Verne and Tennant? So There for this Combo

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

I’m talking about the new Around the World in 80 Days adaptation, which is available in the U.S. through PBS’ Masterpiece theater. If you’ve missed it, then episodes are also streaming through pbs.org.

It’s a lovely adaptation. Verne has a personal place in my life as the first science fiction book I read was a translation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

And, it has David Tennant. What’s not to love?

Not Just Tennant

Tennant makes a great Phileas Fogg. But he’s not carrying the show alone.

Jean Passepartout is played by French actor Ibrahim Koma. A Black man. The actor is brilliant and while I have hesitations about casting a Black man as the valet…racebending the servant seems too easy and too, well, ya know. But the man’s talent shines through.

But the strongest of the trio may in fact be German actor Leonie Benesch, who takes on the role of Miss Fix. (She loves physical scenes. Except trying to run alongside David Tennant! He’s 10 inches taller than her and most of it’s in his legs…). Miss Fix replaces Sergeant Fix, rather than a cop chasing Fogg down, we have a lady journalist who wants to chronicle the story. I would like this change even if Benesch wasn’t so plain good.