‘Top Gear’ Recap: ‘Season 26, Episode 5’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Since I am relative noob when it comes to Top Gear and all it has to offer, I have to admit that last night’s season finale weighed heavy on my mind in the days following up to it, simply because, I was quite curious as to how a season involving a show about cars was going to end. I mean, was there a story being told here that I was unaware of and everything we’ve seen this season was somehow going to tie together in magnificent fashion? Well as it turns out, I simply let my mind get out of control when it comes to said finale. Because while ‘Episode 5’ did indeed close out the season in a wonderful and entertaining manner, there was no grand story here to wrap up, there was just more fun to be had when all is said and done.
​
In fact, it turns out that the best way to close out the season to a series such as this, is to flat out turn the guys loose, so to speak, and allow for their special brand of honesty to shine for an entire episode. And well, the series accomplished such a feat by getting the guys up close and personal with a few vehicles that made great claims or had a special mystique surrounding them, and the end result made for one fascinating finale, wherein we saw Matt LeBlanc, say some honest and raw things about the latest iteration of the Aston Martin V-8 Vantage because this particular vehicle ended up being a bit of a disappointment for Matt. After all an Aston should signify ingenuity and inspire wonder in its driver. But the odd ‘Big Mouth Bass’ aesthetic of this particular vehicle, combined with an underperforming German motor under the hood, prompted Matt to pay this car no mind.

Which quite frankly, was bold to say the least since most shows that highlight the power of technology do everything they can to prop it up, so seeing some honesty here was refreshing, and that kind of candor continued with Rory’s segment as he took the time to review the new Rolls Royce Phantom. For Rory wasted no time in pointing out that a car that Rolls declared to be ‘The Finest in the World’ has some credence to its claims since this magnificent vehicle does indeed host some incredible features that provide a smooth and silent ride, thanks to the tech present in and around the car, and aesthetically, the vehicle is about as gorgeous and refined as they come. But to call it the GOAT of cars is a bit much since its six-meter design makes it difficult to drive casually around town, which means that really, this Rolls is more of a status symbol, one that embodies, as Rory put it, the wonder of ‘excess’, so if you’re looking to impress, then yes, it’s the best there is.

Yet while those two segments were fascinating in their own right, the one that truly caught my attention was Chris’ spotlight. Because Chris took the time explore the wonder of the Ford Fiesta ST, and how it was a flat-out better car than a Lamborghini Aventador and he proved his point, by demonstrating just how impractical the Lambo is to drive in everyday England. Because the Fiesta can go anywhere, and handle just about anything the roads can throw at it, and most importantly, this is a vehicle that’s all about the fun and really, it was just a blast to see an everyday car pop up on the series since that actually manages to draw the viewer in and make them wonder if they can do all the cool stuff that Chris can do with a car, myself included. Because hey, I drive a blue Ford Focus, and maybe it’s time for me to take it up to the mountains and get a little wild. But, let’s be honest, I’ll probably just get a thrill at taking the ol’ girl over 75 and reward myself for being a speed demon by getting a root beer float.

However, I digress, because we do still need to talk about the celebrity segment before we close this recap out because Stephen Mangan’s time on the track was motivated by a personal goal. Because he saw an opportunity to best Matt LeBlanc’s time and he worked hard to shatter that and was successful in his endeavor and well, everything present in this episode, helped me to realize that really, what makes this show so magical, are its hosts and its guests, and all the shenanigans that happen in between. Because it’s their joy, and their banter that makes the testing these cars undergo worth our while and now that I’ve got a season of this series under my belt, I have to admit that I’m outright hooked. I simply need more when it comes to Top Gear, and I’ll definitely be checking out past seasons to see what I’ve missed and I’ll be looking forward to 2020’s run because this really is a magical show, one that puts a smile on your face and I cannot wait to see what this series holds for all of us, in the future. Until next year.  

---