[10x04] November 4th, 2007

[ahpadt]

It was a funny episode. I don't have much else to say about it actually. The best bit was prolly seeing the merc all stripped out.

[Amanaman]

Originally Posted by paulbeattie87

I'm exactly the same the American special had a great feel to it after you watched it you wanted more and more but the African one I felt was lacking. I'd have to watch both of them and say well thats one thing I miss oh heres another.

The salt flats were a tad boring yes the views were brilliant but it was just not as funny. Some parts were good but their just seemed too much missing from it that should have been there.

Sure everybody will like it in fact love it but its no American special. The American special had it all the music, the jokes just the way it was all told the African special was lacking a fair bit thinking on it.

Oliver was brilliant! Just the way Hamster was smug driving all the time.

Glad someone else feels this way, I was getting a bit worried after reading all the hyped feedback I did laugh substantially at the Stig's African cousin however

[Queen of Meh]

I enjoyed this episode and I liked how it was different to the US and Pole Special. Oliver made the episode and the look on Hammond's face after he's named him, so knows he's done the wrong thing. And then the look on his face when James and Jeremy were stripping down there cars and he didn't want to hurt Oliver. Was a little uncomfortable tho when Oliver started sinking Hammond look scared, but then Jeremy playing music down the walkie talkie PMSL

But as I said on 10x03 thread not going to over analize Top Gear or compare to previous episodes, it entertained me, I enjoyed it and thats all that matters to me.

[Cobol74]

On this one the story was the African people - they missed it big time I am afraid. It was entertaining, but it could have been so much more.

/EDIT let me explain, in the American one the best bits were the interactions with the locals, in this one it could have so been the same. I think why they did not do it was that they are good at taking the piss but are afraid of being nice and these guys, as you saw live in a very very in-hospitable place and seem to thrive. So no mickey taking.

[GraemeH]

It was brilliantly shot and very funny all round (mostly in the second half) as usual. It was nice to see some more of the crew as well, makes it seem more real (in a roundabout way). The only complaint i could possibly scrape up is that there was no setup; they didn't explain why they were going to do it, no matter how flimsy the reason it would have been nice to have an objective. Because it didn't have a strong setup or objective, it seemed less important if one car broke down, than it did when it was the Porsches, Not Porsches, Supercars etc.. But hey, saying that is like complaining that Milla Jovovich's nipples are freakishly large; it was still great overall.

[Queen of Meh]

Originally Posted by GraemeH

The only complaint i could possibly scrape up is that there was no setup; they didn't explain why they were going to do it, no matter how flimsy the reason it would have been nice to have an objective. Because it didn't have a strong setup or objective, it seemed less important if one car broke down, than it did when it was the Porsches, Not Porsches, Supercars etc.. But hey, saying that is like complaining that Milla Jovovich's nipples are freakishly large; it was still great overall.

They did explain, there reason was to prove to people in Surrey who take there kids to school in a 4x4 because they have to drive on a raod that's got some leaves on it, that they could just use a 2 wheel drive car. It was at the beginning of the ep

[Viper007Bond]

OMFG, I laughed sooo hard when Hammond realized it was his tent.

[GraemeH]

Originally Posted by Queen of Meh

They did explain, there reason was to prove to people in Surrey who take there kids to school in a 4x4 because they have to drive on a raod that's got some leaves on it, that they could just use a 2 wheel drive car. It was at the beginning of the ep

Yes I heard it. But it still wasn't enough to make you care all that much who made it in their cars and who had to take the Hitler-mobile.

[swordznsorcery]

Originally Posted by GraemeH

Yes I heard it. But it still wasn't enough to make you care all that much who made it in their cars and who had to take the Hitler-mobile.

You didn't care about Oliver?! You don't need objectives or reasons to care about stuff. Especially when the stuff in question is Oliver.

[kingstona]

This was such a fun to watch! Just Top Top Gear, nothing else to say, I think there is no wonder why the show won the reward last week - simply the BEST! "Oliver" behaved very very well, if only Richard didn't drawn it but as mercedes fan I can say I am in love with 230 merc. I think I want to drive an old crappy car right now, and I have one in the garage - it is LADA 2101 with no brakes but I think it will be managable.

[Cobol74]

Its Oliver for me too - great vehicle, some cars just have personality - no reason to - some just do. My brother a tough and unsentimental hardened soldier had a Rover 75 (built 1958 BTW not one of those new ones) , and called it Humphry. He has never named a car before or since.

[Queen of Meh]

Originally Posted by GraemeH

Yes I heard it. But it still wasn't enough to make you care all that much who made it in their cars and who had to take the Hitler-mobile.

yeah but you said no matter how flimsy the reason. they gave us a flimsy reason to do it so you can't complain. most of the challenges are done on a flimsy, insane reason

[Cobol74]

That was Captain McFlimsey of 15 Flimsey st, Flimsey, Flimseyshire, FL1 M3Y.

[gotak]

I was actually very surprised none of them went and got a Beetle. I would have for the simplicity of the power plant and the lightness. At least Richard got close to that with his car.

I wonder if what cars they get is scripted cause if you think about to the America Special you had: James in another heavy comfortable car, Jeremy in the most "sporty" and Richard with the "odd" car.

[ViperVX]

Now ppl are complaining, that there were NOT ENOUGH comedy...

[surfgurl]

Originally Posted by gotak

I wonder if what cars they get is scripted cause if you think about to the America Special you had: James in another heavy comfortable car, Jeremy in the most "sporty" and Richard with the "odd" car.

No, I don't think it is scripted. I think the cars they choose in the challenges are particular to their personal tastes, quirks and foibles (sp?)
Jeremy will always choose a car with the most power and sporty looks. Because that is him. Brash and outspoken. He speaks his mind and doesn't care who knows it or what they think.
James is the epitome of a Traditional British Gentleman. He drinks brown beer and looks at home with a pipe in an armchair (as seen in a recent episode.) He will choose the traditional car, one with history and background.
Richard chooses the quirky, the unexpected, but he always follows his heart. He is full of passion. He chooses something he is at home in. He did it with the pick up when he was in brokeback mode and he did it with Oliver tonight. You could see it in his eyes when the others were making their cars lighter. He had already decided Oliver was his soulmate for the journey across Botswana when he named him and didn't want him to be hurt. He was devasted when he thought he had lost him. That wasn't acting, that was true passion.

Oh dear. I think I may have deconstructed the guys a little too much. But at last I have found a reason for studying media and cultural studies.

[JosefCarlin]

What? No racial slurs and insults to the locals in an effort to get one of the them killed? I can just imagine what they would have wrote on each others cars. I guess making fun of a crew member's comb over and laughing behind his was dangerous enough. Even if he was white he might have been packing heat and you know how sensitive some middle aged men are about losing their hair. And what was up with the "Black Stig?" Was that supposed to be funny? No stereotyping there. Clarkson and May in black face with white gloves mocking the border guards or the locals, now that would have been hilarious!!!

Sorry, but I couldn't help but put in one last dig, that stunt on the American Special was rubbish, unfair, mean spirited, and well beneath them. But so much for living in the past....

The African Special was .... interesting with beautiful scenery and spectacular skies. But it won't come close for me as a favorite race or challenge. I was a little surprised how poorly the Merc did. I would have bet money on it but the salt flats and the stripping really took its toll on it. Honestly, that VW looked pretty good at the end. I wonder if it drove the entire way or was trailered?

[paulbeattie87]

Yeah it was quite funny, the Opel was a bit surprising really. When you think about it their were jokes in it but not as much as the American special which is why I think people including myself are thinking its not as good.

I think the fact they were in the middle of nowhere their was nothing to make it funny as they couldn't crash into anything. The salt flats I was expecting something much more engaging than day 1 we got stuck and found a small island. Day 2 we found a load of trees and lots of dust.

[avalys]

Did anyone else notice what was hanging from the honey badger's mouth, on the map they showed a few times?

[swordznsorcery]

Yes. But it's not the honey badger, remember. It's the Badger Of Death.