Not quite up there with last week's show, but still a pretty solid effort, and I even enjoyed the SIABSC. I knew I knew Amanda Keller's face from somewhere - we used to get Beyond 2000 on one of our satellite channels back in the day, and I used to enjoy it (it wasn't as good as Tomorrow's World though, but it's good that TW wasn't the only pop-sci programme out there getting things hopelessly wrong... anyway, I digress...). Good call on naming the crest after HG's Up-and-Under. This is the kind of mirroring of TG UK that seems appropriate, growing out of things that have happened, rather than being forced from engineered circumstances.
The 370Z review was very nice and I enjoyed James's little sojourn to the States. The musical instrument thing had me in stitches. In fact, the only thing that brought it down a little for me was the challenge, but it seems I'm far from alone on that. I like that they seem to take the actual build of the challenge vehicles quite seriously, but I wish they'd challenge the finished vehicle more thoroughly.
What kept the episode up for me was that the chemistry between the presenters is really developing nicely, but also the guys are really settling into their own roles. Warren, with his silly jokes and funny faces, fits into a nominal lead role while being very different from anyone on TG UK, Steve is enthusiastic and energetic but also (although we didn't get to see it this week) a very capable reviewer and at least as far as I'm concerned, an entertaining driver to watch. And James... well, it's like Charlie Cox was never there. James is so affable and capable, and he has slotted in like he was meant to be there all along. It's almost as if Charlie was trying to fit into a James-shaped slot, if you know what I mean.
I am not saying I didn't enjoy season 1. If anyone went back over the S1 discussion threads, I'd instantly be revealed as a liar if I said that. However, while I enjoyed S1, it was in a casual, slightly indifferent way - I wanted the show to do well, and I wanted to be encouraging, and I would be lying outright if I said I wasn't entertained.
But...
I LIKE S2. I like it a lot. Last season I could have come up with a list of improvements as long as your arm. This season, apart from the little niggle about the challenges, the only suggestion I have is 'keep doing what you're doing'.