Episode #24.1

Some actually funny bits, a nice new studio, the classic track is back, the Top Gear visuals are still front and centre and this is clear and distinct from the Clarkson era rather than just trying to make a copy.

The guest spots seemed a bit staged and some of the scripted sections still need to be a bit more relaxed but that was maybe just the first one and having McAvoy as the guest.

Definitely an improvement on last years disaster.

I think the biggest problem everyone has here is the name: Top Gear. Over the time span of more than a decade the trio of Clarkson/Hammond/May has built as cult TV-show that, let's be honest, can't be topped under that name. But what followed in the season after their departure was not just an attempt, it was an insult. Instead of reinventing the format properly we had way too much going on with an armada of hosts who frankly didn't quite know what they were doing - although their casting and presence mostly made sense.

In the meantime Clarkson, Hammond and May picket up where they left off - only with a lot - yes, a LOT more money. So come on, honestly, how can you top that? You simply can't.

So what did Top Gear do for its 24th season? They've gone through a diet, obviously a tight one. What's left is LeBlanc, Harris and Reed, a rather politically correct response to the all white, all British trio Clarkson/Hammond/May. What I did was what most of you couldn't: Give 'em a chance.

The chemistry is at its beginning - you can literally feel how the three have to find their way to each other first and the show sends them through plenty of scenarios to do so. Nice. We got the Stig back, we got the Top Gear track back and we got great cars, kind of pointless but fun challenges (like before) and a celebrity. Now the new hosts have to glue these parts together in "their" manner and to be honest - for a first shot they did it quite well.

LeBlanc brings the typical American swag, Harris is a nice guy with three times the technical knowledge of cars of the previous trio combined and Reed is the funny guy who brings things closer to the average-joe-watcher. It's a balanced recipe, but of course it needs time to sit to start working properly.

Yes, eight stars may be a bit generous but it's my trust bonus as I believe those three can actually pull it off. Production values are high as usual and I'm looking forward to what's coming up next. You should do the same - it can't be a Grand Tour 2 anyways, so let's be open to where they carry it.

A bit better but nothing can replace jeremy and the gang, doesnt feel naturally done....a lot of obvious pretending and acting

"It took the three of them (Clarkson, Hammond, May) years to find their feet as a trio. Another reason I think the show works, the BBC left us alone to let them find their own rhythm, their own groove, their own characters. They don't throw strangers together and go ' Right, you're funny friends now', they let that develop" -Andy Wilman

This is an improvement on the 23rd season, getting rid of Evans was the right choice... But this is still not something I would watch.

Matt LeBlanc is a good presenter, so is Chris Harris, and so is Rory Reid... But they don't have the chemistry that the original trio, the holy trinity had.

We all know that it takes years for people to develop this kind of chemistry between them, so we can't blame the new hosts for that, but having them try to act like they do doesn't look good, in fact it's quite transparent that they treat this as just another job and nothing more, the jokes are undeserved, the humor falls flat and then the fact that they just go and use the challenge format that was invented by the original cast like it's their own with no original though put into it is sad.

It's not as bad as the last season, but watching pain dry is better than the last season, so the bar isn't really that high. Being better than one of the worst seasons of television ever, is not that hard.

Just watch the grand tour, even though heavily scripted, the chemistry is the same good old bunch of Brits doing stupid stuff in cars to make you laugh while teaching you some things about cars in motoring in the process.

After the sheer car crash that was the first/last series with Chris Evans at the helm it's almost now or never for this show, that lives with the shadow of its former hosts hanging over it.

But, fear not, there's a saviour in the form of Matt Le Blanc. Yes, Joey from 'Friends' believe it or not is single-handedly saving this show. And it's easy to see why, not least the fact that his co-hosts aren't that interesting.

Le Blanc is funny, warm, engaging, and importantly knows about cars. I don't really care about them to be honest, but with Le Blanc fronting this show I at least feel like i'm learning and am entertained.

If this is the shows last lap of the race then Le Blanc has given it his best shot.