The Wedding
The wedding is a huge event, and the three friends quickly find themselves in the thick of it. They must help prepare for the festivities, and they also have to deal with the stress of being on a travelogue show. But despite all of their challenges, they are determined to make this trip the best it can be.
Passepartout decides to use this to his advantage, although he’s conflicted over whether to spike Fogg’s drink and betray his friends or not. The seeds he holds are a sleeping agent, given to him by Kneedling last episode. For now, Passepartout decides not to but Fogg’s arrogance and demands are enough that even this reviewer may consider spiking him!
The newlyweds, Samanaz and Aouda, soon stumble upon their first marital bump in the road. It’s quite the obstacle too, as the army show up and arrest Arjan for deserting the Indian army. He’s due to be court-martialled and if he’s found guilty, will be sent overseas to Malacca. ..
Fogg leaves the wedding early, without telling anyone. He’s only interested in the bet and doesn’t care about the well-being of those around him. This selfishness is enough for Passepartout to spike Fogg’s coffee after all… just as Fogg decides to talk to the General – after gulping down the spiked drink of course!
Fogg is unable to sleep and starts giggling and acting drunk. He even starts singing in the street too. ..
As the medical team arrives to help Fogg, Samanaz races into town to find her husband-to-be. After a touching promise between the pair, she heads back into town just in time too, as Fogg takes a turn for the worst and starts convulsing.
In a confidential interview, Passepartout admits that he spiked Fogg’s drink with seeds but the dose he gave is way over what he should have given. The only way to save him now is to make sure Fogg stays awake. In his delirious state, Fogg sees a woman named Estella in Abigail’s place. It’s clear that the pair used to be together, but something caused her to leave. I’m guessing Fogg’s selfishness, but his love is enough to stir Abigail and make her question what they know about this man.
Abigail believes that there is more to this trip than meets the eye. She deduces that Fogg is still in love with Estella and is using this trip as a way of honoring her memory.
Fogg wakes up the next day, alive and well. Samanaz is there to greet him, agreeing to allow their guide to see them on to their train at Allahabad. However, it’s time for Arjan’s court martial hearing first. ..
Arjan gives an impassioned plea but just before his fate is sealed, Fogg bursts in to say his piece. He too gives a speech about the symbiotic relationship between love and motivating oneself to return home from war. This is enough for Arjan to be dishonorably discharged from the army without being court martialled.
After the wedding is resolved and the trio are able to leave, Bellamy receives word from Kneedling that Fogg has left India. However, he promises that Fogg won’t make it past Hong Kong. ..
The Episode Review
This is a slightly better episode than what we’ve seen before, with more detail about Fogg’s life during the latter parts of this chapter. This does help to warm up to the explorer a little, but it still doesn’t change the fact that Phileas is incredibly unlikable. At times, it’s difficult to see where his charismatic spark is going to emanate from.
The threat of Bellamy and Kneedling continues to loom large on this show but it feels half-baked and not very well developed, if I’m honest. It would have been nice to see more of a cat and mouse chase develop here, allowing our trio to solve different issues while at the same time thwarting the threat posed by these men. Instead, this remains separate to the episodic plots, which doesn’t benefit this adaptation of 80 Days at all. ..
The Hong Kong series is likely to go in a new direction, but it’s unclear where that will lead.
