The one hundred and seventy-fifth TV show: #419 Around the World in 80 Days
As discussed before, I'm a fan of Monty Python, and it's quite clear from everything surrounding it that Michael Palin is an affable guy that, more than the others, I'd want to hang out with. I wouldn't necessarily have seen him as a travel documentary presenter, but it makes sense watching this - he clearly cares about connecting with people, in a way that doesn't feel forced. And for this first documentary, replicating the journey of the book, that is really useful, as it's clear he spent most of those 80 days stuck on a ship, with a few people around him, which means he has to make the best out of that when the actual travel experiences are more sparse. It's an interesting insight, even if the reason for it - not being allowed to use a plane as that wasn't around in book times, leaving him to rely on irregular, unconnected freight ships to get him across the world - means that more of the show revolves around a "Will he make it" dilemma than I personally would have wanted. There's an extra edge for it, but I'm more looking forward to other documentaries of his where his interaction with everyone is allowed to breath a bit more.