S Poddar
Fans of The Grand Tour took to social media to express their deep emotions as the final episode finally aired on Amazon Prime Video. The two-hour special, entitled One for the Road, marked an emotional goodbye to three decades on screen from its hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.
Immediately after the episode aired, audiences went to X to express how much the show and presenters have influenced their lives. One fan wrote, “The last Grand Tour special brought me to tears. From getting me through hard times to moulding countless aspects of my life, Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond have had such an influence on me. Sad it’s gone, but glad I was there for the ride.”
This is somewhat understandable, considering how long the trio has worked together, dating right back to their days hosting Top Gear. For many people, watching the show became such a big part of their lives. Another fan simply could not believe it was over: “I just can’t believe The Grand Tour is actually over. For longer than my entire life, those three have been making amusing car journalism for us, and now it’s just gone.”
What seemed a rather heartfelt analogy was made by another fan when comparing the watching of the final episode to a bittersweet night out with friends: “Watching the last ever Grand Tour/Top Gear is like having a fantastic evening drinking a few beers, telling stories and laughing at a bar with your best friends but knowing at the end of the night you’ll never see each other again.”
As the show’s finale hit home for viewers, some took to humor: memes of men wiping away tears surfaced-a reflection of how deep the emotional bond had grown over these years. Certainly, all this fan appreciation underlines just how significant this series was to its audience in terms of both entertainment and a personal standpoint.
Some viewers reflected on the deeper meaning of such a finale. One fan wrote, “The final Grand Tour was truly the way to end things. I loved every second of it. It really makes you realize nothing is eternal, and we can never stop our biological clock. Make the most of your time and appreciate every second you can spend with your close ones.”
The former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson spoke to The Sunday Times earlier this month about why he’s stepping away from the show. He explained, “After 36 years of talking about cars on television, I’m packing it in, because I’m too old and fat to get into the cars that I like and not interested in driving those I don’t.” He added, “What this means of course is that my 22-year partnership with James May and Richard Hammond is now over. You will be seeing our last road trip together fairly soon, if you have Amazon Prime. Emotional it is.”
Clarkson’s comments remind, of course, that this is far more than the end of a television show – this is the close of a three-man partnership that has lasted over many, many years. The chemistry and repartee between the three have been the heart and soul of their shows, turning what might have been a simple car show into an incredibly popular television event for audiences around the globe.
The final episode got the trio, once more, doing what they do best: going on one final road trip, one filled with humor, bickering, and that irreplaceable camaraderie that has defined their 22-year on-screen journey. Writing for The Independent in his review of the finale, television critic Nick Hilton gave it three stars and said, “Though One for the Road may not have been filled with high drama or daredevil action, charisma-imbuing camaraderie has packed this show like the precious cargo in the back of Clarke’s Landcruiser, and turned this unlikely trio into televisual royalty.”
For fans who have been watching the hosts continuously, saying goodbye to The Grand Tour is to say goodbye to old friends. Though this chapter in their professional careers may be coming to a close, the legacy of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May is sure to survive in the hearts of those that have followed them for more than two decades. That influence on the journalism of cars and the joy they’ve brought to millions means that though the show may be over, the memories are timeless.
