The Grand Tour Season 3 - Review

For anyone that's been following the show since the beginning, it has been a three-year endeavor. The Grand Tour's quality has stayed consistent but its content has seen some changeups. From getting rid of celebrity guest appearances to changing the test driver for The Eboladrome, the show continually finds ways to keep fresh. So when everyone thought that this was the last season, it was a little bittersweet. Some of the most interesting content has come from Season 3 and I feel like the show had finally found its voice. 

Truly free from Top Gear's shackles, The Grand Tour is unique but is also a love letter to the trio's 17 years together. It ditches entire segments and even dedicates whole episodes to one aspect of the show; it finally stands on its own. 

Early on in the season, there was a lack of flashy editing that I was used to seeing in the seasons prior. There was concerted effort to present a story, it was like the show was saying, "We are going to make you interested in what is being shown, not how it's being shown". This made the programming more thoughtful and in turn, became more interesting. As a viewer, comedy was expected, cars a given, and an overall fun time was had.

Season 3 is home to really great segments that have taken over. There were large documentary-style films and more historical look backs at motoring in general. These nostalgia trips were well presented and didn't detract from the fun the show is known for. They were also quite respectful, detailing monumental moments in motoring with sincerity. And when that wasn't happening, the guys would be yelling and laughing at each other.

Yes, the constant bickering and jibbing is not lost on the show. There is still plenty of footage of the trio laughing at each other, yelling, and driving. This season does see a more concerted effort to show off more exotic locations in the form of road trips and cross country bouts. One of the best episodes comes in the form of the crew being stuck in the middle of the desert where they have to build a car and are hundreds of miles away from the nearest town. 

So I'm excited to see what season 4 can bring. How will the show be changed with its biggest shakeup yet? Losing the audience part of the show, meaning no more conversation street and no more car lap times. Its definitely going to take some time to get used to but hopefully, there will be a couple of seasons to settle into the new groove. The Grand Tour is one of the best shows on television because it has a great cast at its heart, an enormous budget to play around with, and will always manage to put a smile on your face. 

Rating: Binge