When Jeremy Clarkson’s contract with the BBC was not renewed I was distraught as my blog during that period highlighted yet when he signed with Amazon I was delighted. Firstly because I have Amazon Instant Video and secondly because a time without Clarkson making politically incorrect comments is a time we don’t need in our lives. It was even better when his colleagues Richard Hammond and James May signed with him too. Leaving the BBC in a puff of smoke. The deal looked promising and last Friday the long awaited show entitled The Grand Tour aired on prime and it was very very good; because my review is what you really want here you go.
Since it was announced last Summer that the boys had signed with Amazon, speculation has circulated into their budget which was rumoured to be £160 million, the availability of being able to actually watch it for some and lastly whether it would be even as good as their BBC show. All of these questions went through fans minds and words of the Daily Mail’s journalists. From the spoilers we got from Amazon video the tweets; Instagram images and the clips looked promising so no wonder why I was on countdown mode for the entire show.
The first show was entitled ‘The Holy Trinity’ which featured the three top hyper-cars from McLaren, Ferrari and Porsche. The cars had all been featured on the last two series’ of Top Gear when Clarkson, Hammond and May all were presenting the show and at the time they were unable to let the three cars compete against each other. For reasons we were never told but with a larger budget and just better production they were able to showcase these cars. Im not into the cars, Im more into Richard Hammond and the trio’s banter because I love it but if you are a proper petrol head this weeks first instalment of the twelve week streamed series would be right up your street. The show opened up with an amazing opener and an opener which had apparently been on the same budget level as the recent Mad Max blockbuster. The opener was incredible and because I want as many people as possible to watch the show I wont give too many details away other than saying that if you like the trio you may find it very touching the introduction. I also want to say how much I loved the shows opening performance from Hothouse Flower’s and their rendition of I Can See Clearly Now and I really want you to go away and listen to it because it is brilliant. A real great sound but I think suits the show entirely. I want there to be a petition to get it to number one I liked it that much.
The brains behind Top Gear- Andy Willman and and Jeremy Clarkson have clearly worked their magic here because they have kept the elements that worked the best with the BBC. These features being the chemistry between the presenters which was done by the three of them staying together and not splitting up. But also because they have kept the group work together which I think is what made us tune into Top Gear for twelve years. Although some of their solo works in the show was funny, nothing was funnier than them arguing a car and whether a stripe painted in it would make it go faster. For legal reasons the boys and Amazon have to had to scrap elements such as The Stig and The Reasonably Priced Car and to be honest I was quite glad they got rid of the Star in the car because that was the section which I sort of zoned out of for, usually going on my phone.
I honestly think this show was Top Gear on some night club drug because it was just as good as I was expecting and sort of went above and beyond my expectations. The show was just amazing, the camera work, the music and just the presenters were on fleek. I think Amazon have struck gold by investing into the boys and I think the boys have chosen well because they have been given editorial freedom as well a larger budget. All of these factors have made that BBC’s new Top Gear look ridiculous. I would agree with The Sun’s head of showbiz, Dan Wooton who wrote in his review of the show that Clarkson being dismissed was the best thing to happen to his career. Clarkson has clearly proven that his fans and personality are far too good and not ready to disappear from any form of television, internet based or satellite based.
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