Yet not that many people know Phileas Fogg was based on a real adventurer who was every bit as daring as his fictional counterpart. It's exactly the stuff kids big and small love to watch, especially at Christmas. READ MORE: The hilarious reviews of St Paul's Cathedral left by American tourists It's yet another retelling of the classic novel by the celebrated Victorian writer Jules Verne who had an imagination taller than the Eiffel Tower.įull of thrills and spills, it's a swashbuckling adventure that sees Fogg crossing oceans, riding camels and taking to the skies in hot air balloons in his hectic dash across the globe. While shows don't always need to break new ground to engage and entertain, there is nothing that dazzles or takes us by surprise and as a result, it's lacking that crucial spark.Around the World in 80 Days sees David Tennant step into the shoes of imaginary adventurer Phileas Fogg to see if he can pit his wits against the clock and win an outrageous bet to travel around the world in 80 days. This series is more concerned with how they overcome the odds rather than the challenges themselves, although that does render expressions of terror and cries for salvation as somewhat throwaway.īut we've seen this all before, albeit with a few new additions sprinkled here and there. It's not the lack of jeopardy, per se, that is a problem – it's a given that Fogg, Fix and Passepartout will all wriggle out of whatever hurdles they come up against. The cast do their best with the material they've been dealt – Tennant, Benesch and Koma are convincing in their roles – but after watching the first three episodes made available to critics, we were quite happy to leave it there, which is troubling because we should be itching to know if the central trio succeed. It's certainly not short of activity and yet, it all feels a little flat. They are swept up in a revolution in Paris, must solve an impossible engineering conundrum near Brindisi in Italy, and find themselves at the mercy of the desert in West Yemen, with its deadly serpents and sandstorms. The three of them encounter a vast and varied array of challenges on their adventure, with every episode throwing up a fresh test that they must ace or die in the dirt, literally. Fogg's odyssey is an opportunity for her to not only see the world but cement her reputation as an esteemed member of the press once and for all. He's accompanied by new character Abigail Fix (Leonie Benesch), Fortescue's daughter who has aspirations of becoming a respected journalist herself and certainly has the ability, but is hampered by her status as a woman. And yet, he pushes on, determined to make a name for himself, which is in no small part thanks to his two travelling companions. When he informs the men at the Reform Club that he intends to travel the world in record time, he is met with bemusement, mockery and a firm lack of belief.įogg himself also seriously doubts his own capabilities, and while that isn't the most hair-raising hurdle he encounters on his journey, it's a paralysing force that haunts him at every opportunity. He's described by Bernard Fortescue (Jason Watkins), his friend and editor of The Daily Telegraph, as a "timid, unprepared man" - hardly words associated with the exploring greats. In the first episode of ATWIED, Fogg is rattled when he receives an unsigned postcard, which contains one singular word: "Coward."Īnd those around him also share that sentiment. Tudor Cucu / Slim 80 Days / Federation Entertainment / Peu Communications / ZDF / Be-FILMS / RTBF
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