I remember enjoying the first season of Clarkson's Farm a lot. While the former Top Gear trio still produce somewhat similar content under the Amazon brand -- of which I don't really watch because it was rather weak -- their best creations in recent years have actually been alone. The shows in which these people are given the ability to pursue their own interests, with a camera crew to follow along and perhaps slightly interfere when necessary. James May's travel series has been great! Providing a unique look into culture and travel while focusing on the everyday life over the tourist traps. Hammond's only show being a flop. But Clarkson's Farm had a very different impact, one that wasn't just cultural, but displayed a series of incredibly important issues that need addressing within England: the decline of agriculture at the hand of our troubled government and economy.
Though Clarkson's Farm isn't all doom and gloom, it's a comedic look into the struggles of one of our oldest traditions: farming. Detailing the hard work that goes into something that seems so simple from a glance. Putting a magnifying over the word of farming has resulted in a perspective that certainly most would never have expected. Especially when the first thing to come to mind for most regarding farming would be that it is boring. Though nothing about this show is boring. It's educational. Emotional. Funny. And it's incredibly simple. Something we rarely see in today's troubled filmmaking. This second season handled a different area of farming from the first season, perhaps with a bit more stress and problem solving. Though still very much enjoyable and worth the watch.
Clarkson's Farm
The first season of Clarkson's Farm came to a seemingly fake conclusion; how could a year:s farming result in a total profit of just £144? Almost unbelievable to most, after all of the hard work out in and the produce grown and sold. But a realistic look at the struggles of setting up a farm having needed to purchase all the necessary equipment and supplies to get a farm functional. Barely coming tks breakeven point after harvest. With season two, it's all about getting the farm profitable, escaping the former trap of getting supplies and barely off your feet and into the space of functional farming as a a business. It doesn't take long for the season's main theme to come into play, and that is that Clarkson wants to start a restaurant on the farm. What follows throughout the season is a look into the deep struggles of English bureaucracy and the endless number of rules that could be argued do more harm than good for the nation.
Much of the humour the season comes from Clarkson's struggles as an out of touch old man entering the farming space, which takes a ton of energy and patience with all the high-tech equipment that is utilised in all aspects of farming these days. Often make a fool of by the younger Kaleb which works as a contractor in the area for farmers. Though while our first season explored the struggles of getting a farm shop opened, this season surrounds itself with the restaurant. And this restaurant needs to be supplied with local produce in order to get approval. Supplying a restaurant means ensuring there's enough ingredients; livestock are needed for meat, eggs, and dairy products. And this only opens the door to more struggles as Jeremy realised the sheer cost in not only keeping them healthy, but alive with the constant threat of disease and nearby predators. Which in turn cycles back to the main theme: England's beaurocracy. Now, I have plenty to say and complain about in this regard, so I'll wait for this post's next segment to detail that.
Clarkson provides his own narration over the events of each episode, offering his thoughts and context that gives the viewer that extra information needed to really understand what's going on and why. Though much of the show is also carried by dialogue between regular citizens. Other farmers and those working on keeping the farm functional with Clarkson. Some of these people almost seem like characters due to their unique personalities: a farmer that is near impossible to understand due to his farmer dialect. A bureaucrat accountant that seems to harvest the energy of all around him with boring and often bad news. And the youthful country farmer that has barely travelled out of his small village. In a way it's a wholesome look at the many different characters that can be found within the country, but also provides a meaningful look into the everyday, regular people that help feed and support our country. Often overlooked and unheard of. Certainly underappreciated.
The show handles a good degree of educational content and humour, however. While some of the events do seem a bit staged for comedic purposes, much of the show is authentic and displays farming for what it is. Much of it being very busy, extensive work from dawn until dusk. I don't think I've ever seen a show quite like it, and while it comes from a celebrity's perspective, it is one that helps people understand this important role in our society. Though here we see how this role struggles as it clashes with the overreaching, complicated grasp of government.
England's Decline
While attempting to get his farm shop going, there is the problem or regulations that ensure everything is done according to set rules. Products sold must be produced from the farm or within a small radius of the area. Building and planning permissions approved and such. Very costly operations. Though with Clarkson's search for profitability comes the restaurant idea, which opens the door to a plethora of controversial ideas. Watching the show, I couldn't help but feel the same arguments locals made in regards to the idea. The British countryside is being lost. Rapidly. As housing development destroys the open fields and bridges villages to towns and turns towns into cities. All aspects of pollution are increasing with it: noise as cars come through and go at all times. Light as streetlights and roads are placed around the areas that run all night and remove the beautiful views of the night sky above. Air pollution as these cars, new homes, and roads replace the open fields and trees that surround.
Clarkson wants to build a restaurant. This means the countryside location being shaped and reformed, even with a parking lot placed for customers. Clarkson struggles to get any approval from locals for this venture, and is clear in his opinions over this matter. The struggles of farming and the implications of the lies from our government with their nonexistent support for farmers. The colossal fuck-up that is our exit from the European Union and the ways it has impacted trade and costs between farmers. And the invasion of Ukraine only adding to trade struggles and prices. Not to forget the insane inflation struggles stemming from the insanity of the pandemic's handling. A valid point made in the show is that this restaurant is farmers adapting, coming together to supply each other in the community and create a profitable venture. Though the council shuts these plans down constantly. I can absolutely see why. As someone that lives in the countryside, I definitely do not want a celebrity entering the area, removing the beauty of the landscape and flooding the small towns and villages with outsiders that come to pollute and leave. The idea of community-ran shop is great, however. Just the appeal of a celebrity face that thus ruins the location is bad. People live in the countryside for its nature. It's peaceful, quiet areas. And the lack of busy city life that seems soulless. To be against Clarkson's plans is totally reasonable.
But to say these things can't be without admitting this country is fucked. In a stage of economic decline in which nothing seems rational ors sustainable anymore. Costs for us all continue to rise. Our most fundamental business struggle for profitability and are on the brink of collapse, incapable of getting the support they need from the government that only pretends to care and listen as it itself farms money from us all via taxation. These issues present for years and discussed heavily but never really given any attention. Though on the other hand, Clarkson's farm itself is one that is strange. Many farmers don't try a bit of everything; they stick to a certain area of farming and keep costs low. You either stick to livestock, or stick to crops for the most part. Trying to juggle both is of course extremely expensive and time-consuming. So some of Clarkson's struggles in the show are slightly exaggerated as a result of his own crazy adventures for entertainment in a television series.
But again, we cycle back to the importance of the show still; the way it shines a light on true struggles. And the importance of rejecting the government's lack of answers and constant excuses. The rules that often do more than good for us, controlling us and keeping us from developing and growing even as we struggle with potential solutions present. Even with this aspect of the show, it is still very human. Showing the community behind farming, the emotions of getting close to the animals you are farming, the fun of it all. But also the hardships. Showing that it really can be a passion for many. I look forward to the third season, for sure. Even if I don't agree with everything presented in this one, I understand the reasons.
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[Independent.co.uk](https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/television/watch-clarksons-farm-online-b2542810.html)
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