Around the World in 80 Days Review: Season 1 Episode 3
Thus far, Fix’s gender swapped portrayal has largely focused on Abigail’s need to prove herself as a journalist. Around the World in 80 Days Season 1 Episode 3 gets a bit more pointed about gender roles and the expectations placed on women.
That is to say that once Fogg is warned of the life-threatening nature of the next leg of their trip—one that pointedly applies to all three of them—he wastes no time in insisting Fix be left behind. Passepartout balks but does little to stop him.
Worse still is the fact they simply abandon Abigail in the middle of the night with little notice the next morning. Fogg argues his point by saying he owes it to Abigail’s father to keep her safe but lacks the courage to tell as much to her face.
In some fairness to his characterization thus far, the abrupt nature of these actions feels as odds with his interactions with Fix in the first two episodes. A couple comments from others about her being “annoying” aside, he’s never factored her gender into the technicalities of travel too much.
At the same time, his choices are more of an outrage than they are a surprise. These are expected masculine views, especially for the time the show is set, and it’s refreshing that the writers don’t try to soften or excuse his behavior. He’s our main hero, but he’s just offensive here.
They also don’t hold back in teaching him a lesson. Abandoned by their guide, lost and dehydrated, he and Passepartout are on the brink of death even before a sandstorm sweeps upon them. And who is it who rides in on a camel to save their lives? Abigail Fix, of course.
Okay, not so much Abigail as the companions she eventually goads into taking her with them. Here, there is another important note: Abigail herself is suspect to the same problematic views that impact her so negatively here.
Her newfound (eventual) friends are Jane Digby and her husband. Digby has been condemned through England for supposedly having affairs and abandoning her children for another man. Interestingly, it’s Fix who maintains most of the disdain for her through the episode.
Internalized misogyny was and is a thing, and women are often some of those most responsible for tearing other women down. Much as we might like to keep Abigail as a feminist ideal, I can believe that she would hold these views.
She’s vocal about her opinions and initially fires back when Jane informs her that Fix’s own father both mistreated her and slandered her reputation. Yet that is perhaps most the important moment for challenging both the characters’ views and our own.
There might be room to question this decision, because it offers Abigail some excuse for her views. Having them planted by a loved one who had his own interests in mind takes a portion of the weight of her bias off her own shoulders.
I do think it’s a choice that pays off as we see her accept the truth and move immediately to write an article that tears into her own father for what he’s done. The more important point here is that she’s willing to learn and will change because of that.
Having faced assaults from both the weather and troupe of gunmen riding in darkness, nobody involved is taking their trek lightly anymore. Yet even with the chances of winning Fogg’s bet in a lot of doubt, this hour helps to make the whole saga about something bigger.
Other Notes
- Fogg barely survives a gruesome sandstorm and nearly the only thing he salvages is that blasted “Coward” postcard? I really don’t care about the story behind that thing as much as I probably should.
- His wondering whether the black liquid they stumble upon in the desert is kind of hilarious to watch, given that the liquid is, in fact, petroleum.
- The final scene in which Passepartout is tempted with turning against his fellows brings some important points about racial bias in our heroes to an otherwise gender-heavy episode. But I’m really not buying the chances he’ll actually do it.
What did you think of this episode of Around the World in 80 Days? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Around the World in 80 Days airs Sundays at 8/7c on PBS.
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Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.