Worst Season of Top Gear

[NooDle]

this is the hardest question ever. Season 1 wasnt all that bad when you watch it now, but some of the later bits (like when they did the roadworks) was rather boring.

All in all, I agree with skylock. No episode or season of TG can be considered "the worst", because all in all, they're all brilliant. Some seasons have a few crap episodes but a lot of fantastic ones to make up for it.

[wooflepoof]

Originally Posted by cdbob

I agree as well, Season Nine was the worst of all of Top Gear. I re-watch Top Gear every once in a while and I find myself almost never going back to season nine. Though in my mind the show was starting the slip in season eight. It was very clear that season eight was a turning point for Top Gear, though I felt it to be not too bad. It's hard to say what Top Gear would be like now without Richard's accident. To me I think it would be far better. I mean if we look at modern Top Gear, Seasons Ten and Eleven, they lack that spark that Top Gear had in seasons seven and eight and earlier. To me Season Six would be the best season, because of all the cars that were released, and thats were the show was still unaffected by its appeal. I can remember it being a hell of a lot less popular when I started watching it before season six startedl airing and before I had come here. I watched parts and clips on youtube and then came back to it. I remember it being a good show, but rather unknown in my area. By season seven, it seemed the show really picked up with the Bugatti vs. Plane part, because of all the hype on that car. To me it seems that modern Top Gear after season eight was not as good mainly because of the cars coming out. I mean after season 7 all of the golden cars had come out, the Enzo, the Carrera GT, the SLR, the Ariel Atom, The Koenigsegg, The Zonda, The Murcielago. All those hyper cars made the show good because it was excited to see their take of all those supercars. After that it seemed that the makers died down a lot of that hayday of hypercars died. Modern Top Gear is more based upon less excited car and so they must be more humorous. I mean look at season eight, they did a great job in turning the show in a different direction, since they knew the material they were getting hypercar wise was drying up. The highlight would be the Caravan episode. Which though very scripted, never felt that way, the way modern Top Gear does. After that season which for the most part was very good, I felt Top Gear lost its direction and with Richard's crash became an alright show. I mean look at the cars across Africa, that show sucked ass, no offense to the Top Gear team, who do a great job of making the show, but it did not work out well. To me the earlier seasons were something that very exciting the watch, because Top Gear was still getting its ground. A show that felt a lot less scripted. That is why a voted for nine, because they is the season were Top Gear lost its edge that it had had before and became its current show. Though I still watch it and think its alright, it is not as good as season 6 or 7. Those are the two best seasons. The GT-R vs Train race to me felt about as good as the Aston vs Train race, I mean they were very good, but nothing to really watch again. Top Gear has the ability to rebound and make the transition back to being an amazing show, but only if they realize where they are now. So find interesting cars again and good ways of reviewing them and bring the show back to its former glory.

Spaces man!

the worst WAS season 1 for me I actually enjoy watching the older Top Gears more than season 1.

[airmenair]

Season 1 I enjoyed, had some good stuff in it, even if May wasn't on board yet. I was torn between 8 and 9 my vote going to 9. Amphibious cars saved season 8.

[warren]

I don't count season 1 because it doesn't have James.
I can't vote against season 9 like many have so far:

- The power laps with the tractors - "it's gone all quiet" "well, how do you commentate on a tractor lap?"
- the GIANT PANDA, "never before bred in captivity"
- the golf course, "rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish... how long do you want me to keep saying rubbish?"
- James's Bugatti run

and on a more serious side, the last few minutes of the American race, in New Orleans, is so surreal and maddening.

I'm voting for season 3. It feels like nothing happened that whole season.

[stiggie]

Originally Posted by cdbob

While the debate rages as to the best season being either season Eight or Ten...

Fixed your typos.

[smartpnoi]

Originally Posted by warren

I'm voting for season 3. It feels like nothing happened that whole season.

That season had the (in)famous Toyota Hilux and how they tried to destroy it for 2 episodes. Also has two of my favorite films, both in the same episode, the M3 CSL and the BMW M History film. Definitely the highlights for me that season.

I want to say Season 9, but the problem with that was because they were on a shortened schedule from the accident. It was like a rush job to get the show going. Can't fault them too much with that, so they get a pass.

I might have to say season 8, it definitely held the least interest for me. Even then, it had some great moments, like people carrier convertibles and amphibious cars. I do agree with one of the posters though, too much cocking about that season, and I like a balance. So yes, this might be the weakest season, but that doesn't necessarily mean it still held its own.

Man this was a tough decision , and I just would like to say that I also liked Season 1.

[controlspecimen]

Season 9. I never go back and watch the stupid road rebuilding or tractor episode, for instance. That was the pinnacle of Top Gear's success getting to their heads, and they have come back down to earth a little I think. Jeremy really was a smug asshole during that season. I rather liked Season 1, even though they had some boring segments. I really enjoyed Jeremy's test of the off-roaders, and the Luggery episode. You also gotta love what had to be Hammond's first film--testing how to beat a speed camera. He looked so awkward standing there rigidly with his hands jammed in the pockets of his leather coat.

[edkwon]

Season 1 was raw, had Jason Dawe, and still finding its style, and i consider it one of my least favorite seasons pre season 9, but it had a lot of good road review content that i watch repeatedly.

Season 9 was still the worst season by far and IMHO, when TG started making changes for the worse. plus i hardly ever rewatch it. Virutally every other season i rewatch on my media PC HD to the point where i can quote what they say right before they say it.

I'm glad season 9 is runner up in the poll, i can understand why tthe majority voted for season 1, but i'll watch that on a deserted island til the day i die, over season 9.

I'm also glad that ppl showed sense with seasons 5,6,7 having ZERO votes, because those seasons really comprised the 'meat' of TG at its best with a balance of entertainment, humor, and proper car talk.

[Casey.C]

I actually like season 9. A good female friend of mine hates Top Gear, but the tractors episode makes her laugh every single time. The America episode is also priceless, as is the road works, IMO.

But i have to agree with skylock. I have never felt that i watched a bad episode of TG. sure some are better than others, but ive never been disappointed with any of the episodes.

Its kind of unfair to say that season 1 was the worst, because they were just trying a new format and working out all the bugs, but im with everyone else, James May is much better than Jason Dawe. Watching season 1 was essentially watching Hammond and Jezza do a car show, and then JD would show up for 20 minutes to tell us about how to get a 1 year old Renault for $3000 off sticker, and comment somewhat on the news. I know that segment continued through the second season too, but watching old episodes (which i do frequently), i just find myself going back to season 1 the least, because of JD and that segment.

[Censport]

Originally Posted by warren

I don't count season 1 because it doesn't have James.
I can't vote against season 9 like many have so far:

- The power laps with the tractors - "it's gone all quiet" "well, how do you commentate on a tractor lap?"
- the GIANT PANDA, "never before bred in captivity"
- the golf course, "rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish rubbish... how long do you want me to keep saying rubbish?"
- James's Bugatti run

and on a more serious side, the last few minutes of the American race, in New Orleans, is so surreal and maddening.

I'm voting for season 3. It feels like nothing happened that whole season.

Yes, it's tough. The most memorable moment from Series 1 for me was racing an electric car against Jason Dawe. I though "Aha! They finally found a good use for him!"

Series 9 had some good points too, such as the Robin/Shuttle. The most maddening part about the American trip for me was when Jeremy said he was being sued by the person he gave the Camaro to because he got the year wrong on his document. It just highlighted what is so wrong with a large segment of my fellow Americans: A sense of entitlement, a lack of gratitude, and a penchant for litigation.

Series 3 had some fine points, I thought. There was the Lambo episode, where James called the Countach out for being a ridiculous car. "Never meet your childhood hero." Beating that Hilux to near-death is a classic too. Richard picking a future classic (the Scirocco and the 190E 2.5 16v etc.) should've been continued. And James driving that Aston Martin Vantage ("the proper 1975 version, not the poncy new one") was great. The car fit him like a comfy old chair and a pipe.

[LurkerPatrol]

I'm wondering which question is harder: "What is the worst season of Top Gear?" or "What is the best season of Top Gear?".

I think season 6 and season 10 were the best by far.

[airmenair]

I think by far the hardest question is which is the best because they've been so good!

[La Chaton]

Originally Posted by Casey.C

I actually like season 9. A good female friend of mine hates Top Gear, but the tractors episode makes her laugh every single time. The America episode is also priceless, as is the road works, IMO.

But i have to agree with skylock. I have never felt that i watched a bad episode of TG. sure some are better than others, but ive never been disappointed with any of the episodes.

Its kind of unfair to say that season 1 was the worst, because they were just trying a new format and working out all the bugs, but im with everyone else, James May is much better than Jason Dawe. Watching season 1 was essentially watching Hammond and Jezza do a car show, and then JD would show up for 20 minutes to tell us about how to get a 1 year old Renault for $3000 off sticker, and comment somewhat on the news. I know that segment continued through the second season too, but watching old episodes (which i do frequently), i just find myself going back to season 1 the least, because of JD and that segment.

I totally agree.

For me, I have to admit it is much more the humour and cocking about that draws me in than the cars, so season 9 remains my favorite, whereas some of the earlier ones had me skipping through reviews just because there was so much car talk.

[Aston Martin]

Fat Jase... no thanks.

[warren]

Originally Posted by smartpnoi

That season had the (in)famous Toyota Hilux and how they tried to destroy it for 2 episodes. Also has two of my favorite films, both in the same episode, the M3 CSL and the BMW M History film. Definitely the highlights for me that season.

These are great points. The whole piece on BMW was very good... the whole episode was fantastic, really... it'd be nice to see Fry on the show again.

If we're going to talk BMWs and the Isle of Man, though, I prefer the film from series 7 where all three of them go there.

[ahpadt]

Jeeez, people who didnt like s3-4-5-6-7 should find themselves a comedy program or smth...

[AJ888]

Season 1, not so much because of Jason Dawe, but because the cocking about features were mostly terrible. Fastest faith, grannies doing donuts are stuff that Fifth Gear would be doing nowadays, not what's expected from Top Gear. Still it was early days, and there were still some cracking segments in that first series - the Lotus Lada was brilliant.

[zammo]

the last season was the best i think, i cant praise it enough, have most of them saved on Sky +, with the best driving road_ the best bit of tv of all time, the african adventure, the dover to france trip, absolutely wonderful, unbeatable.

Just this season, apart from the japan trip, well i feel bad for saying it....but its a load of monk!!!
really dissappointed. Drop the guests, its fooking crap!!!! Yes i am comparing them to last season, but was hoping to save all of em on Sky+.....just the one so far tho!!!!!

[trist0608]

I voted for season1 , mainly because it was still so undeveloped. I didn't dislike Jason, he reminds me of a friend in terms of actions and speech, but he was not a horrendous presenter. The real problem is that I like the way JC, RH, and JM click. When they start "cocking about" the show really comes alive and that quality was missing from season 1. Now if I could get a clip (video or mp3) of every time James said "oh cock" when something went wrong I would have the perfect ring tone for when my parents call.

[aaurora]

Very interesting to read the opinions here. I am not sure which I would classify as the 'worst' season, but I like so many others, didn't find season 1 all that great, but it is very old so that's to be taken into account.

Cdbob said he didn't like the Africa special? That is one of my favourites to watch, so it's obvious everyones taste varies very widely.

I think there are some seasons that are certainly better than others, but not sure if I could discard a whole season as there are gems scattered all the way through the episodes.