the grand tour vulcan

The Best And Worst Of The Grand Tour Episode 2: Operation Desert Stumble

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

After a promising start , The Grand Tour Operation Desert Stumble was the show's difficult second album. Focusing on the presenters joining a special forces team in Jordan, the second episode has garnered a mixed response compared to the universal praise of the show's debut, with many viewers criticizing its lack of actual car content. Here are our best and worst moments from The Grand Tour episode 2: Operation Desert Stumble.

The Best: The Aston Martin Vulcan The V12 Vulcan is Aston Martin's scariest supercar yet, and Clarkson's road test perfectly captured this, striking a perfect balance of being informative, entertaining and beautifully shot. To quote Clarkson: "I'm not going to say it's like being attacked by a bear, but it is like being in a room with a bear that is thinking of attacking you."

You Spin Me Right Round Watching James May being an unwilling passenger alongside a professional driver always makes for good television, and his introduction to South Africa's spinning sport was no exception where people drive RWD cars in circles until the tyres explode. It was original, entertaining and gave insight into the country's car culture. Those few seconds of May's genuine reaction when the driver stepped out of the moving car were funnier than many of the show's scripted jokes.

The Cinematic Car Chase Part of The Grand Tour's appeal is the obscene amount of money being thrown at it. In the last episode, we had the Mad Max Fury Road-esque intro. In this episode, we get a cinematic car chase full of gratuitous gunfire and explosions, with Clarkson, Hammond and May evading terrorists in an Audi S8 – the movie star's car of choice, according to Clarkson, having appeared in The Transporter, Taken and Ronin. The shot of May firing an assault rifle out of a moving car is worth watching alone.

The Worst: Operation Desert Stumble The show's main feature was fun to watch as a parody of Tom Cruise's Edge of Tomorrow, but it was very contrived and barely related to cars. It was like watching three middle aged men acting out a Call of Duty game, as the team were tasked to infiltrate a town, get to a plane, take out some terrorists, rescue a VIP and escape to an embassy. They certainly looked like they were having fun, but it dragged on far too long. Also, while pretty hilarious, did we really need a gag involving Clarkson being implicitly molested by terrorists?

The American Replacing the silent Stig with a vocal racing driver may keep the BBC's lawyers happy, but Nascar driver Mike Skinner's appearance in episode 2 was just as jarring as the first episode with his incessant trash talking in every car. Less talking, more driving please.

Celebrity Brain Crush Seriously, this isn't funny anymore. Watching celebrities "die" was a mildly amusing way to kill off Top Gear's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car in episode 1, but it doesn't need to be a recurring joke every episode. As soon as they announced Charlize Theron as a guest, we all knew what was about to happen. And it did. So, what did you think of The Grand Tour's sophomore episode? Let us know in the comments.

• Movies & TV

The Grand Tour

Operation Desert Stumble

Information, accessibility.

Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

Internet Service Terms Apple TV & Privacy Cookie Policy Support

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 89% Transformers One Link to Transformers One
• 75% Rob Peace Link to Rob Peace
• 98% His Three Daughters Link to His Three Daughters

New TV Tonight

• 100% Colin from Accounts: Season 2
• 100% Matlock: Season 1
• -- Grotesquerie: Season 1
• -- Nobody Wants This: Season 1
• -- Rescue: HI-Surf: Season 1
• -- Brilliant Minds: Season 1
• -- Murder in a Small Town: Season 1
• -- Everybody Still Hates Chris: Season 1
• -- Doctor Odyssey: Season 1
• -- Social Studies: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 80% Agatha All Along: Season 1
• 94% The Penguin: Season 1
• 55% Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: Season 2
• 60% Twilight of the Gods: Season 1
• 65% The Perfect Couple: Season 1
• 84% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• 85% High Potential: Season 1
• 74% Kaos: Season 1
• 67% The Old Man: Season 2
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 80% Agatha All Along: Season 1 Link to Agatha All Along: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

DC Comics TV Ranked by Tomatometer

Marvel TV Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Vote in the 1994 Movies Showdown – Round 1

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

• Trending on RT
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• TV Premiere Dates
• Transformers One First Reviews
• Marvel Shows Ranked

The Grand Tour – Season 1, Episode 2

Operation desert stumble, where to watch, the grand tour — season 1, episode 2.

Watch The Grand Tour — Season 1, Episode 2 with a subscription on Prime Video.

More Like This

Cast & crew.

Jeremy Clarkson

Richard Hammond

Andy Wilman

Executive Producer

Phil Churchward

Kit Lynch Robinson

Episode Info

Operation Desert Stumble

• Edit source

If counted as a continuation of the trio's previous show, Top Gear , it is the 188th episode since the show's premiere in 2002, and complements Series 23, Episode 2 in this respect.

• 1.1.1 Main Film
• 1.1.2 Other Film
• 1.2 Track Test
• 1.3 Conversation Street
• 1.4 Celebrity Brain Crash
• 1.5 Tent Location
• 2 Cars featured

Synopsis [ ]

Film(s) [ ], main film [ ].

Producer Andy Wilman sends the presenters to the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre outside Amman, Jordan for a Special Air Service-style military training exercise. The catch to the exercise is that every time one of the trio is "killed," they have to restart the exercise.

Finally the presenters return to KASOTC in Jordan to review an Audi S8 Plus while rescuing a VIP (dressed as the Queen) and transporting them to the "British Embassy." Clarkson says that the trio completed the training course in 9 hours, 48 minutes which was only "nine and a half hours slower than the actual soldiers."

Other Film [ ]

In the first of a series of short segments titled " Making James May Do Something He Doesn't Want to Do ", May visits Soweto to take part in the South African motorsport of " Spinning " where cars generate smoke by performing doughnuts set to rap music until the tyres blow out.

Track Test [ ]

Clarkson and The American test the Aston Martin Vulcan around the Eboladrome , where it becomes the fastest car to do a lap so far.

Conversation Street [ ]

The trio discuss the Aston Martin 001, a lightweight hypercar that weighs only 900 kilograms. Mainly Jeremy discusses his dislike of downforce. They also talk about the Bugatti Chiron. The trend of self-built cars in South Africa is discussed, with car-builder Johan Ackermann showing off his self-built replica of a Sauber Mercedes C9 . Impressively, he got the dimensions right by scaling up the size of a 1:32 model of the supercar.

Celebrity Brain Crash [ ]

For Celebrity Brain Crash , a person introduced as actress " Charlize Theron " is pounced on by a lion and "killed" en route to the tent. Serves her right for refusing the offer of transport on a hovercraft. They also remark that another South African famous person is in prison.

Tent Location [ ]

The tent is at the Cradle of Humankind nature reserve overlooking Johannesburg. Clarkson, Hammond, and May discuss President of South Africa Jacob Zuma , the Nkandla compound firepool controversy and carjacking.

Cars featured [ ]

• When May reads Willman's message about redoing the military training exercise every time a presenter is "killed", Clarkson indirectly references the 2014 Tom Cruise film Edge of Tomorrow , which Hammond gets wrong, thinking it is Cocktail .
• In the final part of the exercise, as Clarkson is shot in the back while running toward the finish line, he imitates the death of Sgt. Elias in the 1986 film Platoon .
• 2 Hammond's Rimac Crash
• 3 The Beach (Buggy) Boys – Part 1

The Grand Tour Episode 2: The Real First Episode Shows the Nerves

For those who didn’t follow the behind the scenes breakup between Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC, they probably didn’t know that episode two of The Grand Tour was actually the first studio taping of the show, not the Mad Max car orgy we saw in California.

Like it says in the X-Ray features, Johannesburg was picked because the hosts could count on an enthusiastic crowd to welcome them back from their 15 month hiatus from television. That same layoff is probably the reason episode 2 isn’t feeling as good as we wanted it to. It was like following a chef from one restaurant to another, but when you tasted his new dishes, you took a second to wonder what’s missing.

Coming off the emotional roller coaster that was episode one, it was easy to ride the wave of hype and have a crazy level of expectations for episode 2. However, the boys warned us that episode 2 wasn’t going to cover much about cars and from the sound of it on our Facebook page , that wasn’t a very good idea.

“Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days” – Doug Larson

Don’t get me wrong, the boys have definitely done epic shows where no cars were even featured, such as the Vietnam special, but the main reason that episode was such a success was because of the adventure and competition all three were experiencing during that show, which created genuine non-scripted moments that we all remember.

Having them work together to save a VIP or take over a building or steal a car just didn’t have the same feel as we wanted them to, but did we all expect that to happen?

Remember, the boys have been away from television for 15+ months and during that time, they had to find a new employer, form a new company, find offices, hire employees and oh, they weren’t allowed to do anything they’ve done before or they’d get sued by the BBC. Also, don’t forget that the boys have had their rough shows before, so let’s not go over the deep end here.

If the law averages play out, we’re still in for a great season of The Grand Tour.

Now, to the show.

The Aston Martin Vulcan

If there was any time to have a perfect car that symbolized the struggle episode 2 goes through, it would be this Aston Martin Vulcan. You know that it is beautiful, that it was powerful and had every element of being an amazing car, but as Clarkson showed, it took a little getting used to in order to figure out how to love this car. Sound familiar?

Like with the M2, I feel Jezza is in his element when reviewing cars on the track and as usual, the review is amazing, with eloquent writing, amazing cinematography and a real sense of the power and “brutality” that can be felt through the screen. The funny bits we saw from the trailer of the car stalling and then rolling away without the hand brake were classic Clarkson, so there’s not much to get down on here.

The American

Now, if there was a poll taken by every viewer of The Grand Tour that asked what’s one thing they would want to get rid of, I would bet 9 out of 10 vote for “The American” team racing driver and the collection of corny lines he’s delivering during each of his test drives.

In Nashville, the director told the audience that The American is here to stay and it’s easy to understand why. Unlike some television shows, the show has been planned and filmed over the past year. It would be almost impossible to re-shoot everything now, especially since they have already started filming for Season 2. Now, if The American skit doesn’t get any better and sticks around for season 2, there might be a serious revolt on the hands of the producers.

There are definitely still a few rough edges for the crew to polish up like the aforementioned team racing driver dialogue and the celebrity dying bit. A definite highlight was Conversation Street and watching the guys genuinely talk about the cars without a script.

Overall, I hope future shows get back to the formula that works and that’s the spontaneous chemistry that happens between the boys when faced with competition and challenges. It’s been 15 months since they have done a show, so this episode definitely gets a pass in my book.

What are your thoughts, reviews, and/or feedback on episode 2?

Staff Writer

The grand tour aston martin vulcan review: what jeremy clarkson did and didn't tell you, the grand tour episode 2: mixed reviews are in for operation desert stumble, related articles, toyota to launch trd tuning parts for the new gr supra.

Jeremy Clarkson Reveals Two New Cast Members For Clarkson’s Farm Series 2, But It’s Not What We’re Expecting

4 interesting facts about car seats you didn’t know, toyota and subaru possibly working on new two-door wrx sti, 23 comments.

“Stepping on a piglet”

That’s all I needed

Jeremy and James say in this episode the new red bull/Aston car is the only car with a 1bhp-1kg power to weigh ratio. Are they forgetting the Koenigsegg one to one?? I will blindly love this show no matter what, that just seemed like a major slip up for a car show. Still haven’t been so happy to see three men in my life.

Yeah, how can they dismiss the 1:one when the Regera is supposed to be on the show.

Glad it wasn’t just me that wondered that.

Wasn’t the greatest episode they have ever done but certainly was not as bad as a lot of people are making it out to be either. It was a good premise but ust did not have the best execution. I have to admit, James May arguing with the Queen was pretty funny.

TGT and TG are both influenced by having to be different than before. BBC would be wise to “bury the hatchet” and let go (give the lads free rein) because just like a grudge, the ill will they’re creating/created is PR slow poison. “DRAIN THE SWAMP” is the new “Bury The Hatchet” BEEB. Freedom of expression for the lads or be be despised by the rest of the world. What will it be?

The American has to go..or let him talk unscripted. It’s painfully obvious, how scripted it is.

Drop Celebrity Brain crash. It’s a filler segment, to suit networks, if Amazon decides to sell the program. Cringeworthy, at best.

More cars, more reviews. I know TG are breathing down their necks, but still..

The camera work, the 4K, HD shots, locations, are film worthy, and 10/10 for that. Plus the Vulcan was very nice, but that track is undersized. We need something more F1.

This episode was getting back to the old days of outrageous skits and just being downright hilarious. Loved it to bits. I do agree that the only weak point is Mike Skinner the American. A bit of a wishy-washy redneck if honest and not particularly amusing. Hopefully dropped for series two. I am hoping that the boys will continue with “The Big Films” s of old, I’m wearing out my DVDs of African Special, Burma Special, Patagonia etc. We can only wish! I am a TG fn from way back and have found that TGT has carried on in very much the same vein. Hallelujah!

I don’t really understand what he fuss is all about! They did mention in the first episode to bit expect car-related stuff in South Africa and Barbados. Episode 2 was hilarious. It felt like Monty Python on crack!!

The Episode 2 was the real deal, what it is really meant to be. It sems apparent how the boys have stepped up the game up from Top Gear. Everything about the review of Vulcun was enjoyable.

I’m in the minority on this but I thought it was hilarious and loved it. The skit was great, the Aston review was on point… In some respects the grand tour is a lot better than tg, that said I hope they do adventures in the same narrative as before. Vietnam will always be my favorite episode.

I loved it yes the Nascar driver is falling flat. We all know, it’s going to only get better the more shows they make keep it up guys

I also think episode 2 was very good, my whole family laughed all the way through it.

It was a great episode. It’s fun to watch them have more control over what they can say and do. Shooting the Queen in the back of the head on BBC? I doubt it…

I loved the episode. I laughed harder than I have in months.

I liked #2 as it showed what the show is really all about, the friendship between the 3. Like all the housing shows on HGTV 98% could of us could never buy any of the cars they review (even the M2) It is the epic journeys they have been on that makes the show. However I agree the American has to go.

I thought episode two was great, no complaints. Yes The American will take some getting used to – they could certainly give him some better lines (or let him ad lib, he’s probably funnier than the producers give him credit for, being a redneck). But I have zero complaints about TGT. They’re having to figure out how to do Top Gear without doing Top Gear so the slags at the Beeb won’t sue them. Cut them some slack.

You’re out of your mind. Episode 2 was infinitely better than the first. The reason that these three have been so successful is not that they are really good at reviewing cars, lots of shows do that. It’s the non car review segments that made a lot of us love the show. Think about the most memorable moments from Top Gear. It’s probably not the time they reviewed an M3, but rather the time they created the sports train and caught the caravans on fire, or attempted to create amphibious vehicles. Episode 1 was all car review and setup information. If that’s all the grand tour will be, then many of us will not be around long. Episode 2 brought back the fun. It had a car review for those watching just for that, and a fun segment showing the three of them in a quasi car related challenge. It reminded me why I watch.

But they do need to get rid of the American.

I agree 100% the boys have had to overcome a lot just to get off the ground.episode 2 may be slightly disappointing but that’s only because episode 1 set such a high benchmark the episode was still genuinely funny.the only question mark for me is the American driver.drop him in season 2.he isn’t as funny as they would hope.but to be fair he will always be compared to the stig..and will always come out second.maybe he should not talk?? ????

What happened to The Ben Collins?

In all honesty for those who are taking this far to seriously, if you don’t like episode 2 of The Grand Tour, you probably aren’t a fan and in fact rather more of a spectator.

I feel that the episode has been over criticised in a way the real Top Gear was when things where not to the pallet of the critics.

It is “obvious” that the whole thing is scripted, as was the TG police chase in the barracks, the only difference in my opinion is that the stunts where far better and so ridiculous that they are funny.

TGT is still far better than the beebs revised drizle and if we where all to forget where the Ape, Hamster and Captain Slow came from, we pwould all be having fun along with them and not criticising their efforts.

So you blindly like everything they come up with? Do you also love everything your favourite music artist creates? It’s called critisism, must be unknown word to you. Critisism is not same as hate and doesn’t mean you are not a fan. Just the opposite, usually the biggest fans are brave enough to critisise.

Was laughing the whole way through loved it.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Episode list

The grand tour.

S1.E1 ∙ The Holy Trinity

S1.E2 ∙ Operation Desert Stumble

S1.E3 ∙ Opera, Arts and Donuts

S1.E4 ∙ Enviro-mental

S1.E5 ∙ Moroccan Roll

S1.E6 ∙ Happy Finnish Christmas

S1.E7 ∙ The Beach (Buggy) Boys - Part 1

S1.E8 ∙ The Beach (Buggy) Boys - Part 2

S1.E9 ∙ Berks to the Future

S1.E10 ∙ Dumb Fight at the O.K. Coral

S1.E11 ∙ Italian Lessons

S1.E12 ∙ [censored] to [censored]

S1.E13 ∙ Past v Future

Contribute to this page.

• IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
• Learn more about contributing

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

• Episode number
• Newest episodes
• Available to watch

Customers also watched

7269 global ratings

How are ratings calculated? Toggle Expand Toggle Expand

• UK Modern Slavery Statement
• Sustainability
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell on Amazon Handmade
• Sell on Amazon Launchpad
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect and build your brand
• Associates Programme
• Fulfilment by Amazon
• Seller Fulfilled Prime
• Advertise Your Products
• Independently Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Instalments by Barclays
• The Amazon Barclaycard
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Payment Methods Help
• Shop with Points
• Top Up Your Account
• Top Up Your Account in Store
• COVID-19 and Amazon
• Track Packages or View Orders
• Delivery Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Amazon Mobile App
• Customer Service
• Accessibility
• Conditions of Use & Sale
• Privacy Notice
• Cookies Notice
• Interest-Based Ads Notice

• Yoshkar-Ola
• Sapaev Mari State Academic Opera and Ballet Theate

Sapaev Mari State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Yoshkar-Ola

Sapaev Mari State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in Russia’s Mari El Republic is one of the nation’s leading theaters which attracts creative young directors, talented choreographers, aspiring artists and adoring audiences. Located along the scenic Volga River near the famous Sheremetyevo Castle, the theater is a recent addition to the city yet has quickly made a name for itself through the promotion and development of opera and ballet art in Mari El.

Theater History

The founding of Mari Music and Drama Theater in 1968 was one of the most significant events in the cultural life of Mari El. The theater officially opened in 1969 with the premiere of the long-awaited local opera Akpatyr , a Mari heroic-romantic story produced by the young and talented Eric Sapaev. The performance was based on a drama of the same name by Mari playwright Sergei Chavain.

In 1972, the Musical Theater separated from Shketan Drama Theater, and a year later an eager audience was treated to the sensational premiere of the national ballet Forest Legend . In 2005, an updated version of the legendary ballet was staged, its premier timed to coincide with the opening of the Yoshkar-Ola Theater Festival which is now held here annually.

The theater continued to enjoy great success in staging both international productions and national classics. In 1994, the President of Mari El changed its name from Mari Music Theater to Sapaev Mari State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, in honor of the beloved composer’s contribution.

Modern Theater

Sapaev Mari State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater remains the pride of Mari Republic and its main creative platform. Since 2011, the theater has served as a venue for opera and ballet festivals. In 2014, it moved to its current building near the Volga, a regal and artistic playhouse that includes modern equipment on par with that of its most renowned European counterparts.

The theater is famous for its advanced choreography, which typically includes elements of Mari national dances. Their repertoire has continued to expand over the years, and thanks to the faithful work of Konstantin Ivanov, the current head of the theater, several major theatrical festivals are held at the theater annually. A number of soloists who are well-known in Russia’s theatrical circles regularly perform on its stage, and it is the only theater in Russia where Trionfi Orff has been performed.

Whether you are able to attend a performance or simply come to tour the building, a visit to Sapaev Mari State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is a great way to support the performing arts in Mari El Republic.