The Great Escapists

If you are watching this as a serious science, engineering or survival show you will be disappointed. If you are looking for what is essentially a sitcom themed around two very knowledgeable guys who rub each other up the wrong way whilst trying to get off a desert island then it's great fun. It's probably helpful if you already know them from top gear and mythbusters respectively and know a bit about their personalities but not essential.

OK, definitely no Swiss Family Robinson. And zero authenticity, which is disappointing. But It's filmed in a nice location and you could imagine this fitting into a monkey island computer game in a way. Shame that Hammond has to rely on using the Clarkson name for entertainment rather than relying on his own reputation. Definitely the least meritorious of the Three G. T. presenters spinoff shows bug entertaining all the same.

In most shows you need at least two story lines so that you can cut to and from each story, but in this case it hampered the show's best entertainment. The biggest problem was the interrogation room plot line. However, the interactions between two mechanically adept builders on a beach were genuinely so fun to watch. Of course its not a realistic shipwreck, but it was a fun setting to watch Hammond and Belleci create. Tory often does overdue the fake excitement a little much because he is a better builder than actor, but without the overly gimmicky side storyline and constantly shifting concept of time/present the show would have worked better. The meta references were one of the only positives from the interrogation room scenes. Even with just a little more realism, the show would have been more entertaining (especially from two actors who are known for their realist television and who actually are skilled). That being said, to make a show of this quality in the current times is quite an impressive feat.

Warning do not watch this, it's unbelievably shallow, contrived and nonsense lol. Right, now I've got that out of the way, let qualify that statement. It should read, do not watch it with your grown-up brain engaged, people, giving it a right slaying but failing to get that it's definitely aimed at kids. I sat for the first 15 mins with my head in my hands, turned and looked at my 8yo and he loved it. So forget the science, acting, depth, building, survivorship and everything like that kind of Bear Grills type show. It's entertainment for kids and in that context it works better than first thoughts.

This is a fantasy sitcom about two guys who get stranded on an island. One guy desperately wants to get off the island, while the other wants to stay and enjoy it. They build ridiculous contraptions in their efforts to either stay or to enjoy themselves. The two guys happen to be Richard Hammond and Tory Belleci playing themselves. OR This is a parody fantasy version of what would happen if Richard Hammond and Tory Belleci got stranded on an island together.

Once you realize what this show is, you might find it funny and cute. If you sit down thinking that it's a documentary / reality show / builder show, like Top Gear, Grand Tour or Mythbusters, you're going to be disappointed. It's a fantasy TV show. Or it's a parody. Or it's Gilligans Island where Tory and Richard play themselves. After I accepted that, I enjoyed the stupid humor and binge watched the whole season. I hope they make more. I've enjoyed Hammond and Belleci over the last 20 years and thought they were fun together. I hope they make more of these or that they do some kind of other show together.

The negative reviews are really the result of expectations minus reality.