While those in America are sitting down to a lovely Thanksgiving meal, here in the UK we call this day “Thursday” and must continue to work. However, in brighter news, Plattie has agreed to come on board on a semi-weekly basis as PV’s BBC correspondent. After all, we may not get pumpkin pie, but we do have regular access to documentaries featuring Ewan McGregor. Some would call that a fair trade.
When I first sat down to watch Long Way Down, the new adventures of Ewan McGregor and his chum Charley Boorman (and the sequel to the highly successful Long Way Round), I fully expected to love it. I mean, first of all, it’s Ewan McGregor, on a motorcycle! Which, you know, would be enough on its own. But, secondly, it falls firmly into the category of blokey buddy telly, like Top Gear or Mythbusters, with a male friendship at its heart, based firmly on affectionate piss taking. I am a well-documented fan of this particular genre. Although, don’t talk to me about the bizarre fanfiction it generates. I’m still twitching from the R-rated Mythbusters slash I stumbled upon the other day.
So, Ewan and Charley set off on motorcycles to ride from John O’Groats, the northernmost tip of the UK, to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa. Why? Well, as Ewan so eloquently put it, ‘Because it’s there, man. Because it’s out there’.
Good enough for me, lovely Ewan. Now, go take off your shirt for Diary Cam.
But, on first viewing Long Way Down, I was kind of disappointed. The editing seemed to be all over the place, the action was nonsensical, and it was never entirely clear which country the guys were in or where they were headed next. Also, there was barely any commentary on the places they were travelling through. At one point Charley pointed to a beautiful, elaborately carved Egyptian tomb and announced, ‘That’s the tomb of somebody important.’ Huh. I feel so enlightened now.
But, about ten minutes into the show, it all began to make sense. The guys aren’t travel presenters, historians, botanists, sociologists or archaeologists. And, commendably, they’re not trying to be. They’re two blokes who have gone on a long and exciting motorcycle adventure. One of them just happens to be a famous movie star, which is why the BBC has shown up to film it. But the point of the show is not to educate us about Egyptian tombs or African poverty or any other such worthy topic. The point of the show is to say ‘Look! We’re motorcycling from Scotland to South Africa! Isn’t that brilliant?’
This was never more clearly illustrated than in the moment when Ewan, while riding along in (I think) Ethiopia, suddenly saw monkeys by the side of the road. And instead of stopping to tell the audience what kind of monkeys they were, or telling us some sad tale about their natural habitat losing out to encroaching civilisation, he just started yelling ‘Monkeys! Monkeys! Monkeys! Monkeys! Monkeys! Monkeys! Monkeys! There are monkeys!’
(Does the word ‘monkey’ look really weird to anyone else now? Just me?)
What makes Long Way Down brilliant telly is, in the end, not Ewan McGregor doing Diary Cam shirtless (although, you know, don’t stop that or anything, Ewan) but the sheer glee and excitement that positively radiates from the screen. Ewan and Charley come across as two guys who can’t quite believe they’re out there, doing what they’re doing, and every little thing about the experience delights them. I absolutely defy you to watch this show and not end up with a silly grin plastered all over your face.
Share This
November 22nd, 2007 at 9:53 am
Finally, you write about something I watch and can therefore comment on. I LOVE The Long Way Round, and could happily watch it on never ending repeat I think. I haven’t got quite the same love for Down, but I’m still loving it nonetheless. What I think it needs is for the support crew to p***off, and for Ewan and Charley to be left alone to do what they do best, mainly talk about crap together and make each other laugh. Because when they are laughing, I am laughing. The thing I love about Round is the two of them meeting random people, adjusting to different ways of life and cultures, and just getting on with it. I think they’ve had too much distance to travel in too short a time, (and they know this) so the majority of it is just them on bikes wizzing past scenery and falling off their bikes. Not all that interesting to watch. Still, I wait for it every Sunday very eagerly, and I sit down with my cup of tea and biscuits, and I wait for Ewan to smile, and I am happy.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Yay bikes! And shirtless Ewan, of course
The thing I love best about this series (as well as LWR and “Race to Dakar”)is that I totally understand the wish to get on a bike and ride somewhere, anywhere, ooh that looks good, let’s go now now now! If someone gave me the opportunity to take part in such a journey I would be all over them like a can of very fizzy Coke. The guys’ energy is absolutely how I feel about two wheels and open road, and every episode makes my hubby and I wibble with jealousy as we reassure our baby that we do love her, but *sob*
What I like least about this show is the sheer overkill when it comes to support vehicles etc. There are plenty of riders who have travelled farther and wider with only panniers and a backpack. Some of them have done so as rider and pillion, massively reducing the available packing space. Dear god, get over yourselves and just bloody ride!!! Naturally I blame Russ and whatshisface for this breakdown in simplicity. Yes, it could be handy to have an on-board medic and local fixers, but what’s so wrong with a first aid kit and Lonely Planet?
Yep, if the support crew left Charley, Ewan and Claudio to their own devices (and vice versa) this show would be PERFECT. So long as there was room for me to come along too. And more shirtlessness.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
When will the “Long Way Down” air again on TV? Missed this one..
January 27th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Janice, I haven’t heard anything about a repeat showing. Since the show has now been released on DVD in both the US and the UK, I doubt we’ll be seeing it again on our televisions anytime soon.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
HELLO I WHACHED LONG WAY AROUND AND I LOVE THAT EWAN AND CHARLIE DO THIS FILM BECAUSE ITS THE THINGS THEY DO LIKE MEETING WITH CHILDEREN EATING AMAZING FOODS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRYS AND I LOVE WHEN THEY MADE IT TO NEW YORK AND EWAN AND CHARLIE WERE SO HAPPY TO SEE THERE FAMILY AND I BEGAN CRYING BECAUE EVERYTIME EWAN SMILES I SMILE HE CRIES I CRY AND I WAS GLAD HE GOT TO SEE HIS FAMILY AFTER BEING GONE FOR SO LONG