A thoroughly enjoyable episode and a satisfying end to the best series in at least a couple of years. I was particularly interested in seeing what they made of the electric cars as I drove a Leaf a few weeks ago, really liked it but was very much aware of its practical shortcomings (because of the lack of charging infrastructure, I simply wouldn't be able to get it from where I live to where my family lives without borrowing someone's electricity along the way). Really nice little town car held back by the technology not quite being there yet - and possibly never getting there due to the limitations of battery power. Was glad to see them given a reasonable assessment and not used for slapstick and hyperbole... and their conclusions and observations were remarkably similar to mine.
Hammond's observations on the Aventador were remarkably similar to Jeremy's when he first drove the Gallardo - and he went on to buy one (admittedly the Spyder, which he preferred, but even so). And you know what? I don't actually want a car that wants to kill me. I would be happy with something that looked and sounded that amazing and
didn't want to kill me. I do understand the case of, um, 'Helsinki Syndrome', because there is something addictive about adrenaline and risk, but risk is only actually fun when you believe you will overcome it; if you don't, you'll never take the risk in the first place. That film made me want to get out there and book a track day, and it's been a while since that happened (probably 13x02 with the Murcielago SV, to be honest). This time I might actually do it...
And that final film with the rally soldiers was properly moving. I've heard a few criticisms of the inclusion of the moment where Hammond was asking the soldier about what had happened, which led to that soldier breaking down, but I think in a way that was what really brought home the importance of these projects: it's easy to forget that the damage isn't just physical when you see people joking about their prosthetics, or that the loss of 'just' one limb is a 'flesh wound'. It's the wounds you can't see that take the healing, and that's the real value of giving these wounded veterans a challenge that lets them work together as a unit.
Great episode, solid series, very happy Wy. Thank you,
Top Gear for six weeks of proper entertainment