I thought it was pretty good considering their ages and the somewhat reduced scope of the trip. Overall I’d say 7/10 as a special. We knew it wasn’t going to compete with some of the all-time greats, but they definitely pulled back on some of the faults from the last episode. Namely the CGI and obviously staged gags, which pulled me out of the show as I can only suspend disbelief so much. That being said, there were a few things I wished they did that would have made it an 8/10 special for me:
spoiler
The ‘theft’ of Nigel Mansell should have been the haggling and purchase instead. I know they’ve staged ‘thefts’ before and appreciate the callback, but we know three world-famous presenters complete with crew aren’t going to actually steal anything. What would have been completely believable however is a drawn out haggling scene, with Jeremy arguing that it isn’t a very good likeness and they won’t get a better offer, and the museum director trying to explain that this isn’t a store. Finally Jeremy offers an absurd number and they smash cut to Nigel riding shotgun with Jeremy doing his trademark idiot grin.
The ending with them driving onto a moving cargo plane and then ‘realizing’ the plane wasn’t about to take off I don’t think was necessary (although I see the reverse middle east special reference). I feel like a more coherent ending would have been them racing to the airport only to realize the plane was delayed due to the Ukraine war, and finally all having a meal together while they wait. That would give them a chance to reflect on their choice of cars which is how pretty much every other special has ended.
I thought it was pretty good considering their ages and the somewhat reduced scope of the trip. Overall I’d say 7/10 as a special. We knew it wasn’t going to compete with some of the all-time greats, but they definitely pulled back on some of the faults from the last episode. Namely the CGI and obviously staged gags, which pulled me out of the show as I can only suspend disbelief so much. That being said, there were a few things I wished they did that would have made it an 8/10 special for me:
spoiler
The ‘theft’ of Nigel Mansell should have been the haggling and purchase instead. I know they’ve staged ‘thefts’ before and appreciate the callback, but we know three world-famous presenters complete with crew aren’t going to actually steal anything. What would have been completely believable however is a drawn out haggling scene, with Jeremy arguing that it isn’t a very good likeness and they won’t get a better offer, and the museum director trying to explain that this isn’t a store. Finally Jeremy offers an absurd number and they smash cut to Nigel riding shotgun with Jeremy doing his trademark idiot grin.
The ending with them driving onto a moving cargo plane and then ‘realizing’ the plane wasn’t about to take off I don’t think was necessary (although I see the reverse middle east special reference). I feel like a more coherent ending would have been them racing to the airport only to realize the plane was delayed due to the Ukraine war, and finally all having a meal together while they wait. That would give them a chance to reflect on their choice of cars which is how pretty much every other special has ended.