now. They improved so much between Season 1 and Season 2. I'm really looking forward to the next batch of episodes. On the whole, I enjoyed Season 2 of TGUSA more than the vast majority of the last two seasons of the UK TG.

[Foliorum Viridum]

I know it is. But it sounded like they were comparing it to Fifth Gear almost. I use Final Gear all the time...and I've actually never heard anyone call it awful. If the intention was to say that Final Gear posters are overrating every Top Gear episode, then I agree.

How on Earth did it sound like either of us were comparing it to Fifth Gear when neither of us even mentioned it?

:\

So in future please learn to read before branding me an idiot. Cheers.

[PjotrStroganov]

For anyone disappointed with this episode, check the BBC's World's Most Dangerous Roads. It was broadcasted last year and every episode features a truly great and harrowing roadtrip with two celebrities. No scripting whatsoever.

[rezuth]

I'm of the opinion that the India special was awful, outside of the banner bit. It was pretty scripted, obviously, but it was at least still sorta clever.

Just a shame they have done it many times before.

[SneakyStephan]

The banner bit was just as scripted, or did you think 'eat english muff' was a coincidence...

[CHEEZMO™]

The banner bit was just as scripted, or did you think 'eat english muff' was a coincidence...

Read his post again.

[brotkasten]

Best news of the week was @RutledgeWood announcing that the next eight-episode run of Top Gear USA will start airing on Feb 14th at 9PM. Love that show now. They improved so much between Season 1 and Season 2. I'm really looking forward to the next batch of episodes. On the whole, I enjoyed Season 2 of TGUSA more than the vast majority of the last two seasons of the UK TG.

Good to hear. Can't wait to see what they'll do next.

[skdMrk]

Easily the worst Special ever!

We know most of the stuffs are scripted but why they have to make it so obvious!

[AlphaSnake]

I agree with almost all this. Except for the part where you said it was never funny. Sometimes it was. It just isn't that much anymore. It comes off pretty stale now. It just isn't as well-executed as in the past. Still, the show is often beautiful. The photography is still top-notch, and that'll keep me tuning in and hoping for the best in terms of the comedy bits. Best news of the week was @RutledgeWood announcing that the next eight-episode run of Top Gear USA will start airing on Feb 14th at 9PM. Love that show now. They improved so much between Season 1 and Season 2. I'm really looking forward to the next batch of episodes. On the whole, I enjoyed Season 2 of TGUSA more than the vast majority of the last two seasons of the UK TG.

I should clarify that, because you're right...it was funny before we all realized they were scripting this stuff. I'd say after the third time, the effect wore off. But yeah, good point. And I'm suuuuuuper fucking pumped about Top Gear USA - it absolutely shreds the UK show every way, and it only took just one season of ramping up to do so.

How on Earth did it sound like either of us were comparing it to Fifth Gear when neither of us even mentioned it? :\ So in future please learn to read before branding me an idiot. Cheers.

Hey, I did say "if so". In which case, my assumption was wrong and you guys clearly aren't idiots. It was just a bit of a gun jump, but I didn't go balls out and say you guys were actually stupid...I meant only if you were talking about Fifth Gear. I'll be damned if anyone talks ill of Papa Tiff!

[SCHUEY F1]

I enjoyed the episode, but it doesn't even come close to Vietnam or some of the other specials. Looking forward to the new series though as well as the return of Top Gear USA.

[Foliorum Viridum]

Hey, I did say "if so". In which case, my assumption was wrong and you guys clearly aren't idiots. It was just a bit of a gun jump, but I didn't go balls out and say you guys were actually stupid...I meant only if you were talking about Fifth Gear. I'll be damned if anyone talks ill of Papa Tiff!

It just seemed ridiculous you went off on a tangent about Fifth Gear when neither of us mentioned it and you were aware that FinalGear was a different thing.

But whatever, it wasn't as insulting as the India special, so I'll let you off!

[FStop7]

TG lost their stuff a while back, hopefully they'll get it back together.

[Acheron]

TG lost their stuff a while back, hopefully they'll get it back together.

The most recent series was quite good, and fairly "back to basics" except for maybe the train bit.

[AcridMeat]

I loved the mini. The episode definitely didn't need to be an hour 1/2 for what it was though. The bit on the highway was nerve-racking as hell.

Underwhelming for sure, but I'm not surprised. They've been at this show for quite a while.

[glaurung]

I'll just say that I enjoyed the India special. Sadly it wasn't very much about India, just some horsing around with relatively low brow humor, but it had high production values.

This is the quality I would expect from Top Gear UK nowadays.