User Reviews

The following comments cover both parts one and two of this special This Top Gear special had made the news long before the episode aired… for all the wrong reasons. Argentinian 'war veterans' had decided that one of their car's number plates, H982 FKL, was a reference to the 1982 Falklands War and had run the production crew out of the country. How this would affect the eventual show remained to be seen.

The opening episode began with the boys turning up in their three V-8s which they were to drive the length of Patagonia to Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego; the southernmost city in the world. The three cars are Clarkson's Porsche 928, May's Lotus Esprit and Hammond's 1971 Ford Mustang. Along the way south the visit the house were Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid once lived, cross the Andes, have an impromptu race on a dry lake bed and drive along the sort of roads that their cars clearly weren't built for.

As it always the case much of what goes wrong is clearly preplanned; most notably crossing a wobbly bridge only to find it is a dead end; driving across the Andes on a track that just disappeared but still making it across and turning up at a river were there was no bridge. Other events such as the run in with the 'protesters' and James May's injury after he fell off a horse obviously weren't. It wouldn't be a Special without their cars breaking down occasionally and the threat of having to use the backup vehicle, in this case a 2CV.

While fans know there are plenty of scripted moments it is still an entertaining show with plenty of laughs, some more than a little childish behaviour and plenty of moments were it looks like one or more of the cars won't make it. There is also some absolutely stunning scenery along the way; one could almost think the tourist board had told them where to film! There are one or two low key references to the Falkland's war but the claim that the number plate was deliberate provocation sees a little far-fetched; subtlety was never the shows strong point and they had driven over a fifteen hundred miles without comment. The local reaction was clearly over the top and presented a real danger to the crew… it also provided a sad end to what until that point could have been some great publicity for such a stunning country. Overall if you've enjoyed previous specials you'll probably like this one too.

I am confused why they had to walk to town to get the cutting bolts - The road to town was fine, why didn't they drive?

I don't know if it's just me or the world that has moved on. Watching three rich white guys drive expensive cars around poor surroundings is simply not something I want to watch anymore. Don't get me wrong, Top Gear had some brilliant seasons I can watch over and over again and at times it even had some kind of tongue in cheek tone or at least that was my impression. Clarkson always had some strong views I didn't agree with, but that's the joy of free speech. In the later seasons however, it didn't click anymore. Maybe they've lost their touch, maybe I'm more conscious of my surroundings and the world and how it is developing. Maybe I'm just a bitter old fart not seeing all the good that's happening. Who knows. I do know however, that their latest special was in fact not only slightly out of touch and offensive, it was boring. And that is something Top Gear always had going for them. The sheer entertainment value. I could watch them driving through Iraq or Bolivia for hours, but the trip to Argentina had nothing memorable to offer and the ending was just stunning. I do not condone any form of violence, but acting as they did, what exactly did they expect? They can get away with a lot, but their provocation was just stupid and I don't buy it in a heartbeat that the license plate was a coincidence and their intentions were sincere. The went too far and were thrown out. I feel sorry for them, but hardly any sympathy.

OK, so when looking at these episodes, I guess you have to separate it into your thoughts on the storyline and the incident.

As for the construct, the two episodes were fundamentally extremely boring. Driving a non-off road car over some rocks or through a bog is just boring. They're going to make it so big whoop if they pretend they got stuck for a bit. Maybe if you don't get how contrived it all is and believe that there is actually some sort of challenge involved, you might find it interesting. Judging by the ratings the show gets, there are enough people who fall into that category.

For me though, it was incredibly dull. Have a proper race around a proper track against some locals or something, on the way. Or maybe just stop acting like it's not scripted? I dunno if you could make this work for me anymore to be honest, having seen it all so many times before.

Anyway, moving on to the number plate. Anyone that believes it was an accident is flat out not thinking.

H982 FKL 1982 FKL You literally cannot get a closer match. They don't do I number plates so maybe you could say J is closer to a 1. Odds of it being random were calculated by a bookmaker as 13 million to 1.

So it was a typical Top Gear dig. Whether that is OK, is personal opinion. My opinion is that it's the sort of thing a complete pillock would do. Whilst Argentinian politics can be pretty repugnant, that doesn't mean you go out there and act in the same way.

War isn't funny. People dying isn't funny. Poking fun at what is still a very touchy political subject, where many people died, is really not funny and you really shouldn't be surprised when a situation like that flares up significantly.

Now we're all done and dusted with the incident, Clarkson, as is his usual way, is showing no contrition. The general attitude fostered by the show, that they are untouchable and beyond responsibility, could have seen members of the production staff seriously injured or worse, yet Clarkson's response is to say "it's a good job they threw like girls". Of course it was a dramatic response to their actions but you don't poke a hornet's nest and expect no repercussions.

So, they go out there and mock people, staff he's ultimately responsible for get attacked whilst he runs and hides, then he respond by mocking people again. The guy is an utter, utter pillock.

This isn't the first time they've done this sort of thing. They found it absolutely hilarious to make Hammond ride through Vietnam on a motorbike painted and draped in a US flags. Again, showing they found an attempt at a cheap laugh far more important than showing respect to hundreds of thousands of war dead.

Anyway, whatever. They are what they are. I watch Top Gear now basically just for star in a reasonably priced car. The rest of it I kind of half watch whilst doing other stuff and try and ignore the stuff where they are being obnoxious.