to think that Around the World in 80 Days if a vanity project for David Tennant?

[PyongyangKipperbang]

As someone who loves the book, and Jules Verne is a very good writer (although I think he was certainly on something when he wrote Journey to the Centre of the Earth!) , this TV series is shockingly bad!

It bears no resemblance to the story at all apart from the 80 day long trip and the names of some of the characters! There was no balloon trip, Mrs Auoda doesnt exist, Fogg is all silly and excitable and nothing like the regimented knowledgable character in the book.....he gets sea sickness ffs when in the book it becomes clear that he is an accomplished seaman.

And DT is executive producer.....coincidence?

Feels a bit like Doctor Who goes back in time in terms of how he is playing the character. Tortured but funny.....loving but repressed......blah blah....

All Showbusiness is a vanity project.

TV shows and films will never be exactly the same as a book.

In this case the book is a really fun idea but steeped in colonialism so this adaptation looks as that from a different point of view. Fragile empirialism etc. Most of the characters in the book also have very little back story and just exist to have one role- which just isn't interesting enough for a multiple episode prime time TV show.

I rather like it! The changes they've made don't lose anything from the fun of the idea. I also love His Dark Materials which is truly excellent.

www.nytimes.com/2021/12/31/arts/television/around-the-world-in-80-days-pbs-bbc.html

I miss Willie Fogg, undoubtably the best adaptation yet.

I really like this adaptation because it is like Dr Who in Victorian times.

I'd find it really off-putting if it was an all male show so a bit of revision is helpful. I think the same is true for not quite colour blind casting. I've only seen the first 2 episodes and all the servants and the French brother are black and all the posher people lighter skinned. I didn't like that much.

I found the balloon annoying. Didn't realise it wasn't in the book. Kept having to remind myself Verne wrote fantasy. I am also a willy fogg fan so assumed balloons were original.

We are loving it. Not a huge DT fan but I must confess I decided to watch it when I realised he was in it. Made me realise its a "big BBC drama" so worth a watch.

I'm finding Abigail's accent annoying - the actor is German and it shows. In episode 4 we also have a woman in an Indian village with obvious lip fillers.

I like DT and know the story from the book and previous films.
I thought this adaptation was dull and turned it off. Sorry DT.
Loved Staged though and I did like the casting.

@2oldfordrama I've got the theme tune in my head now! Cheers for that .

We are really enjoying the series.

I only know the story slightly from other films and the cartoon series and have never read the book. I think that might help.

Generally I think replacing white male characters with women and black actors is a positive and have no problem with it at all.

It is a (mildly enjoyable, IMO) vanity project for sure, but fixating on David Tenant sounds a bit short-sighted and amazingly British-centric:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_World_in_80_Days_(2021_TV_series)

It is produced by the European Alliance, a co-production alliance of France Télévisions, Rai and the ZDF. The series premiered on ZDF online on 11 December 2021.

Get your fact rights: it really is a European vanity project (not that there's anything wrong with that!) which happens to be starring British, German and French actors.
Just because it happens to be aired on BBC One doesn't mean it's a British endeavour... (A bit like the book, really: British main character, French author...)

@Endofdaysarehere

I miss Willie Fogg, undoubtably the best adaptation yet.

I really like this adaptation because it is like Dr Who in Victorian times.

One, two, three ...

Eighty days around the world
We'll find a pot of gold
We're sitting where the rainbow's ending
Time, we'll fight against the time
And we'll fly on the white wings of the wind

@KitchenFishCurry

I haven't read the book but I remember the crisps

Same! . California Corn Chips were the best. So cheesy!

I tried to watch the first episode but when I saw DT was the producer as well as the main actor I gave up - definitely a vanity project - it didn't follow the book at all, hugely disappointing.

I like DT in most things, but this was just pitiful and very woke.

@KitchenFishCurry

I haven't read the book but I remember the crisps

Haha! I used to love those garlicy mignons morceaux

@Oblomov22

I like DT in most things, but this was just pitiful and very woke.

Why?? Because there is a black actor and a female one? It's not woke in the least!

Haven't read the book, but I'm enjoying the series. Seems to be a bit of a pattern.

I like that Fogg is at his best when he's being a bit of a nerd and doing calculations and at his worst when he's being a typical english gentlemen of the period. Much more interesting than if he was some sort of derring do adventurer. And I like that Fix and Passepartout are strong characters with their own back stories.

Also some of the photography and the title sequence are beautiful.

@ArblemarzipanTFruitcake

🎵round all around the world🎵

I do want to know where it's shot. The lighting and set design team are having a ball. I kept squinting at the desert bits to see if I could recognise beaches in Wales or Northumberland etc.

It's a bit of popular fun and entertainment.
If it matters to you, dont watch.

Adaptations are rarely the same as the book. I don't see the problem.

It's been updated and our family are enjoying it. It's great entertainment.

For all those who remember the 80s

The crisps featured a balloon too didn’t they. Have never read the book so didn’t realise a balloon didn’t feature in it

I hated it and turned it off.

Not sure why they turned Fogg into this flawed, useless character who was chucking his guts up while still within view of the white cliffs of Dover. He's the hero!

I don't think it was made in the Uk.

It's just a bit of teatime family entertainment - we've enjoyed it.

I'm enjoying it, it's just a bit of fun.

Believe they filmed all the hotter places in South Africa and the European places in Romania.