Well, it's finally here. After months of alleged arguments and controversies, Chris Evans finally unleashed his vision for Top Gear in a post-Jeremy Clarkson world. And he'll be hoping he'll be more Jose Mourinho than Louis Van Gaal as he takes on such a daunting task.
The first episode in this new era was a strange affair. In many respects it was a pale imitation of the previous hosts' popular show, and in others it was a very enjoyable programme about cars. It just depends what you're here for.
From the opening pow of the 'Jessica' theme tune, to Evans's bizarre Clarkson impression in the intro, it just felt like they were trying too hard to copy what came before them. Clarkson, Hammond and May were like capturing lightning in a bottle. They were a perfect team.
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But then again, Chris was in a tight spot. Having taken over Top Gear, it's not as if he could just launch a completely new show. He'd piss everyone off who wanted more of the same. And it's a worldwide phenomenon, not just a UK series.
First off: the studio. Chris has revamped it slightly, bringing in a catwalk, walk-on music and a balcony. So it now feels more like TFI Friday with a smattering of The One Show. But it still has that Top Gear vibe.
Any mention of Clarkson? Not by name. Chris gave a little burn about catering (wink wink), but that was thankfully it.
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The dodgiest bits of the show so far have to be the mini-movies. Usually the highlight of the CHM era, these just felt rather forced and... a bit dull. When the former trio were embarking on challenges and road trips, you were fully engrossed and laughing your head off. Here, they were somewhat enjoyable, but we doubt at any point a smile came on your face.
Matt LeBlanc felt rather out of place in the whole thing. He's very likeable and seems to know his cars, but his presence just didn't really add anything. Not yet, at least. He looked awkward in the studio and felt as if he was reading a movie script rather than an autocue, and his voiceovers in the films sounded tired, though we guess that's his style.
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The good? It looks absolutely stunning. This is a show that was born for the HD era. If you're not watching in HD, you're missing out. It's beautifully shot, colourful and brilliantly edited. It's one of the best-looking shows on TV right now.
Plus, Chris is in his element in the celebrity interview segment. The 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Rally Car' is a big improvement from the previous show. Clarkson's interviews were often awkward and were easily the worst bit. Now, with a revamp involving two guests (who don't spend too long plugging their stuff), it was much more enjoyable.
And what about the other hosts? Remember, we were introduced to about 15 of them when it was first announced. Well, we briefly met Sabine Schmidt, who was very likeable and funny in the short moment she was on screen. As for Rory Reid, Chris Harris and Eddie Jordan? Nowhere to be seen. We shall have to wait and see.
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All in all, this wasn't a bad show. If this was a brand new show, it would be considered a really great motoring programme. But as a new attempt at replicating Top Gear, it was always going to be an impossible task.
It's like when the Bee Gees did that film about Sgt. Pepper's. The music was obviously great, and the new singers were brilliant in their own right, but you longed for The Beatles to come back.
We hope that in time, Chris, Matt and co will find their feet and lose any nervousness and awkwardness. If they get given plenty of time and patience, this could grow into something great in its own right, but for now, it just feels a bit... odd.
We also have to remember that there was once upon a time where Top Gear had another reboot. And it wasn't all that great. It was dull, didn't feel like the previous version, and had hosts we'd never heard of. Plus, James May wasn't even there yet. The jury may be out, but let's not call the axeman just yet.