Bikes optional: Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman go full travel show in “Long Way Home”

I finally broke down and purchased an Apple TV subscription (they got me with one of those 30-day trial promotions).

As one does, I justified the transaction (or tried to, at least) by adding as many titles to my watch list as possible. Only after filling my queue with shows and movies I’ll probably never get around to watching did I stumble upon “Long Way Home.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about this one,” confessed my inner voice.

I don’t think I’m alone, either.

It seems like the news of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s latest exploits came and went with far less fanfare from the moto community. Absent was the hype and anticipation that accompanied the pair’s return in 2019’s “Long Way Up.”

Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor pose by their motorcycles with mountains in the background. — Charley (left) and Ewan (right) completed “Long Way Round” in 2004. The taping of the latest series marked the 20th anniversary of that inaugural trip. If you have “Long Way Home” on your to-watch list, expect a few nostalgic rides down memory lane. Long Way photo.

If the “Long Way…” series is a foreign concept to you, McGregor and Boorman basically travel the world on brand-new, fully-funded, fully-kitted, flagship motorcycles.

“Long Way Round” (2004) sent the duo from London to New York via Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, and Alaska. In “Long Way Down” (2007), Ewan and Charley plowed through 14 African countries on the way from Scotland to Cape Town. Twelve years later, “Long Way Up” showcased South and Central America, with our protagonists traveling from the tip of Argentina to Los Angeles — on electric motorcycles, no less.

A map of the — The previous “Long Way…” adventures were one-way affairs (see the “Long Way Down” route above). In “Long Way Home,” Charley and Ewan’s European road trip both begins and ends in England. Long Way illustration.

Far less ambitious than those examples is the latest entry in the series, “Long Way Home.” The route isn’t 20,000 miles. It’s around 10,000. The destinations aren’t exotic and far-flung. They’re European, with the crew opting for the “countries on [their] own doorstep.” The show creators toss in the twist of completing the road trip on vintage, “temperamental” motorcycles, but Ewan’s 1974 Moto Guzzi El Dorado and Charley’s 1972 BMW R75/5 are fully overhauled before ever logging one mile.

If you hunger for the viewing experience provided by the first three documentaries, look elsewhere. This journey isn’t stressful; it’s leisurely. It isn’t rough and tumble; it’s calm and comfortable. At times, it’s downright posh. No, this isn’t the “Long Way…” we moto movie buffs are used to. It may lack the hardcore element of trips past, but if anything still holds up, it’s the visuals.

The joys of riding

I hold the Long Way brand in high regard for several reasons, but what the series does best is show audiences the wonders of traveling on a motorbike. Be it sweeping landscape shots or scenes of local life, the show makes a strong case for two-wheeled travels. “Long Way Home” carries on that tradition. It's evident when Charley and Ewan ride through the windmill-dotted countryside of Holland, or when they forge through the frosty fjords of Norway.

Such imagery isn’t just romantic; it reinforces why we travel on a motorcycle. Why we endure chill, wet conditions. Why we put up with mosquito-infested campgrounds. That’s why it was so disappointing when “Long Way Home” shifted focus away from the bikes. Around the mid-point of the series, the guys ditch their rides on the way to Svalbard, a remote Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. They hop on a plane, ride quads, and board a boat. For goodness sake, they even kayak in the episode, effectively reducing the Goose and Slash-5 to bookending insert shots.

A scenic shot of a snow covered mountain and icy fjord. — If scenic landscapes tickle your fancy, “Long Way Home” still delivers the goods. Apple TV photo.

The motorcycles receive even less screen time in the latter episodes. Limited to interstitial riding shots, the bikes function more as vehicular props, simply shuttling Charley and Ewan from bobsledding to hot air balloon rides, between drag races and paragliding. It’s this casual, easy-going pace that defines “Long Way Home.” Without significant challenges along the way, the series feels more like a Travel Channel program and less like a “Long Way…” production.

Cozy-core for dudes

Like any motorcycle road trip, Ewan and Charley’s past adventures were filled with trials and tribulations. But that's what made their triumphs that much sweeter. I can't say the same for “Long Way Home” There are no hasty trailside fixes. No fuel shortages. No charging snafus. No sketchy border crossings or visa holdups. Neither Ewan nor Charlie is pushed to the brink. Neither questions their ability to finish the trip. Neither questions whether it’s worth finishing at all.

Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor share a laugh while fiddling with their motorcycles. — The old married couple: One thing is undeniable, Charley and Ewan have more chemistry than ever. Even if their temples have grayed, their boyish banter and friendly ribbings carry the show. Regardless of the destination, it’s hard not to smile when these two are on camera. They’re still worth the price of admission. Apple TV photo.

Sure, Ewan’s exhaust requires re-welding at some point, and an electrical failure sidelines him in Estonia, but with the route often weaving through populated areas, a repair shop is always within reach. That’s not a luxury the guys enjoyed when trudging through Kazakhstan, Mongolia, or Kenya. Rugged and remote territory has a way of raising tensions. In other words, on this trip, the stakes are low. The drama, in turn, is nearly non-existent.

That could be a good or bad thing, depending on the viewing experience you seek. If you’re looking for a travel show featuring two charismatic hosts and some truly epic destinations, “Long Way Home” ticks all the boxes. Just don’t expect these old dogs to overcome the obstacles they once did. Anyone that’s traveled significant distances on a motorcycle knows that the woes are just as memorable as the wonders. Ewan once admitted (in “Long Way Round”), “This is the stuff you look back and enjoy, but God, it’s just hard work while you’re doing it.” Amen, brother. That’s what makes any adventure unforgettable. Just don’t go looking for it in “Long Way Home.”