Now that we’re through the freshman years of two shows that, for all intents and purposes, are brand new, we can rightfully say that there were some serious duds, for both shows, but that there’s so much promise in what’s to come, we could be heading for a really special time in automotive television.
Hello fellow petrolheads, and welcome back to AllWaysDrive. As with Keanu Reeves every other month, rumours of our death have been greatly exaggerated. Unlike Keanu Reeves, the last few months have been pretty eventful for your author, and the automotive obsession was forced to take a back seat to professional obligations (read: must pay the bills). Here’s a breakdown of what we’ve missed in the past three months.
After a very clunky first show that showed fewer positive signs than worrying ones, those who stuck with it were rewarded with a genuinely enjoyable hour of telly. Despite this, or perhaps because it’s getting better and people simply don’t want to see the show succeed, many on social media are still calling for Chris Evans’ head. If you watched the show, but skipped Extra Gear, I implore you to go back and watch it, because there was a moment of humility so genuine that I think everyone needs to consider before rushing to judgment.
With apologies for the extended period of radio silence, I made a point to carve out the time in my seemingly ever-busier schedule to watch Episode one of Top Gear, Season 23, and have some strong feelings to share. If the title seems to belie the strength of those feelings, that’s because they essentially cancel each other out. So let’s look at the pros and cons and I’ll explain why it’s premature to give up on a new experiment after one trial.
We're less than four months away from the premiere of the refreshed Top Gear with Chris Evans at the helm, and if there was an opportune time to change up the content, now is it. But with the popularity of the show it replaces being so high, is it too much of a risk to change format entirely, or did the prior show rely on the personalities of its presenters for its success?
