I don't go to many parties, dinner parties, etc but I'm sure we all have the experience where one person within the group will tend to be the driving force - quickest with the jokes, loudest with the reaction, and tending to be the one that guides the tone and direction of conversation. Individual reactions to such people tend to differ between on one's own frame of mind - sometimes I can see them as being great fun and 'on'; whereas others I would see them as "that guy"; probably when I am doing this myself others will look at me the same. In terms of The Trip, viewers will split the same way - because essentially we are hanging out with two people who do the same sort of jokes and banter each time, to the point where any other type of interaction is pushed aside, although one doesn't mind too much because it is kind of funny.
The fourth season does this yet again, and as such it will not get any new fans who hadn't enjoyed the previous seasons. For me I continue to like it as easy television, and watched it as a sort of amusing travel show with great scenery and food; however I continue to wish there was more to it. There are glimmers where the show appears to be thoughtful and cutting. This has been the same throughout, usually at the backend of the season or episodes, where characters stand reflectively having just gotten off the phone or something, but mostly it is superficial. It is the same here - at times there are moments where the show appears to be letting its characters be cringe-worthy and lack self-awareness, but then it is so quick to laugh along with them that I assume this moment must have just been in my head. Likewise there is no darkness or significant failings within the characters to contrast with the beauty of the landscape and trip - well, there are, but again not consistent enough to make it work.
I watched this Trip after finishing HBO's High Maintenance, and it probably didn't help to come off such a creative and diverse show about people, and jump right into one that seems very happy in a glossy sheen of amusing banter occasionally sprinkled with a suggestion that it will be more. In the end, The Trip to Greece produces all the good things from the previous seasons, but continues all the failings and short-comings of them too, making this glossy and enjoyable while also being hollow and disappointing.
The fourth season does this yet again, and as such it will not get any new fans who hadn't enjoyed the previous seasons. For me I continue to like it as easy television, and watched it as a sort of amusing travel show with great scenery and food; however I continue to wish there was more to it. There are glimmers where the show appears to be thoughtful and cutting. This has been the same throughout, usually at the backend of the season or episodes, where characters stand reflectively having just gotten off the phone or something, but mostly it is superficial. It is the same here - at times there are moments where the show appears to be letting its characters be cringe-worthy and lack self-awareness, but then it is so quick to laugh along with them that I assume this moment must have just been in my head. Likewise there is no darkness or significant failings within the characters to contrast with the beauty of the landscape and trip - well, there are, but again not consistent enough to make it work.
I watched this Trip after finishing HBO's High Maintenance, and it probably didn't help to come off such a creative and diverse show about people, and jump right into one that seems very happy in a glossy sheen of amusing banter occasionally sprinkled with a suggestion that it will be more. In the end, The Trip to Greece produces all the good things from the previous seasons, but continues all the failings and short-comings of them too, making this glossy and enjoyable while also being hollow and disappointing.