Now that the first six episodes of Top Gear America are live and streamable—commercial free, exclusively on the MotorTrend App—a question has arisen: Is Top Gear America binge-worthy? Obviously, we think so, but we asked the overlords of the interwebs all about binge-worthy shows, just in case.
What makes a show binge-worthy?
First, we need to define binge-watching. It’s generally agreed that you need to watch two or three episodes of one show in one sitting to be considered binging. Whether it’s mysterious, thrilling or hilarious, binge-worthy shows always have a hook you just can’t pull out. You know that lie we all tell ourselves? “Just one more episode”—yeah, that never happens.
Can a Nissan 350Z go overlanding? Was Rob Corddry OK after inhaling all those gas fumes in the Saab? Was there a single episode so far on Top Gear America that hasn’t made you laugh out loud? Of course not! So, yes, Top Gear America is bingeable.
Why do people binge-watch shows?
Whenever you do anything enjoyable for extended periods of time, your brain produces dopamine, giving you a drug-like high. Scientists have found that when watching television for hours, especially when the viewer focuses on an individual show, viewers can experience the same dopamine rush. TV watchers that binge one show also often feel a sense of accomplishment when they complete a season, further enhancing that dopamine effect.
So, basically, watching all six episodes of Top Gear America straight through is good for you. Stick with us here: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that affects blood flow, digestion, executive function, memory and focus, mood and emotions, pain processing, pleasure- and reward-seeking behavior, sleep, and stress response—humans are generally miserable when we have low levels of dopamine in our system.
Top Gear America is funny and exciting (remember when Dax went full-send in that Ford Explorer?) and the episodes are less than 40 minutes long. Americans average 2.5 hours of television watching a day, so these first six episodes are the perfect binegable chunk to help you keep your dopamine levels in check. Self-care is paramount these days.
How do you binge-watch effectively?
Top Gear America is totally bingeable and we have given you a very good reason to binge all six episodes—right now! But how can you ensure that you are binging Top Gear America in the most effective way possible? Here are some ways to make sure you’re all set to binge-watch Top Gear America and all the other amazing automotive-themed shows on the MotorTrend App:
- Subscribe to the MotorTrend App: It’s the only place to watch Top Gear America (plus over 250 other exclusive shows). Click here for a free trial and start binging commercial-free, right now!
- Get your device ready: Android mobile devices and TVs, iOS mobile devices, Apple TV, Roku Streaming Players and TVs, Google Chromecast, Amazon FireTV, Xbox One, and personal computers all support the MotorTrend App. If using an internet browser, make sure you’re using Chrome 65, Firefox 58, or Safari 10 (and later updates) and have JavaScript and Cookies enabled.
- Make wise snack choices: You don’t want to interrupt your flow from watching Rob romp that shed-equipped 4Runner through the Arizona mountains, or convincing a stranger to tow his fuel-spilling Saab. Make sure snacks and beverages are within arm’s reach so the pesky pause button is never pushed and there is little opportunity for distractions or interruptions.
- Multitask: If you can’t dedicate hours to pure Top Gear America binging but you need that fix anyway, guess what? That’s why the MotorTrend App is available on so many devices! Prop your phone next to your laptop during your next Zoom meeting and genuinely laugh at your boss’ bad COVID joke, but really it’s the streamliner tail on Jethro’s Mini and Dax blowing up his Caddy with nitrous.
- Have no regrets: What’s the worst that could happen? You were going to watch TV anyway, so feel good that you’re providing your brain with the necessary chemicals it needs to help you regulate your general happiness level. Then feel even better when you move on to 100+ episodes of Roadkill and Dirt Every Day, every season of BBC’s Top Gear, or even some of your MotorTrend Network favorites like Street Outlaws and Fastest Cars in the Dirty South. And we’re always making more—more than 8,000 hours and counting!
