Series Review: Around the World in 80 Days

Realistic, romantic and re-imagined miniseries about a math genius enthralls

Recently, I watched the eight-episode PBS television series Around the World in 80 Days. For a light yet entertaining diversion, it is good. It’s not realistic, deep or particularly thought-provoking. But it plants a seed in protagonist Fogg, portrayed by executive producer David Tennant, and lets the audience take interest in the extraordinary endeavor of an otherwise plain man.

Indeed, the plot-theme — whether a weak man of ability can remake his own character — propels Around the World in 80 Days. The story re-imagines the 1873 literary classic by French author Jules Verne. Previously, David Niven played Londoner Fogg in a fine and underappreciated motion picture adaptation (which, incidentally, was awarded the Best Picture Oscar for 1956.) There was an awful remake with bodybuilder and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger which is not worth a single thought.

This version, financed by France, Germany and Italy with several directors and producers, jettisons Jules Verne’s…