Fifth Gear Recharged

One could say "we do both" but this seems more like check the boxes. How about stop with the corny jokes mixed with being super woke, car passion coming 3rd and rather find real chemistry between the team and a good writer to help behind the scenes.

This forced wokeness is getting to the point of being absurd.

Its a decent show, something for everyone here. I would like to see them push the limits of whats possible in the reviews a bit more but its a solid effort from the Team. Well done. One thing that is annoying though from these shows is the confusion between kWh and kW with constant incorrect references being made between the two very different metrics throughout the show.

I love cars, and I feel there's been a gap in the market for this kind of show for a long time, a car show about cars (not forced childish games), and cars that you can actually consider buying.

I also haven't managed to keep up to date on the electric car market, so I'm appreciating the content. I have been surprised about what's already there and even more about what's to come in the near future.

Don't be distracted by climate change deniers, this show is just about cars, and electric cars are here to stay whether they want to accept it or throw their frustrations against a great tv show.

Vicky and Jason are legends that give the show an extra humph.

As the BBC's iconic Top Gear fades into the rearview mirror, terrestrial TV had a clear lane to dominate the automotive show circuit. Enter Fifth Gear Recharged, a program with the potential to seize the crown and reign supreme in the world of car enthusiasts. Yet, despite this golden opportunity, the show stalls right out of the gate.

Fifth Gear Recharged, regrettably, deflates expectations. The show's identity is as elusive as a rare vintage car, leaving viewers puzzled about its intended audience. Episodes featuring SUVs are so lackluster that even the fast-forward button feels underwhelmed. The segment on the Lamborghini, a vehicle synonymous with exhilaration, somehow manages to be devoid of any zeal. While Top Gear famously orchestrated epic showdowns like the McLaren F1 versus the Bugatti, Fifth Gear Recharged opts for tepid banter in a Scottish pub. This is not the high-octane content that petrolheads crave.

Even the BMW M50, a gem in the automotive world, loses its luster under Fifth Gear's lackluster presentation. The show transforms what should be a thrilling ride into a mundane, overcrowded car journey, reminiscent of a lackadaisical school project.

The hosting team, a seemingly random assemblage of personalities, lacks chemistry. The dynamic that once made car shows captivating is notably absent. However, all is not lost. The solution may lie in a bold shake-up: maintain Vicki Butler-Henderson and Jason Plato, whose expertise resonates with purists, and introduce an element of unpredictability - perhaps in the form of Russell Brand. While not a conventional choice, Brand's vibrant character could inject much-needed vitality into the show.

In its current state, Fifth Gear Recharged is a missed opportunity, a journey that promised adventure but delivered monotony. It's time for the producers to shift gears and steer the show towards a path that resonates with true car aficionados.

Fifth Gear has had a chequered history - moving from channel to channel with repeated risk of cancellation, but the new Recharged version shows a maturity and expertise lacking in many automotive shows such as the increasingly embarrassing UK Top Gear. Jason Plato, Vicky Butler-Henderson,Karun Chandhok and Grace Webb know their stuff and genuinely seem to be having fun together, not pulling any punches but equally not going over the top. However, Sid North seems a bit out of his depth - occasionally just repeating what others in the team say. Tiff Needell is notably missed. Just reviewing EV's may limit its scope, and it must be made on a budget given its limited audience size, but it's good viewing even so - intelligent and imaginative.