James May's Great Explorers

James May charts the journeys of Christopher Columbus, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Captain James Cook, through hands-on experiments, examining technological wonders, and plenty of messing about in boats.

This synopsis does sort of sum up the overall fell of the documentary.

I guess the clue is in the title "Explorers" as it doesn't really go into any great detail about the explorations, especially the last episode (James Cook).

I found the first episode good but the second one boring.

James May's unique form of presentation does get in the way sometimes and can come across as flippancy when discussing serious/interesting issues. There is a lot of school boy humour and language, which could have been toned down.

If you're seeking a captivating blend of entertainment and education about the Age of Exploration, James has you covered. The show masterfully weaves fascinating details and profound insights into the lives of the daring pioneers who shaped our world. Its vivid storytelling and rich historical depth make each episode a journey worth taking.

My sole critique lies in its brevity-with only three episodes, it leaves you yearning for more. Here's hoping for a Season 2 that delves into the voyages of legends like Magellan, Vasco da Gama, and other trailblazers. Until then, this series remains a must-watch for history enthusiasts craving adventure and discovery!

The program is unfortunate in that it is a Mish Mash of styles and is totally unsure of what it is trying to achieve and who it is aimed at.

Subject Matter - the subject matter is fascinating and it seems difficult to make a program that is so distracting and not really that educational. The constant childish gags really undermine the story that is trying to be told.

Presenter Style - James May style is normally okay as being the sort of self deprecating, humble, slightly buffoon type character who is walking through the world with marvelling naive eyes. On its own order as part of a team of three people say that is okay. However, this version of James May is part stand-up comedian making teenage or social media style joke aside that are totally out of context with the historical information being conveyed.

Script - I'm not sure if there's a script or everything is just add Live but it's not impressive.

Guests and Production - these are the good bits of the program. The filming is good and the guests seem knowledgeable and informative. Having said that they are sorting to have to fit into the comedy style narrative, which is not a good fit.

Overall, it just seemed like quite a lazy program and even though I love the subject matter, I decided I couldn't watch any more after two episodes. At the time of writing this review it seems that the program is scoring incredibly highly with 8.4 and 45 reviews but I can't see a single review.

Easy to digest history with James May as a watchable presenter.

I enjoyed the experiments along the way.

I have watched the first 3 so far.

It is a relief to have a show without foul language.

It is good to have a truthful account of history.

The pace is good & the analysis of historic navigation techniques & sailing life.

It is nice to see a show without puffed up unrealistic digital effects, thus allowing the viewer to imagine a clear, unfiltered vision of the history.

It is much better than expected and better than a lot of the trash available, which is not good for the brain.

Regardless of whether you like history,y it is worth watching.