Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cursing, innuendo, violence in TV travelogue through Africa.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Long Way Down
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
LONG WAY DOWN, the second installment of the Long Way franchise, features Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman traveling on motorcycles from John o' Groats, Scotland, to Cape Town, South Africa. The core team that traveled with the two actors in Long Way Round, including David Alexanian, Russ Malkin, and director of photography Claudio von Plant, join them on the 18-country journey, which takes them 85 days to complete. Also joining them is medic Dan Jones, security officer Jim Foster, and, for a short time, Ewan McGregor's then-wife Eve. The trip isn't without risks, but whether it's visiting the original troglodyte Star Wars movie set in Tunisia or unexpectedly meeting Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, McGregor and Boorman enjoy the arduous journey.
Is It Any Good?
The lively series follows Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as they take a 15,000-mile motorcycle trip that takes them through countries like Libya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Namibia to get to the southernmost part of Africa before ending their trip in Cape Town, South Africa. Much is made at the beginning of Long Way Down about the potential for illness, kidnappings, wild animal encounters, and border control issues. But outside of motorcycle repairs and the occasional bribe at border control crossings, the overall series maintains a positive tone, especially when the duo meet UNICEF representatives and others helping locals live better. Similar to its sister series, the overall production is more focused on the road trip than in-depth learning, but unlike the original series, Long Way Down is heavily sponsored, and there are lots of local fixers visibly helping McGregor and Boorman throughout the journey, which makes the adventure feel less unconstrained. Nonetheless, it's still a fun, lighthearted watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about travel-themed TV shows. Is their purpose to inform? Entertain? Or both?
Were the concerns of the Long Way Down team about things like getting seriously ill or kidnapped based on stereotypes?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 28, 2004
- Cast : Ewan McGregor , Charley Boorman
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Adventures
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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