New Robot Wars 2016 first episode aired today...

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Squidgy humans, the robots have returned...the housebots upgraded...the contestants, still very squidgy! Today marks the return of the glorious programme in which DIY death-kits pitted against each other battle violently to their deaths.
I can't find a link to the full episode, but it is on BBCi player free to watch. Here is a little housebot introduction;


Did anyone catch the show on BBC 2? Any opinions on such needless, wholesome destruction?
The presenter has changed, Craig Charles has somehow harnessed cytokinesis and split in two ; one half is Dara o Briain, the other, Angela Scanlon.
My inner psycho child was very pleased, my outer psycho adult mildly aroused at the carnage. All is good, squishy humancubs. *Reclines into classy chair with lit bear-cigar*

 

[Scarim Coral]

I wasn't aware it was back on, also Sergeant Bash? He was my favourite. Oh I don't like Mattila new hide.

Heh I wonder if they stop the exhibation matched they held in the MCM Expo. I guess I will find out this Saturday!

 

[Johnlives]

They did a lot more damage than I remember them doing in the old days...I'm ok with this.

 

[Sassafrass]

Fucking Razer, man...
Right in the child hood. HOW COULD YOU, RAZER, I HAD FAITH!

But yeah, I enjoyed the shit out of it and I'm 100% watching the rest. Looking forward to more Carbide after that very impressive showing against Nuts and the showing against Behemoth.

 

[baconsarnie]

Why did we even bother with weeks of top gear if this was the alternative?

Shame razer had to mess it up but then robot wars always had people losing for bullshit/silly reasons anyway (tornado vs razer final anyone?)

 

[vallorn]

Why did we even bother with weeks of top gear if this was the alternative?

Shame razer had to mess it up but then robot wars always had people losing for bullshit/silly reasons anyway (tornado vs razer final anyone?)

Because the BBC are idiots and think Chris Evans is appealing to people.

Always a shame for Razor but the fates seem to just conspire against that robot... I hope to see some of the odder robots with weird setups like Gemeni or Hypnodisk making a go for it this season, if only because I remember Hypnodisk's first season where it tore the armor off of Matilda.

 

[Groxnax]

Whoa, wait, it's back?

I just loved those house robots and how they can grab the unwary robot and rip them apart.

As well as those robots that could hold their own like Hypnodisk.

 

[vallorn]

The Telegraph seems to think similarly, why have the Chris Evans Shouty Show when we could have had this?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/07/24/robot-wars-reboot-is-silly-and-pointless-but-its-time-has-finall/

I have to say, I find myself missing Craig Charles... The man brought a great deal of charm to the old show (That and his ridiculously tassled coat). Dara O'Brien is a good comedian and knows his mathematics and engineering so he'll be a damn good host but I still miss Craig Charles...

 

[Selucia]

Apparently the BBC is rebooting a few of old classics to fill the gaps in its current lineup with even time commanders apparently returning to our screens soon, you tube kinda beat it to the punch with similar videos using total war hammer but i am still excited.

As for robot wars the new presenters did okay the narration felt lacking in enthusiasm that i recall but that might just be nostalgia and the new robots certainly fight better.

 

[Borty The Bort]

I never got to watch Robot Wars before,never really interested me before,maybe I`ll take a crack at it this time

 

[09philj]

A shame Razer didn't make it out of the group melee, but if it had we would have been denied the spectacle of what Carbide did to Nuts.

 

[gigastar]

I approve of the new generation of metal carnage. Too bad Razer got offed out the gate, but Carbide is already the new Hypno Disc in my book.

But I think every time im going to watch this im going to miss the original theme.

And also Craig Charles, but hes obvously not coming back and i love Dara too.

Why did we even bother with weeks of top gear if this was the alternative?

But... there was no Top Gear this week...

 

[Aeshi]

Holy crap, Robot Wars is back?!

BRB, need to go get a bucket to bail the drool out my room.

 

[Dr. Crawver]

Well, it looks like we might get a season 2 all over again. Carbide looks like it's taken hypnodisks place for circular destruction.

I really enjoyed it. I didn't like Dara in it, but that was because he would ask questions, and then cut over their answers for a joke when I was actually interested in what they had to say. I hope he'll give the contestants room to talk, but overall I loved it, and it's great to see it back.

 

[baconsarnie]

Why did we even bother with weeks of top gear if this was the alternative?

But... there was no Top Gear this week...

Yeah, i know.

Robot Wars is in the timeslot that Top Gear was occupying.

Why did we bother with the trainwreck that was the Top Gear reboot when the Robot Wars reboot is this good?

 

[Catfood220]

Wait, its back...

Holy crap. I was watching repeats of the old series and thought to myself "they really should bring it back..." The power of wishful thinking folks.

Ok, so I just watched it and I'm not sure. Sure, the robots smashing each up is always fun and Dara was fine as a presenter and the woman whose name escapes me was the usual eye candy who stood around and ate sausage rolls like Phillipa Forester did before her.

But I'm not a fan of the new format. I can't really put my finger on it, but the whole thing seems a bit dry. And for some reason the camera keeps switching away from the action, for example, do we really need a 5 second clip of the pit opening every single time when you can't actually see anything from that point of view. There were cuts away the action to the roboteers in the old series, but they seemed far too long in this one when all I want to see is some carnage.

It kind of grew on me towards the end, maybe I just need to get used to it after watching the old stuff again. Plus like I say, robots smashing each other up is always fun, Carbide is a fine new robot, I'm interested to see what else is going to turn up. I actually grew to like Nuts, it got smashed to bits by everyone and it was still running at the end. And I feel a bit sorry for Behemoth as they never seem to have any luck. And...

Fucking Razer, man...
Right in the child hood. HOW COULD YOU, RAZER, I HAD FAITH!

I'm going to get some heat for this. But I was glad to see it happen. Don't get me wrong, what Razer can do is very impressive and all. But towards the end of the end of the old series, they were so dominant that it was actually boring to watch. Every match would have them charge head on, grab them and not let go until the opponent stopped working or the time ran out. Every single time. I'm glad that they are out, gives the newer robots a time to shine.

 

[Sassafrass]

Fucking Razer, man...
Right in the child hood. HOW COULD YOU, RAZER, I HAD FAITH!

I'm going to get some heat for this. But I was glad to see it happen. Don't get me wrong, what Razer can do is very impressive and all. But towards the end of the end of the old series, they were so dominant that it was actually boring to watch. Every match would have them charge head on, grab them and not let go until the opponent stopped working or the time ran out. Every single time. I'm glad that they are out, gives the newer robots a time to shine.

Well, get past the heat and you go into the semi-final.

But nah, I can understand that. While I do like Razer, it would be boring to see the same old "Pierce, poses, pit/get tail stuck on arean floor" shtick they've done since forever. And on the flip side, while we lost Razer, we got Behemoth for a few rounds and we've also got a new monster in Carbide. It also seems like this year has more destruction in it/allowed, which is only going to make it a must watch spectacle.

 

[Loop Stricken]

Wait, Dara o'Briain is doing it?! I had no idea. Why didn't anybody tell me?!

 

[vallorn]

Wait, Dara o'Briain is doing it?! I had no idea. Why didn't anybody tell me?!

Yes.
That's because the BBC refused to publisize this.
I dunno, because almost nobody knew this was coming?

I knew a while ago but that's because I caught wind of the new series by chance and kept up to date with it since it was glorious series back in the day and I was hoping for its return. the BBC have been singularly incompetent in talking about the new series though, I guess they were too busy talking about how wonderful it is to have a Lvvie like Evans in charge of their most profitable program instead of someone who goes against the BBC orthadox church like Clarkson does. (Ah, but are we The Top Gear People's Front, or, The People's Front of Top Gear)

 

[helwyr]

I really enjoyed it once it got passed the group matches. The one vs ones were where a lot of the fun and tension entered the show and it got a lot more enjoyable to watch. The group stages and introduction was just a bit boring.