If You're Seeking an Ultimate On-Screen Adventure, Watch This David Tennant TV Series

In 2021, the series Around the World in 80 Days, a new adaptation of Jules Verne's iconic novel, premiered. David Tennant, known for Doctor Who, plays the role of Phileas Fogg, transforming the stiff, proper gentleman into a bewildered yet touching dreamer.

Filmed on location in the United Kingdom, France, Romania, and South Africa, this eight-part series offers spectacular scenery and a modern take on the classic story.

What Is 'Around the World in 80 Days' About?

London, 1872. Phileas Fogg, a proper gentleman, bets his friends that circumnavigating the globe in 80 days is a feasible undertaking thanks to technological advancements.

He sets out to test the theory himself, vowing to return by Christmas Eve. Fogg hires the roguish Passepartout as his valet and is joined by Abigail Fix, an emancipated journalist.

While the show borrows the structure of the journey and the names from the source, the screenwriters devised virtually all of the challenges themselves. Each episode tells a self-contained story that brings the trio closer to their final destination.

'Around the World in 80 Days' Is Worth Watching if Only for David Tennant & Other Charming Characters

David Tennant transforms Phileas Fogg into a melancholy dreamer who spent twenty years sitting in his armchair while life passed him by outside. Initially, the protagonist seems ill-suited for travel, but as the journey progresses, he reveals himself to be a passionate adventurer.

A similar transformation occurs with his companions: Passepartout, who is initially an opportunist and is skeptical of Fogg's mission, becomes his greatest supporter by the end of the journey.

Miss Fix, the sole voice of reason, becomes the heart of the show. The character of Fix was male in the novel, but here the role has been reimagined and is partly inspired by Nellie Bly, the real-life journalist who circumnavigated the globe in 72 days.

The Show Doesn't Start Off Strong, but Once It Finds Its Rhythm, It Completely Draws You In

Around the World in 80 Days takes a little while to get going. The first episode is the weakest and most questionable one, however, it soon finds its rhythm, and the trials the characters face elicit the intended emotional response.

There are plenty of dramatic and spectacular moments where the characters' fates hang in the balance. The only drawback is the naiveté in some episodes: problems are sometimes resolved too easily, and characters fail to notice the obvious.

Yet, it is precisely this lighthearted naivety that gives the series its charm. Around the World in 80 Days is a delightful show featuring a charming cast, a healthy dose of adventure, and humor.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Around the World in 80 Days'?

• Around the World in 80 Days has 82% from critics and 73% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.2/10.

Where to Watch 'Around the World in 80 Days'?

Around the World in 80 Days is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.