Around the World in 80 Days Review: Season 1 Episode 5
Phineas, Abigail, and Passepartout are more than halfway across the world on Around the World in 80 Days Season 1 Episode 5. Yet somehow it’s a surprise to them and us that they’ve already earned some avid supporters along the way.
Two of these turn out to be the governor and governess of Hong Kong, two decidedly white English individuals for the region of China they call home. I think we’re meant to like them in the end, but I’m not sure I can get there. To put it simply, these two are—oof.
The governess casually referring to Passepartout as both Fogg’s servant and “Passport” is too cringe-worthy to ever be funny, and the way they talk about taking a prized medallion from the literal hands of its dead Chinese owners is just as bad as it sounds.
It’s a slightly more subtle portrayal of racism in the attitudes formed through colonialism. We’ve seen it before in Fogg obliviously talking about the influence of his home country in the nations it sought to rule. It’s also why it’s hard to get too bothered at the notion of stealing the medallion back.
This point comes about through another shady old “friend” of Passepartout’s. I’m honesty fully supportive of the man’s quest to get his ancestor’s possession back, but it is troubling that so many of these old acquaintances are eager to jump to blackmail and violence.
It’s debatable how much this reflects on Passepartout as a person. The consequences of him following through on the “theft” get bad quickly, but they’re past his control. He also gives back the funds to sabotage Fogg, genuinely angry about having almost killed the man.
Still, the whole mess does lead to Phineas being falsely accused, taken to prison overnight and then hauled outside to be flogged. Flogging, by the way, is far more gruesome than I ever realized and even one blow is hard to watch, much less twelve.
Fogg is spared a few seconds after the nick of time after Passepartout confesses to the governor. The man does order Fogg’s freedom then, though only after reflecting somberly at having “acquired” the medallion for his wife, and even then only at her insistence.
Again, we wish we could tell these two that the thing was never theirs to begin with. The moment of affection between them is sweet, but I’m left with more admiration for Passepartout for confessing at his own risk then for two officials reluctantly doing the right thing.
Also in the hour, Fix frets over the publication of her latest chronicle, in which she declares that Fogg is taking the entire trip for lost love, going as far as to mention Estella by name. Why she didn’t see this backfiring is anyone’s guess.
It does lead to some effective moments of physical comedy as she tries to stop the inevitable moment of Phineas seeing these words for himself. The crowd doesn’t actually make much of the matter, but Fogg makes it clear that the exposure stings. How long until we meet Estella, anyway?
Between these two debacles, there’s a somewhat frosty mood among the trio approaching the end of the episode. It’s hard to track the dynamic between them. At times, they seem like they’ve been friends for years, right until mistrust rears its head again.
I do appreciate that the show takes the time to show that Fogg is becoming so renowned because of the articles Abigail is writing about him. Her pursuit of influence is one goal already proving successful. Maybe that contributes to her getting a little ahead of herself.
Oh, and her referring to Passepartout as “an infuriating man” definitely counts as flirting. Whatever we see along the way, I’m sure our heroes will wind up becoming close with each other for life. I’ll eat my words if that isn’t meant in a romantic sense for those two.
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.