Top Gear: Middle East Special – A Study of Adventure, Orientalism, and Automotive Entertainment

The narrative framework of the Middle East Special is brilliant in its simplicity: the trio must re-enact the journey of the Three Wise Men.

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They arrive in Manger Square, exhausted and covered in dust. In a moment of uncharacteristic solemnity, they present their "gifts" (Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh—or reasonable facsimiles) and reflect on the journey.

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Following the Star: Why Top Gear’s Middle East Special is a Masterpiece of Television

In the Syrian desert, James May suffered a genuine, nasty head injury after tripping over a tow rope. He spent a portion of the trip in a local hospital, leaving Clarkson and Hammond to playfully mock his memory loss upon his return.

The Top Gear Middle East Special succeeded because it was far more than a car show; it was a highly compelling travel documentary.

The episode starts with the trio setting off in three rugged 4x4s - a Land Rover Defender, a Toyota Land Cruiser, and a Mercedes-Benz Unimog - from the Jordanian city of Aqaba, with the ambitious plan to drive to Bahrain, covering over 1,000 miles of varied terrain. The hosts are determined to test their vehicles and themselves in the harsh conditions of the desert.

As with any great Top Gear challenge, the success rested on the cars. Each presenter chose a second-hand convertible for under £3,500, believing that open-top motoring would suit the Middle Eastern climate. They were all catastrophically wrong.

Top Gear: Middle East Special (Series 16, Episode 2), Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May attempt to recreate the journey of the Three Wise Men across the Middle East to Bethlehem. Episode Overview

So, where can you watch this classic special?