[09x01] January 28th, 2007

[Spazatao]

It's as Clarkson said, the big feature is kept to the end... Overall, I liked it. The AMV8 vs. XKR was good, not the best review ever but not bad. The road segment felt the same. Then was Oliver driving the Lacetti, which was fun too. But the treatment they gave to the crash was perfect. Just the necessary stuff, not something ment to make people cry or too short to give the impression it wasn't that bad.
All in all, finally, Top Gear is back in good shape!

[Prost264]

I just remembered something, no Top Gear dog?

Originally Posted by ignition2000

when the crash had been shown, a guy says something, clarkson looks over, then everyone claps. what does the guy say, cause its not clear?

does anyone know?

I wondered the same thing.

[upyourego]

Isn't it something like 'good on ya mate'

[matt2000]

i thought it was 'hold on', so everyone could applaud, which they did...

[Blythy]

it's something like "good on ya mate, good on ya, no worries"

people who do that just piss me off.

[Bizness]

I liked it...its def not the best episode but it was good...I missed the TG news part though...hopefully next week.

[upyourego]

According to the 'next week's episode' page on the BBC Top Gear site "It’s business as usual this week on Top Gear."

[jarborra]

Originally Posted by Amanaman

Strangely, for an opening episode there was no montage preview of the upcoming series.

Exactly!! And that's very annoying for me, because I record all the episodes on my computer and then create an animated DVD menu for all the discs (3 episodes per DVD5) using that preview. Don't know what I'll do for this season...

[matt2000]

well there's been plenty of motor news, so they won't have to worry about that. maybe the cool wall will be in this series too.

[Austere]

Originally Posted by upyourego

Austere are you from Britain?

I was born there but I live in Australia. I learned to drive and have done all my driving here. I'm over 19.

We have roadworks here, too. We have to slow to a crawl to get past them and as we pass we see that none of the workers are working very hard or at all. I got the joke and understood where they were coming from and for the first five minutes I thought it was kind of entertaining but it dragged and became tedious and I just didn't think it was good enough to come at the expense of a car review.

[matt2000]

Originally Posted by Austere

I got the joke and understood where they were coming from and for the first five minutes I thought it was kind of entertaining but it dragged and became tedious and I just didn't think it was good enough to come at the expense of a car review.

but Fifth gear always do car reviews, and never do anything like that. that's why they are boring. i think that bit could actaully turn out to be my fav part of this series 8)

[upyourego]

Top Gear has been gradually morphing into a general entertainment pissing about magazine show for blokes who want to be seven again and this year is the climax. I think what we see this series will be what we'll likely see from now on.

A vast majority of stunts and shouting (news, cool wall) with a couple of cars in the middle.

I think those 'purists' who want a car show with reviews will have to settle for Fifth Gear because I don't think Top Gear will ever be that again.

[Prost264]

Fifth Gear isn't good enough because they are trying to do their own stunts, only they are garbage.

[M3_Powered]

Whatever style Top Gear do i'll always love it!

[Donington]

Originally Posted by upyourego

Top Gear has been gradually morphing into a general entertainment pissing about magazine show for blokes who want to be seven again and this year is the climax. I think what we see this series will be what we'll likely see from now on.

A vast majority of stunts and shouting (news, cool wall) with a couple of cars in the middle.

I think those 'purists' who want a car show with reviews will have to settle for Fifth Gear because I don't think Top Gear will ever be that again.

Nuts magazine on the telly then, minus Keeley?

Doesn't sound bad at all, it's just a shame Fifth Gear are trying to morph into it too but instead morphing into a hideous trainwreck.

[Amanaman]

Originally Posted by jarborra

Exactly!! And that's very annoying for me, because I record all the episodes on my computer and then create an animated DVD menu for all the discs (3 episodes per DVD5) using that preview. Don't know what I'll do for this season...

I'm glad somebody else spotted this besides me. Hopefully they will show one next episode, since this episode was more about the return of Hammond rather than the return of Top Gear.

[maateuszz89]

I have just seen the show.
Hammond's welcome was cool, seeing Jeremy and him hugging
Comparing to past episodes - nothing special, but it was really worth to see.
I hope they'll take more care about cars in next episode.

[TopGearManiac]

Ok so I've just watched the new episode from 9 series. I have been waiting for that for at least 6 months. Here are my thoughts:
Its great to see all of the boys back and in good shape. The break between the previous season and this one was very long so the anticipation and expectations are very high. Furthermore, Richards crash. Nobody can forget about that. The new series so far has a very hard start as the expectations are very high.
From the beginning of the episode you can fell that tension. Even, usually relaxed Jeremy seems to be bit stressed. Nevertheless, we cant blame him for that and all in all I think he pulled himself together and still done a great job presenting the show.
Now, the roadwork. Yes it wasn't the best film TG has ever done but I really enjoyed it. The start of work was a bit boring and I was just waiting for something big to go wrong. Love how they put James for the road direction. It just never gets old The best part of the movie, hovever is the end. Jeremy throwing James fries on the road and his motivation secret weapon (Music) was really funny. Summing it up, It was a good TG movie, but it lacks that uniqe point from previous episodes.
Jamie Oliver was a pretty good part too. I know nobody likes "the star in reasonably priced car" but I quite enjoy that segment. Jeremy is great talking with people and his comments are genious. (Simon Cowell, Jimmy Car etc.) This one was no exception .... or was it!?? Yes, I've mentioned this before. The tension in the show was very high and even profesional like Jeremy couldn't control it. You can see that it is not the relaxed, funny Clarkson we've all got used to. You can see that wants to be back in the old good days but everybody knows that there is something in the air, and it Richards crash.
Aston vs. Jag. Nice editing, love camera work. (finally we can see the V8 vantage on the track ) Hawever .... However, I was a bit disappointed in that. More that the road works! Jeremy is great at driving cars, powerslides, but what makes the show is the JEREMY car reviews!!!. Not just some car reviews. And I felt let dawn after this movie. No great lines from Clarkson, no talking about some car details. It was just powersliding and the big "yes" from Jeremy I mean, I've seen every episode of TG and I know what he means by "rubbish interior" or "great handling" but remind us again why is it that way. The great Jeremy way.
The crash segment. I felt it was handled very good. Not to dramatic to make it a hollywood production but just enough to make it feel like a quality product. Richard walks through that day once again and we can see that it was an unfortunate incident. Richard its great to have u back.
Now just 2 more words. .....
I've been bashing out the new series soo much but I have to say that I'm thrilled to see them back and that all in all IT WAS A VERY GOOD EPISODE. I think the expectation were very high and the anticipation to see "THe team" back again was enormous. It wasn't the best TG episode ever but a very nice, fresh start of the new upcoming series. We've become used to TG so much that some of us expected even more, but I have to say that with this much anticipation and the incident it was handled very well!!! Cant wait for the next week episode 2!!
Last words.....
I think TG is the best at its point right now. The funny challanges and hilarious car reviews. Thats what makes the show. Its not 5gear or and other dull car review show. Its Top Gear. Just like Americans have their "myth busters", Europeans have "top gear" .The show that for some can take a boring subject of cars and make entertaining. Just like myth busters take a subject of science and make a fully entertaing show out of it, that everybody can enjoy, no matter if u love physical science or not - u will enjoy the show. Thats Top Gear, no matter if u love cars or not, u will find that 1 hour one of your very best and be entertained.
I think this is the end.
Plz feel free to write any comments

[Austere]

Originally Posted by upyourego

I think those 'purists' who want a car show with reviews will have to settle for Fifth Gear because I don't think Top Gear will ever be that again.

awwwww Fifth Gear spends most of its time sucking big, sweaty balls! None of the presenters have any wit or charm (except for the overweight fellow with the curly hair) and it just doesn't have the sparkle! It doesn't have the music, cinematography, humour and most of all, the intelligence of Top gear. It's not that I want it to be all serious facts & figures - I liked a lot of the stupid stunts and gags in older episodes like the remote controlled cars in the quarry (even tho they wrecked an E34 ) because they kept it interesting, it was unpredictable and it had cars driving!

It's this newer stuff I don't like. The scripted stuff that has little to do with anything, let alone cars. The caravaning, The van group test and this latest roadworks thing are just a waste of talent.