‘Ride with Norman Reedus’ Recap: ‘Northern Italy with Josh Holloway’

9/18/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Norman Reedus and Josh Holloway in Episode 602 of ‘Ride with Norman Reedus’ – ‘Northern Italy with Josh Holloway’. (Photo Courtesy of Alfredo Falvo/AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 602 of ‘Ride with Norman Reedus’. To revisit the Season Six Premiere, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

It is definitely safe to say that mainstream travel shows and shows about road tripping, feature some similar themes. Such as how it is wondrous to hit the road and get lost in the world and see its beauty. Not to mention, they often cover the majesty of the destination and all the incredible food and culture it offers up, and well… there’s nothing wrong with that. For those are key reasons that people take road trips and those at home that enjoy the vicarious nature of these shows, want to know those very things. So, we let these shows stick with that formula and that structure, and it certainly brings us joy since we learn and know where to go if we make that voyage. And this is so deeply engrained in our minds, that it becomes quite shocking when a travel or road trip show reminds us… there are other reasons that people take the time to hit the road and check out other places.

For instance, it might be because, it’s on their travel list and they need to swing by there to check it off of said list. Or… they might be heading to a destination for more intimate and personal reasons, and well… those specific reasons are top of mind today, simply because they served as the focus of the next episode of Ride with Norman Reedus on AMC. For ‘Northern Italy with Josh Holloway’ saw Norman drop by Italy. In part, because he had yet to see the northern half of it and absolutely wanted to check that off of his personal travel list. But also, because this was a place that meant a lot to Josh, and this was Josh’s opportunity to show Norman a place that meant the world to him and his career. For Josh was noticed in Milan after moving there with minimal pennies to his name, and he never forgot the support he received there, or the beauty of this place.

So, after showing Norman around Milan, it was off into the countryside, to really help Norman experience the awe-inspiring wonder of Northern Italy and goodness… is this place breathtaking. For everywhere that Josh and Norman went, was stunning. To the point where both men were moved emotionally by the raw beauty of the Earth that was before them, and they of course met wonderful people along the way and did some rad stuff on the road. Such as test drive Ducati bikes at high speeds, which while amazing… did lead to an injury for Josh. Since the breaking procedure was delicate and put him off of his bike for the final leg of the journey. But he did meet Norman at the end of the line, and that’s when the grand payoff for this trip came into play.

Because… this meant a reunion for Josh. For old friends from days gone by were there, and eager to see someone who needed their support so long ago. For they were the ones who kept Josh afloat and thriving when he first came to Italy. Which allowed for Norman, to really come to understand what this road trip meant to Josh, and how it was special in the sense that it was a different kind of homecoming for Mister Holloway. Wherein he could reflect and appreciate the journey and he got to share it with his friend, Norman, and that made for a very special and different kind of episode. One that featured the staples of this type of series, certainly, but it really was so much more than the norm. This was something we could all relate to and share in.

For we have taken friends and loved ones to destinations we love and shown them the majesty of another place and another time that meant the world to us. And those are experiences that bring us closer together, since they are a bearing of a person’s soul, and it was simply incredible to be reminded of these alternate and unique reasons to hit the road and to once again be treated to a story that demystifies the concept of celebrity. Since we learned so much about Josh and his journey and saw Norman in a vastly different light as well. All of which served to remind us, that this is a travel series unlike any other, and it truly does defy norms to offer up human stories, and it will be quite interesting to see what other emotional and wondrous journeys await us as season six of this magnificent show continues along. Until next time.

Watch ‘Ride with Norman Reedus’

0 Comments