All three parts of the series are wonderful, but series 3 is definitely the most emotional. On the steamer General Grant, Fogg reads another verse from the Indian poetry collection, a verse that makes him literally stagger with excitement as he thinks of Aouda. Then he goes on deck and musters up the courage to almost confess to her and show her his love. At the ball in San Francisco, the way the two dance is also magnificent. Fogg holds her so tenderly, protectively, and they are both completely devoted to each other. James Jesse disrupts their idyll, captivated by the beautiful Asian woman, and probably envious of the way Fogg and Aouda look at each other. But Fogg very dignified and touchingly defended his beloved, facing her like a stone wall, and, realizing that he would not deal with the intruder peacefully, gave James Jesse what he deserved. Fate reunited the two rivals on the train to Omaha, and Fogg was most coolly willing to duel Jesse to protect his beloved and his companions, even though he had no experience with weapons and knew he could be killed. Fortunately, everything ends well, but the troubles continue, and in each of them Fogg shows amazing courage, resourcefulness and feeling. For example, when Fogg and Aouda are thrown overboard from the Vanderbilt's ship, Fogg thought of Aouda first, even though he himself could not swim. On the ship "Henrietta", Fogg is still not sure what exactly Aouda feels for him, and after he is sure, he again makes a touching-exciting confession of his feelings to her. But he does not decide to propose marriage to her because he thinks that he is not the right man for her. Because his main concern was her happiness. That's what true love really is.
Fogg treats the Henrietta's captain fairly, even earning his respect, as well as that of the other sailors. The finish is delightful. Fogg musters the strength to completely change his life for the woman he loves, proposing to her as his wife instead of waiting for her to do so as in the book. He is ready to work for Aouda and do anything to make her happy. Win or lose, he was going to propose to her. He had already decided on it on board the ,,Henrietta'', though still subconsciously.
The subsequent action, when Fogg, Aouda, Passepartout and Fix, travel in the carriage to the Reforma Club in a race against time - a scene saturated with pleasant tension, which always evokes stirring emotions to this day - is also magnificent, as well as when Fogg enters the The Reform Club, leading Aouda by the hand, despite the ban on women entering there. Because his love is above all: stereotypes, prejudices and racial differences.
I advise everyone who writes opinions to first watch the series carefully, to get a good insight into the events, because apparently some did not, and only then write reviews. In India, Aouda was saved on Fogg's sole initiative. If not for his master, Passepartout would have continued on his way, however outraged he was by the widow's ritual burning. Here, Fogg directly risked his life for her, throwing himself against the fanatics, and it was this that prevented them from continuing to light the pyre. If he had not done so, not only Aouda, but also Passepartout, hidden under the dead man's shroud, would have suffocated. Because if the fire had ignited in full force immediately, Passepartout would hardly have been able to get up and present himself as the "resurrected dead man". It was even stupid that he didn't do it sooner, but waited for the pyre to be lit. It's a real miracle that he didn't pass out from the heat of the smoke, dressed in a thick black suit and wrapped under the thick blanket. It was too unreal, a true fiction. So actually in the series, mainly Fogg saved Aouda back then. In the book, Fogg doesn't throw himself at the stake, though he tries, held back by Cromartie. Not to mention the 1956 film, where Niven's Fogg was well hidden in the branches of a tree, and there he practically risked nothing: neither his life nor wasted much time. In addition, Brosnan's Fogg saves Aouda many more times: in the cave of the Burmese bandits, when thanks to the banknotes thrown at his idea, the British army discovers and rescues them; at the shipwreck of the ship "Tankadere"; at the Empress of China, when Aouda also interceded for him; in front of James Jesse...
Passepartout regarded Aouda with nothing but respect. He is presented as a Frenchman with a rather frivolous demeanor, giving in to occasional flirtations, although he had a fiancee, Madeleine. He would never fall in love with Aouda, she with him - even less. Likeable as he was, Passepartout was no match for Fogg in manners, restraint, and intellect.
Regarding the book, Fogg there accepted Aouda's offer mainly because he had no other choice, and he proved it the moment he won. Then he asks her: "Do you still want to marry me, madam?" So he can't address her at least by name? Besides, it's absurd for him to ask her that. If he's poor, I understand, but if he's rich again...? Aouda answers his question with a question: ,,,I have to ask you this question, sir. Now that you've won, the circumstances are different.'' So it turns out that neither of them believe in the other's love and have decided to marry under pressure from the circumstances. So what kind of feelings are we talking about here if they don't trust each other? In the end, Fogg says that they will get married anyway because he got his fortune back thanks to her. The book shows more gentlemanly gratitude and duty than supposed love. Considering all of this in the book, it's as if Passepartout really was much more worthy of her than Fogg, I've even read fan stories where Aouda married Passepartout. But even in the novel, I somehow do not imagine these characters together. While in the series, Fogg did everything guided by his love for Aouda and proved it once again by taking her with him to the Reforma club, with his happy smile when he entered there and with his tenderness during the wedding ceremony. Whether he won or not, she was the most important thing to him!
Fogg did Passepartout his due in every way: he treated him much more warmly and friendly than Fogg in the book, and a hundred times better than David Niven's Fogg in the first version. He even forgave Passepartout for his stupid outburst when the Frenchman slyly decided to get Fix drunk, whom he suspected of following them. Then Fogg dropped the Carnatic, for if Passepartout had not been drunk he would have returned to the hotel and personally warned them that the ship would sail that evening. Not only would Fogg lose the bet because of this, but he and Aouda and Fix would be shipwrecked in the storm and beheaded by the Empress of China. And after all this, Fogg did not even reprimand Passepartout and finally split his money with him. I do not see what more he could do for his faithful servant. He who is dissatisfied, should be angry with Jules Verne.
As for Detective Fix, his handling of the arrest was beyond reprehensible. Fogg almost carries him, after the shipwreck, when Fix had sprained his leg, pulled him into the rickshaw, and at the Chinese Prince, Fix's head would have blown off if not for Fogg's fervent advocacy. Later, Fogg even paid for him while Fix stuck with them during the second half of the trip. Finally, Fix arrested him, and he could have at least waited for him to win the bet. This was his ''thank you'' after everything Fogg had done for him. I don't think Fix did it because he was doing his job, more like he was obsessed with getting the prize to marry Millie and it clouded his mind. If he could think logically, he would probably begin to doubt that Fogg was guilty, because a real robber would hardly help him the way Fogg helped him. If Fogg had really been the Royal Bank robber, he would never have returned to London, but would have long since fled in an unknown direction with the bag of money. In conclusion: Fix was a far cry from the moniker of a good detective, and he was incredibly lucky that Fogg was too noble to forgive him. Let's not forget that in the finale, Fix and Passepartout marry their sweethearts thanks to Fogg, who splits the profit with them. Fogg regains his former state and gains nothing from this journey except the woman he loves. Passepartout's loyalty deserved the reward, while Fix, without Fogg's magnanimity, would never have married his Mildred.
The credit for having traveled around the world in less than 80 days was mostly due to Fogg, who calculated everything most precisely, acted correctly, according to the situation and knew every corner of the world. Especially the credit for winning Aouda's heart. Fogg fully deserved the happiness he achieved.
1 out of 1 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
