JaydoDre This is not a linear professional documentary I expected.First, it needs to be noted that although the premise indicates that the show will talk about a whole bunch of countries these guys pass through, that is not the case. There are only 7 episodes (10 + special features in the special edition) and there is no way in hell you can cover all those countries in a meaningful manner in that time.So instead the show concentrates on events in Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia.Secondly, the structure of the show is very...nonexistent. Despite the fact that there is a whole support team assembled, the show feels more like it is someone's home-video. This is not necessarily a bad thing.This documentary is like a really good home-cooked meal, with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. It shows only the weird characters and situations that these two guys encountered on their way.Would I really like them to have more content spread over 10 more episodes including Europe and US. Yes, but this concentrated version was cool too.Because there is a film crew and actors involved, the two travelers at the centre get a lot of attention from various people and governments, which makes their experiences feel a bit unrelatable. You and I, we would not get police escort through Kazakhstan you know. On the other hand to some this may seem like a good thing, causing more weird stuff to happen, but to me it puts them further away from the countries they visit.It was still very personal and interesting though. The two main characters, being friends, have a lot of chemistry. Definitely worth a watch.

revenue_rock The personification of wanderlust. Loved this so much, couldn't get enough and immediately watched Long Way Down after. I miss the guys now, and have nothing to watch. The show starts of with the guys in pre production. It was fascinating watching what the crew go through before they go. Not just their travels but the amount of work that goes into filming a show of this size is unbelievable. The show has not encouraged me to pursue my dreams of world travel, but has also given me a massive appreciation of motorcycles. I also fell in love with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman (no homo) ;) They are so down to earth and have no egos. The show then goes on to demonstrate the beautiful world we inhabit. The countries, cultures and people all make the show what it is. It really is fantastic and I doubt they will ever top this!

Zhivko Yakimov It is difficult to write about "Long Way Round", because it is a truly extraordinary story about what people can do. I believe this is one of the greatest travel series done in the past few years, comparable only to marvels like Michael Palin's "Himalayas". I absolutely loved Charley and Ewan, and how honest they were, not trying to hide their annoyance or at times despair from the hardships they met. Yet, the entire team was really great, and it showed how much they started to rely on each other during the course of the journey, and I believe all the travails really pulled them closer, and made friends for life.But this is just a small part of the series, because it shows a whole new world that you will probably never see elsewhere. The sheer vastness of Asia is probably best captured on a motorcycle, which also lets a much more intimate look at the countries and people you are passing by. I absolutely loved the approach they took, trying to feel what everyday life means in those countries, and I do feel sympathetic, when they got a police escort through most of Kazakhstan.And of course I absolutely enjoyed the parts in Mongolia and Siberia, which probably showed what truly means to travel by a motorcycle from London to New York, the long way round. I could almost feel the enjoyment they had from each passed obstacle, and the sheer exhaustion they felt after it. Besides, you see that even though Ewan McGregor is a big film star, he doesn't get any preferential treatment, compared to anyone else on the team.In the end, I like a lot what Ewan said about his growing optimism about the human race, and how this trip has really changed him (and Charley, of course). I really wish more people to see these series, because it does show that there might be hope for us, after all.

dave-irland I ride motorcycles so it was a special treat. The guys were great, and good at speaking to the camera in an engaging way devoid of excessive ego or showboating. Which brings me to my main frustration: these guys seem to be mechanically challenged, which is a bit odd considering the remoteness of the areas they rode through. It was unbelievably frustrating watching them get hung up to the point of near-despair on something that anybody with a basic knowledge of machines would have been able to fix. At points like these (and there were more than a few), I started to see these guys as extremely likable, albeit urban and almost useless. However, Ewan is never shy about pointing out his shortcomings. What blew me away was how upbeat they continued to be despite what must have been an absolutely exhausting odyssey of sleeping in huts, tents, and borrowed houses. Despite the small army of support vehicles and an apparent ocean of money, they still managed to make it a true adventure -- parts of Russia drew out the rugged innovator in both of these guys. Like all documentaries, there was a pronounced lack of interest in/ respect for the raw facts: where did those giant six-wheel trucks come from to drag them across rivers? Who changed Charlie's tire when it went flat? How did the camera man's light, cheap, probably Chinese two-stroke manage the rest of the trip after it was purchased to replace his broken $25,000 BMW? And how come the two actor's travails are presumed to be more interesting than those of the long-suffering, somewhat comical Swiss camera man who's logging exactly the same miles, only with a job to do? And why didn't the support group include a competent mechanic???????? Otherwise, a really enjoyable ride. Mongolia and Russia look like places to experience before they modernize. Lucky buggers, I say. Love to see the same film done again, only with a solo rider with MUCH less equipment and less portly motorcycle and a much greater degree of riding and mechanical skill.