Following the launch of Prime Video’s “The Not Very Grand Tour,” a wave of opinions has emerged regarding its debut episode, presented by hosts James May and Richard Hammond. The series, a retrospective look at their previous work, premiered on Friday and immediately sparked considerable debate amongst fans.
May, 62, and Hammond, 55, revisited their shared history within a hangar brimming with iconic automobiles as they examined archived footage from “The Grand Tour.” The episode, entitled “The Glory” and “The Power,” focused on the significant impact of the combustion engine’s evolution.
However, initial reactions have been largely critical, with many feeling the show falls short of expectations – a sentiment underscored by its ironic title.
Fan Feedback Highlights:
- “Extremely disappointing.” One Reddit user expressed frustration, stating, “They missed an opportunity to offer deleted scenes and a podcast-style discussion. Instead, we received a repetitive rerun of episodes we’ve seen countless times, punctuated by brief, scripted conversations.”
- Another viewer described the first episode as “very forced and scripted,” lacking any genuinely new content or offering substantial insights. “It’s a blatant attempt to capitalize on nostalgia,” they argued.
- A third commentator echoed this sentiment: “There’s really nothing novel here; it’s simply revisiting old segments we already know, and the conversations between Hammond and May don’t provide much value.”
- “It’s not different to ‘The Best Of’ episodes of Top Gear,” lamented a fourth viewer, expressing a lack of excitement.
Despite this widespread disappointment, some viewers offered more measured praise.
“I quite liked it tbh,” wrote one user. “It reminded me of the old ‘Best of’ Top Gear DVDs. I knew going in that it wouldn’t be groundbreaking, especially with Jeremy absent.”
“If anything, it serves as an introduction to ‘The Grand Tour’ for new viewers,” they added. “It wasn’t mind-blowing, but it wasn’t terrible either.”
“I think this is fine; it’s a clip show,” stated another. “I grew up watching similar shows during the era when half of cable television consisted of them. It’s a little bland and generic, but it’s a good way to engage potential new viewers with the back catalogue.”
Notably, Richard Hammond briefly addressed his personal life during the episode, offering his first public reference to his divorce from Mindy for the first time since announcing the separation. “It’s not different to ‘The Best Of’ episodes of Top Gear,” stated another.
