It has been a long summer and the absence of BBC’sTop Gear has done little to satiate my desire for “some British” chatter and banter. It appears Netflix has saved the day, my sanity, and kept me on the straight and narrow.
After nosing around the suggested series in the streaming Netflix interface (by the way, I’m a recent convert to the streaming option and how impressed I am with the product) and found the rival British car show, Fifth Gear. Hosted by Jason Plato, Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, and Jonny Smith — the series has grown on me, if I’m honest. With classic British mannerisms, phrasing, and elegance, Fifth Gear hits where Top Gear misses — in evaluating mid-priced cars from the perspective of a true driver, not evaluating super cars from the perspective of an amateur.
Initially, I wasn’t too impressed with the series but once the show stabilized with the four presenters mentioned earlier (around season 15 or 16), the product really takes off. I’m actually watching yet another show as I type this post — and I become more and more impressed.
If you are a moderate car person, petrol- or gear-head, then take the time to drink in the show. Neflix has become a great platform that allows one to catch up with a series of interest, quickly. Take a peek but be sure to start somewhere around season 16. Enjoy.