Elizabeth Johnson

My 1st thought was why this old warhorse and was going to skip. Gave it a try and enjoyed it more with each episode as we get to know characters better. Astonished at those who smacked it as disagreeably “woke”. Corrections and reimaginings of 19th century attitudes were handled with a light touch and often with humor. Critics seem to be most offended by Phileas Fogg not being written as the omnicompetent and unflappable Englishman he was in the novel and scorned the character as “weak” which IMO puts them in the same mindset as the villain of the story, Fogg’s bullying old schoolmate, Bellamy. As adventure piles on adventure, Fogg discovers/reveals the courage, intelligence & resourcefulness unused for 25+ years. Passepartout the “valet” and Abigail Fix the journalist/rich man’s daughter change and develop no less than Fogg does so to criticize the series as an exercise in blaming white men for the world’s problems is not seeing 90% of what was there. Have to wonder about what extreme sensitivity to criticism would produce such tunnel vision and inability to laugh at assumptions on display. If there’s any “lesson” taught it is along the lines of not putting people in little labeled boxes, whether a rich middle-aged introvert, a working class Black man, a much indulged and sheltered young woman, an old “friend” and fellow club member. Even an old doddering butler may have another side. This counts as too much “wokeness”?!? Real chemistry between the main three actors and believable character development. After reaching the end immediately bought the dvd from PBS- will definitely watch again.