Long Way Up - Review
Over the course of sixteen years actors Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman created three ‘Long Way’ series that culminated in the two friends documenting their motorcycle trips around the world. Long Way Up takes their 13,000-mile journey across thirteen countries and condenses it into eleven gripping episodes of television. Thinking that the journey itself wasn’t challenging enough, the two of them decided to make the journey on brand new technology and trek through snow, sand, and mud via electric motorcycles.
The concept of attempting this herculean trip on electric vehicles came from them recognizing that this type of energy would be the future of automation. In a way, this series marks a demo reel for these vehicles as it documents their abilities across vastly different terrain. Ewan and Charlie went directly to Harley-Davidson for their electronic LiveWire motorcycles while their producers hit up Rivian for their electric trucks. The designs are slick and preserve the bike as a journeyman item even without the vroom-vroom. The crew was still backed up by diesel vehicles, but they were only to be used in emergency situations where there were no other options. The idea of traversing this journey in an energy efficient way is noble but they found themselves in numerous situations that were incredibly hard to get out of because of it.
The early episodes are rife with tension from the limitations of electric vehicles. They started in the southern point of Argentina and their most common problem was the vehicles’ reaction to cold weather. The boys found themselves in situations where their batteries were not charging, and their motorcycles were not starting. Relying on kind strangers to house their bikes out of the cold nights and let them charge was a huge boon on just getting their journey off and running. However, once they entered warmer climates you also saw the benefits of electric when they passed by a gas line so long that drivers would be waiting for hours, if not all day. Riding the electric bikes was smoother compared to their gas guzzling forefathers and offered a decent number of miles before their next charge, weather permitting. Aside from the few differences these motorcycles and trucks are an impressive sight to hold as you learn all of their energy saving tricks and close calls.
Travel shows always shine when highlighting the natural beauty of their place of study while dropping nuggets of education, and this was no different. The countries they passed through are gorgeous and at times you feel the weight of silence around them as they rumbled down the roadways. Since this was my first ‘Long Way’ series I had no idea that UNICEF would make an appearance. To me, UNICEF was that little box your teachers gave you in middle school and asked you to get donations while trick or treating on Halloween. I have vivid memories of carrying that orange box and asking for change, but for the life of me, I couldn’t tell you what they were for. I had no context surrounding UNICEF at twelve other than my teacher telling us it was for a good cause. Here, Ewan and Charlie stop at multiple UNICEF programs (as they have done in the previous series) along the way. It was really eye opening watching UNICEF in action and creating a space where children could take classes both in Spanish and Quechuan, a native language that UNICEF is trying to keep alive. Culture is a fast growing creature that can be seen on this journey from one town to the next, and to have a show stop and shed light on these small blips on the map showcasing how these people are trying to keep their history, culture, and language alive today for the younger generation is inspirational.
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Naturally, the series wouldn’t work if not for the chemistry between its two leads who have been friends for years but are working through two foundational moments in their relationship. The first is time. While they have been friends for decades Ewan states that they haven’t kept in touch as much as he would have liked in the last few years prior to this series. Long Way Up would not only be a chance to finish what they started but an excuse to catch up with his friend. The second twist in the series foundation was Charlie recovering from an accident. Boorman hurt his leg fairly bad prior to the show and the likely event of him falling and worsening his injury was always a concern of Ewan, especially when they would be traveling to remote places where help was more difficult to get. The series definitely plays up the injury card a lot in the first few episodes to rake in the tension, and it works.
Between all the technical achievements, the quiet moments between friends, and learning about cultures that they have encountered, Long Way Up really finds its charm when you find the two men being absolute wholesome goobers. Their wit was always a joy, even when Ewan McGregor stumbled upon a pack of Star Wars fans in unlikely places, or when he encountered kids who have never heard of Star Wars. His rapport with Charlie will always put a smile on your face as you can see how strong their friendship is.
Long Way Up is one of the best travel shows. You can feel the experience of their 13,000-mile journey radiating off the screen with every episode. The laughs are wholesome, and the gasps are genuine. The situations they find themselves in on the road is always incredible and will easily itch your travel bug. Well known places like Machu Picchu get the same amount of screen time as small villages. Every experience, big or small, was valuable and memorable in their eyes. You’ll feel as exhausted by the end but only briefly because the last scene is one of the most cathartic expressions of what it means to finish a journey.
Originally posted on my SubStack.
