REVIEW: The Great Escapists, Series 1 Episode Five 'War Games'

 REVIEW: The Great Escapists, Series 1 Episode Five 'War Games'

As soon as this episode began, it became clear that this instalment would see a return to its more infantile roots. It's a shame, because when this series focuses on the areas that Richard Hammond and Tory Belleci are good at - presenting, and construction - it is actually an enjoyable watch. But when it veers the other way, and commits to the spoof material, it totally falls apart.

The beginning sees Richard and Tory at loggerheads. The pair have literally waged war on each other, and are firing various explosives across enemy lines. This seems to be the extent of the 'joke' on display, which as with other gags in this spoof style, seems to be totally missing the punchline. What's supposed to be funny about any of this?

It gets worse, however, as we progress into the episode. For Tory proceeds to start chucking cushions at Richard Hammond, upset that he used the rockets he intended for flares on a fireworks display. This is a grown man, chucking cushions, at another grown man. It isn't entertaining, it's just silly, and it makes you wonder if this series was actually made for children.

The unbearable stupidity continues with Richard Hammond creating a cannon, and proceeding to fire pineapples at a crude model of Tory Belleci. Not only is this just ludicrous, but it also makes no sense in the context of a series where our leads are stranded on a desert island. If you were stuck on a desert island, you would have a serious lack of food supply. The last thing you would do is waste pineapples in a glorified food fight.

Initially, Tory's retaliation to Richard's pineapple antics makes more sense (even if it is overly stupid) as he starts by targeting Hammond's possessions rather than wasting valuable resources. Tory decides to sneak off with Richard's phone and Clarkson doll, and records himself explaining his ballista on Hammond's device. Even then, he resorts to making the same mistake of firing various items of fruit at his former friend. I don't get it. Why do the creators of this show think that it would be a good idea to waste food resources on a desert island?

It was nice at least to see the return of Tory's tank from the first episode of this series. A callback to one of the rare bright spots from the opening instalment, if you will. I wish this series had focused more on those Grand Tour style creations, and less on the unfunny spoof angle.

Overall, this was another disappointing instalment of what could have been a great factual programme. The Great Escapists' fifth episode contains all the trappings of its very worst moments, and very few glimpses of what the series is actually good at. So far the show has provided a very patchy run of episodes, and it's to hope that the upcoming Clarkson show presents a significant improvement on the varying quality present throughout this series.

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What are your thoughts on The Great Escapists' fifth episode? Let me know in the comments.