‘Top Gear’ Recap: ‘Season 31, Episode 2’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 3102 of ‘Top Gear’.
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One thing that we can all agree upon, is that the road trip is one of the best ways to travel. Because it presents us with complete and utter freedom. After all, we decide when we leave and we decide the route we take and what we visit and see along the way and being able to enjoy that level of freedom and build those kinds of unique memories really does invigorate one’s soul, and what’s amazing about the road trip, is that there are ways to outright improve upon them. Take for instance camping. Because that really is the apex of freedom since you are genuinely free from the world when you camp and you get to enjoy silence and comfort in a place that you have specifically chosen, wherein you can forge whatever memories you like and that’s why this aspect of the road trip is a staple that is practiced around the world. 
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But what’s fascinating about this particular type of road trip, is that people are now trying to figure out if it can be improved upon and it just so happens that Top Gear decided to put their own spin on this push to improve the camping experience…. by pondering upon whether or not a camping road trip can be done in a supremely green manner. After all, there’s nothing more freeing than giving back to mother nature and that prompted the producers to ask the lads, to put together a camping road trip that would be as eco-friendly as possible and what the lads came up with to make that happen, was impressive to say the least. For they each chose electric SUVs to handle the journey and each of them also selected some wonderfully green camping gear.

Freddie for instance, chose a camper that was incredibly compact and handy, since it featured a complete kitchen in the rear and Paddy, well he went with a small and comfortable camper that offered plenty of creature comforts and Chris… well his camper was designed to offer the most comfort possible. Since it inflated into something akin to a small suite. But before the lads could really see how well these campers performed in the wild, they of course had to compete in various challenges. Because this is Top Gear and that’s a staple of the show and for this road trip, they were asked to see who could get their rides and caravans to the top of a hill the fastest, after making their way down said hill in the wildest way possible. Plus, they also had to partake in quite the spicy challenge when they arrived at their destination. One that involved eating some of the hottest peppers in the world whilst trying to finish a five-lap race.

Of course, both competitions led to some genuinely hilarious moments, since the first saw Paddy be run over by a giant inflatable ball a la Raiders of the Lost Ark and the second allowed for us to learn that Freddie will not back down from a challenge, regardless of the strife… and indigestion it can cause. But in the end, the lads did indeed get to enjoy a free and wonderful camping trip, one filled to the brim with beautiful views and good memories before one last challenge arrived. One where they had to use their remaining charge to race toward a castle and well… in the end, Freddie won that challenge despite the fact that Chris made it to the destination. But only because he was disqualified for unhitching his camper. 

In the end however, the important question as to whether or not one can enjoy a truly green camping trip is indeed a yes, with some caveats. In that, it will be pricey, and the wrong kind of planning could result in one being stranded, thanks to the fact that batteries have finite use. But if one is game, they could make quite the unique set of memories, ones that leave a minimal imprint carbon wise and kudos to the show for taking the time to explore this. Because not only did it give us an idea of what the future of camping might look like, but it also made for one entertaining journey, one filled with hilarious moments and unique memories for the audience and of course, it really did make all of us long for a road trip. For this episode truly captured the majesty and the wonder of hitting the road and being one with nature, and you can never go wrong with a series that takes the time to remind you to pack up the car and hit the road so you can enjoy a little slice of the amazing world that surrounds us. Until next time.

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