THIS IS BRILLIANT
Everyone seems to have missed the point in reviewing this programme!
It is not meant as an advert to make you want to travel to certain countries. It is meant to educate you about the history of what it was like and what it's like now, and that isn't always good. I like the way Palin looks at the world in a sarcastic and alternative perspective. If you wanted to watch trashy holiday advertising BS, look elsewhere

Milyen lószar..........
I have lived in Hungary now for 16 years and worked in all of the countries that Michael Palin visited. Having enjoyed all his other series I looked forward keenly to seeing how he would interpret the different cultures that he visited and what conclusions he would draw as to how the New Europe would evolve.

I was stunned therefore to see that he had made not the slightest attempt to understand any aspect of what makes these different countries tick: what he gave wasn't even a half decent travelogue. I hardly recognised the countries from the appalling pastiche that the BBC cobbled together.

I agree with a previous reviewer that the series is effectively the Michael Palin show: does it really give us any insight into a country to see him in clearly organised "spontaneous" events which are nothing to do with normal life in the country.

I found that as I watched the series I became increasingly annoyed and depressed that this fascinating part of the world was being portrayed in this slipshod and patronising manner. I simply couldn't see any aspect of the reality of these countries - either good or bad - portrayed in this series.

I am writing this review in Albania - but the real one not the Disneyland version that Michale Palin seemed to have visited.

The reason why this is not his best
The reason we liked Plain's travels in the other series was that we enjoyed watching the journey and people he met along the way. In this series the journey is ignored and the chance to see places we may never get the chance to see forgotten and we are left with interviews with people we are not particulary interested in, in foreign capitals. Quite dull.

Tom D
This series is better than good until something better comes along and that is a compliment. Of course there are pluses and minuses. I probably agree with the comments across the spectrum of opinions. But hey guys, has anyone done anything better and fresher than Michael? I have an interest in FSU etc. and have visited some of the places (or like them) in the series, in the last few years. Mind boggles what we have been missing for the past 50 to 100 years.

The budget for this road-show, it seems, did not allow for an in-depth treatment, alas. Typically the visit to Lvov...or Lviv, was so short you would have missed it if you were to put the kettle on. Perhaps this is the nature of the beast? Therefore deserves my 3.85 stars.


Classic Palin; Except episode 5
I'm a long-time fan of Michael Palin and personally believe that Pole to Pole is his finest work. Michael's latest series, New Europe, is an entertaining and informative journey through Eastern Europe (and Turkey). The formula which has worked so well in the past worked fairly well again; exploring new countries, meeting new people and having key 'informants'. I have only one gripe; Episode 5 is just horrid. He spends far too long with hippies living in a house shaped like a pyramid. While they are interesting, I would rather meet and see sights more indicative to the country (Lithuania). Whoever proposed this scene should be fired. My impression after that episode was that I really should give Lithuania a wide birth; apparently there is nothing there worth filming.
Aside from episode 5 I found yet more amazing places I want to visit. I don't know if there will be another series, but I would push for one focusing on Central/South America!

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