Well folks, episode three is over and in this writer's opinion there is a little potential peeking through the cracks. The guys are relaxing a little in their roles and even the studio audience managed a brief chuckle, although I still whince when Charlie introduces The Stig... they need a new copywriter for that one.

The challenge was entertaining, however as in previous weeks, you're left wondering what the actual challenge was, as there seems to be an absence of any scoring system or properly defined goal.

The Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Black Series review was the best one yet, Steve does seem to be the most natural in front of the camera and his energy is infectious.

Charlie still has plenty of awkward arm action going on and Warren couldn't find the grunt in a turbo-diesel BMW X6 which seems odd - maybe it was a 'Friday' car.

BUT, I think it has come a long way in just three short episodes. Give them another season and it could very well turn into a hit show, which would be kinda cool.

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Leave a comment:

• 
• 
• 

Or use the form below, without registering.

User: Password: Register

Name: Required

Email: Required

Remember me

Enter comment here.

Notify me (by email) when there are more comments on this article.

Click here to prove you are human.

• reply ” like !

  

  Bazza says,
  5 years ago

  The hosts did seem to be more relaxed and less scripted and not as forced with the delivery of what they were saying. It still feels a little slow during the show and the challenges, as mentioned in the article, a little pointless yet the enthusiasm of the guys is showing. Should come along nicely.
• reply ” like !

  

  Bradley K says,
  5 years ago

  Yeah, it's coming along quite nicely methinks. The trio's deliveries are a lot more natural now, although there is still the occasional semi-awkward moment during the studio segments.
  
  The fact that Julia Zemiro is an absolute fox helped this week's show too. Hot.
  • reply ” like !

    

    glen says,
    5 years ago

    I agree its improving but Julia Zemiro a fox? She talked way too much, it seemed to be the longest "star in a whatever" car segment in the history of OZ or UK TG!
• reply ” like !

  

  Spez says,
  5 years ago

  I would like to say something positive, but I can't. I had real hopes for this version of TG but it fails to cover any of the level of detail the UK version does, not even close. I was hopeing for a decent detailed motoring show, but have been left with reviews that amount to "Sunday drives with the music turned up full bore". Disapointing to put it mildly.
• reply ” like !

  

  Adam says,
  5 years ago

  Yeah I agree - I'll keep watching it, the show's maturing, but there's still some things that look like missing puzzle pieces! the outback challenge (whatever the aim was) was entertaining, the Beamer was a curious chunk of metal but very boring to watch (because of the car itself).
  Give it time people
• reply ” like !

  

  davidm says,
  5 years ago

  Like a few people are suggesting, there seems to be no reasoning to the challenges. The challenge part is missing, or abbrieviated and they feel rushed.
  
  Anyway, the presenters are starting to head in the right direction. Still plenty of tweaking required but I'm starting to feel that its on the right track. TG UK took years to come together into a popular format, so I guess the oz guys are doing quite well in comparison.
• reply ” like !

  

  Fabs says,
  5 years ago

  It's definitely getting better - I actually laughed a bit this time round - the roundabout segment wasn't too bad. The hosts are clearly tuning into each other much more naturally now, small awkward moments aside. We've given it time, they're getting better, give them more time, and it'll come together good!
• reply ” like !

  

  Kosmo says,
  5 years ago

  overflourishing of arms lack of confidence in bagging the bmw was to put in mildly weak as piss it might get there tell the over flourishing arm to stop being to clever it makes us cringe.
• reply ” like !

  

  Fezzle says,
  5 years ago

  Man... where do we start.
  
  Cox has got to go. His bad hair should be reason enough, it would be fine if he was rocking the John Farnham style mullet, but that aside his personality is just plain boring and I just get annoyed when he speaks.
  
  Steve at least makes me laugh and while his voice is a bit irritating he seems the most likable of the bunch, he can stay.
  
  Warren is a duck out of water on this show. The cartoons he throws in are pointless and not funny, he seems to know little about cars in general, and that mustache is ridiculous. He can go too.
  
  Those guys aside, the 'What were they thinking' section might be OK if they had some genuinely funny or insightful things to say about the cars. The test track has something like 10 turns on it, or there abouts, and is boring as bat*** to watch, the commentating during this section is equally craptastic.
  
  People may not have liked Julia what's her face but she at least has some zest about her and got the crowd laughing a bit.
  
  It's a far cry from the UK standard but it's also in its infancy and given the improvements we're all noticing there's plenty of reason to keep watching. It took TG-UK seasons to get it right, we can't expect our boys to nail it straight up.
• reply ” like !

  

  Frontman says,
  5 years ago

  At least last night they gave reviews of the cars they were testing, not just of themselves. As for it being slow, I think it is comparable to the original (pre May) TG series. Getting better SSLLLOOOOWWWWWLLLYYYYYY.
• reply ” like !

  

  Ian says,
  5 years ago

  It's not looking good is it. Some people have mentioned the production seems a little "cheap". But I think they've spent a far bit in that regard. Production and editing is very good. Fly to WA and wreck three ute's in episode two? Not the type of thing you do if you're sticking to a tight budget is it? But the main problem is that it's a bit contrived for me. If the boy's can't read off and Autocue without sounding like it...let them adlib more. Steve last night driving the Mercedes Black didn't know whether it was Mer-see-des or Mer-say-des. He pronounced it both ways. Sorry, did I say the editing was good? Maybe not at times. I didn't think it would be him but Warren was the stand out last night with his look at the BMW X6. Good story and he didn't do a bad job delivering it, but all in all. Austarlia needed it's own show not a clone. There's only one Clarkson and only one Top Gear isn't there. Lot's of luck boys.
• reply ” like !

  

  Albert says,
  5 years ago

  Well, that was really the last time I watch the show. It is painful to see these three try to imitate the original. None of their jokes are even remotely funny, just think of their awful attempt at doing the news last night, and their car reviews are neither insightful nor entertaining. I'm sure it is not just the three presenters who are at fault here as their scripts are truly ghastly. Then there is their delivery; it's like watching a trio of muppets with all the hand-waving that's going on. Every time Cox introduced the Stig I had to quickly change the channel as it is just too embarrassing to watch.
  Every minute spent watching simply reminds me of the fact that I really miss the original and can't wait for its return. I won't torture myself anymore and will watch something else until the boys from the UK are back.
• reply ” like !

  

  Eyl says,
  5 years ago

  I completely forgot that it was on last Monday Episode 3. I never forgot the UK one, never missed a episode. But however i don't feel to disappointed that i missed an ep of TGA, maybe it will get better ill try and remember its on next Monday. Please PLEASE bring back the UK one as soon as possible, i dunno if they are busy making eps or what, being in Australia we are probably way behind in eps anyhow. -Eyl
  • reply ” like !

    

    Geoff says,
    5 years ago

    I am with you brother!!!
• reply ” like !

  

  Adam says,
  5 years ago

  I'm Sorry, but i need to pull up a few people here. Wazza did the WORST review EVER SEEN!!! on the BMW X6. a good friend of mine has an X6 and i want to point out a few things that really pissed me off.
  
  1. Wazza made a comment that the car is 2.7 or 3 ton, something like that........ it's actually just over 2 tonne.
  2. When he was driving in the scrub, he made a comment like " the car is just beeping at me!" Well turn off the Park Distance Control you tool!! GET IT RIGHT, dont can the car just because you no nothing about it.
  • reply ” like !

    

    Peter says,
    5 years ago

    sounds like you envy your friends car a bit too much man
    • reply ” like !

      

      Adam says,
      5 years ago

      Dont get me wrong..... I'm a car freak, and as a result i will watch on.
      
      I dont have a problem with anyone having their own opinion on something, but the very least that can be done is getting facts and figures correct. Thats why the X6 road test was rubbish, i'm an enthusiast and they should expect we know "SOME" things about these cars...
• reply ” like !

  

  Geoff says,
  5 years ago

  Look, let's not beat around the bush, this show is rubbish. The presenters are inept, as one of the correspondents above stated, there is only one Clarkson and Charlie Cox would do well to remember that. I have been desperately trying to find how many people actually watched it after the 250,000 odd switched off after episode 1 but I can't find that anywhere. I will keep watching, but only because there is nothing else even remotely worth watching on the other channels. I also live in hope that SBS will give it the flick and go back to the 4 or 5 year old pommie episodes that we were enjoying before they inflicted this crap onto us!
  • reply ” like !

    

    Bazza says,
    5 years ago

    The TG-AUS series one Wiki page has ratings the day after the show is aired. Episode Three was a few thousand lower than Ep. 2. The real indicator will be how many watch Episode 8, I personally think that 800,00 will be their goal.
  • reply ” like !

    

    Peter says,
    5 years ago

    I don't think its crap. its just not the same as the show we know and love. you can go buy the dvd's and watch clarkson to your hearts content. I think if you want to keep comparing it the uk version there is no point. watch it for what it is... better than most australian tv and at least it's not reality tv.
• reply ” like !

  

  Kelly says,
  5 years ago

  I still try to understand why SBS felt that Australia needed their own version of Top Gear. Clearly, Jeremy Clarkson has made a motza out of selling the television rights and everything else that goes with 'Top Gear'
  You can liken it to America's attempt at making their own version of 'Kath and Kim'
  Very rarely it works. I have tried to think of an example of success, however, cannot.
  Australians were happy watching SBS on either a Saturday or a Monday watching the UK version of Top Gear. I am positive the ratings went through the roof every week for SBS (old episodes or otherwise) Now SBS have ruined everyone's enthusiasm and weekly entertainment by producing an Australian version that is quite simply 'not working!'
  It really is frustrating watching these episodes. The X factor is just not there. The presenters that were chosen just don't have the personality needed for such a high energy show. Even the Aussie version of the STIG doesn't have it.
  I read viewers submissions and we are being asked to not make 'comparisons'. If we were not meant to make comparisons, then why make the Aussie version in the first place? Of course people are going to compare, and they have every right to do so!
  It is well known that Top Gear UK has a huge female audience (me being one of them) My work colleagues are all Top Gear UK fans! Sadly, our discussions are now ones of disappointment rather than sharing laughs with the crazy antics of Clarkson, Hammond and May.
  I wait anxiously for the UK version to return. In the meantime, I will watch our DVD's and hope that the Aussie show improves.
  
  It will be interesting to see if it survives the predicted production time. They have already axed the U.S version of Kath and Kim - I wonder if Top Gear Australia is on the cards for ditching?
  • reply ” like !

    

    Bazza says,
    5 years ago

    Won't be axed by SBS because a) The 650,000 viewers for TG-Oz still provides better ratings than most of their programs (Only one, I can think of, that may do better is TG-UK); and b) It gives them something to work on and use in the off-season for TG-UK. They can't run vintage Top Gear each week, eventually the episodes will become tired, instead there will be new (and hopefully improving) episodes of Top Gear Australia.
    • reply ” like !

      

      Peter says,
      5 years ago

      well said,
      
      give the guys time to settle in. just becuse there egos aren't as galactic as clarksons doesn't mean the show is no good. I am sure it will keep getting better.
      • reply ” like !

        

        Geoff says,
        5 years ago

        You are definitely a glass half full kind of guy aren't you!!??
        • reply ” like !

          

          Bazza says,
          5 years ago

          If you want to watch TG Aus you have to watch it with a 'glass half full' mindset, otherwise you just won't enjoy it.
          • reply ” like !

            

            Andre says,
            5 years ago

            certainly, thats the main issue it seems so bad cause everyone compares it to the UK version. But, for me personally it is a lot better than 5th gear. I actually enjoy watching TG Australia.
• reply ” like !

  

  Ian says,
  5 years ago

  Just to clarify Adam, I was talking about Warren's delivery of the story on the X6 not the story itself where I can see your point and for Geoff, the first weeks figures were around 925,000 which rated it around 15th across the nation that night. Ep2 rated 26 and last with 674,000 viewers and 3, also 26th spot with 668,000.
  As I said good luck boys. Good news for them is they didn't lose that many more viewers from episode 2 to 3.
• reply ” like !

  

  Jenni says,
  5 years ago

  The UK show is a hit because Jeremy Clarkson is charismatic. All the crap above about the quality of the critiques or the quality of the editing is irrelevant -- when Jeremy says things that are crap it doesn't matter BECAUSE HE'S JEREMY CLARKSON. Making Top Gear without Jeremy is like making a show called Jeremy Clarkson Presents without Jeremy Clarkson presenting.
  
  Of course, I note that it takes a woman to point out this very obvious truth, and I also note that the only comment above that makes any sense is the one by Kelly. Needless to say women will soon take over the world and men will be left doing manual labour and making car shows for each other.
• reply ” like !

  

  Ian says,
  5 years ago

  Ha! Good comment Jenni.
• reply ” like !

  

  Garry says,
  4 years ago

  Take a GOOD look at season 2009, quite a lot better show!!