As this episode of Around The World In 80 Days begins, Phileas Fogg (David Tennant), Passepartout (Ibrahim Koma), and Abigail enjoy a rough carriage ride across the Rockies. Phileas finally does some planning ahead and believes they can reach Battle Mountain in time. Abigail (Leonie Benesch) comments that nobody planned to bring any food with them. Passepartout has a little something although it isn’t much because they only had 30 minutes before boarding the train in San Francisco. Passepartout had to buy a whole new outfit because the shipping company gave away his clothes. Deputy Bass Reeves (Gary Beadle) and his prisoner Ambrose Abernathy (John Light) spot the carriage coming toward them. As they get closer, Bass decides to commandeer their carriage whether they like it or not. After the intro, Phileas and the others are introduced to Bass Reeves.

He explains that Ambrose violated civil rights so he is taking him back to Louisiana to stand trial. Ambrose claims that is a political invention to stop people complaining about the treatment of the south after the war. Reeves reminds him who won the Civil War. The woman riding at the front isn’t eager to take them along since they look like trouble. She eventually says it is up to Fogg since he hired them. Phileas relents and allows them to ride along. Once they jump in the carriage, it continues its bumpy ride. Colonel Ambrose Abernathy formally introduces himself to Phileas Fogg. Ambrose recognizes him as the adventurer so he knows Abigail and Passepartout too. He thought they were all dead though. He also remembers something from Fix’s father who was heartbroken with grief. Abigail wonders if they should send a telegram to tell everyone they’re alive.

However, Fogg had an assassination attempt on his life so they agree not to do so right now. Back in London, Nyle Bellamy (Peter Sullivan) is harassed by a man who wants his money. He is given a court warrant for debt and told to pay up or he’ll see the man again very soon. As the carriage ride continues, Passepartout and Phileas learn that Reeves was a slave so he has wounds on his hands to prove it. He claims to have escaped from Texas when the war started and went north into Oklahoma. He hid in the Indian territories and took up farming until he thought it was safe. They thought that might be useful so Bass Reeves was made the first black man west of Mississippi with a badge. Phileas reminds him they’re a long way from Oklahoma, but Reeves calls it a special tracking job to get this fugitive. When Passepartout asks if he is important, Reeves says not anymore.

Three men on horseback find a dead horse as they try to track down Reeves and the Colonel. The carriage has to stop so the horses can have water. While they wait, Ambrose asks Phileas about the British hating the French. Phileas says yes but not individually. He is a great admirer of England because they share the same values since there is a place for everyone and everyone is in their place. Abigail talks to Sally (Elena Saurel) about finding a husband. She is only interested if she can find a man who’ll let her do whatever she wants. Passepartout asks Bass about Ambrose being dangerous. He learns about the secret society called the Klan. He says they put their mask on and go murdering black people. He doesn’t think the war solved anything since they work in the shadows now. Ambrose tells Phileas he should be more mindful of his duty to protect Abigail since she is getting intimate with Passepartout. He doesn’t think Fortescue would like his daughter being with a man like that.

Phileas seems dumbfounded. Ambrose tells him to believe it and do something about it. Bass tells Passepartout to get himself and his friends out of the way in case anything happens. He says he fought to become a free man and will fight again. Reeves reminds Passepartout of his brother since he died fighting for his cause. Passepartout isn’t sure he’d be willing to die for anything, but Reeves says he will know when the moment comes. As Fogg gets back in the carriage, Abigail tells him Sally might have her sights set on him. Ambrose’s boys learn that the carriage is headed for Battle Mountain so they must be trying to catch a train east. As the carriage continues, Abigail talks to Reeves about his Peacemaker gun.

He lets her hold it as she explains Bernard taught her how to shoot when she was 12. Reeves gives her a more elegant gun that turns out to be Ambrose’s. She happily stashes it in her bag before Sally says Battle Mountain is ahead. Fogg rushes out to find out whether they made it in time for the Transcontinental. Ambrose’s men get close to Battle Mountain. The locals stare at Passepartout and Abigail as they get out of the carriage. Sally tells them where to get something to eat since they have a bit of time to waste before the train arrives. Sally intends to head back to Mill City. When shaking Fogg’s hand, she tells him how soft they are. Abigail notices a nearby telegraph office while saying goodbye to Sally. As Reeves walks Ambrose through the street, he is told he is scaring people because he is a black man with a gun. Then, he asks Fogg about his French problem. Phileas says he is just going to leave them alone since Passepartout is a fine young man.

Phileas asks if this is what he means by shared values, but Ambrose calls them Confederate values. He suggests it is where everyone knows their place. Fogg calls it a violation of civil rights. Ambrose thought Fogg was a man of vision. He thinks Fogg’s globetrotting has corrupted him. Although he has seen the world, he understood nothing. Once Reeves enters the pub with Ambrose, he runs the others out. Outside, Passepartout tells Abigail about the conversation he overheard between Fogg and Ambrose. Since he told Fogg to keep them apart, they decide to approach Phileas. Fogg admits Ambrose said it was obvious they were getting closer although Passepartout is unsure. Phileas tries to smooth things over and admits it wasn’t obvious to him. Abigail is upset that it wasn’t obvious to Passepartout either. She says people should mind their own business. Fogg finds that funny coming from a journalist.

Since she is angry, she decides to go do something by herself. Passepartout enters the pub with the others and argues with Ambrose who says a look like that gets a boy hung. Bass encourages him not to rise to it since Ambrose wants that. As Fogg enters, Ambrose tells him he needs to work out which side he is on. Phileas says he knows which side he is on. He is on the side that stands up to people like Ambrose. When they try to order food, they’re told they have bacon, beans, or both. Fogg orders five, but the man behind the counter isn’t in a rush. Ambrose’s gang rides into Battle Mountain. Abigail goes to the telegram office where she finishes sending a message to London, England. When she tries to send another message, they learn that the line has been cut so they can’t. The gang members ride into the pub. Abigail is told there is likely going to be a bank robbery or murder since the wire was cut. Back in London, Bellamy approaches Bernard (Jason Watkins) to tell him to pay the agreed wager.

Bellamy reminds him that he is Fogg’s executor so he should settle Fogg’s affairs. Bernard isn’t sure it matters since Abigail and Fogg are dead. Nyle still expects him to pay because it is a matter of Fogg’s honor. He offers to make an appointment with Fogg’s solicitors and go there together. Before Nyle leaves, he tells Bernard to pull himself together and go home. Abigail finds herself in the street alone since everyone has gone home. As the food is served to Fogg and the others, Ambrose’s men finally enter the pub. Bass confronts one of the men as he tries to order a whiskey and tells him the bar is shut. However, he finds himself surrounded by men with guns pointed right at him. Ambrose tells him to drop his gun because natural order has been restored. Once Fogg asks Ambrose why he just doesn’t get away, Ambrose says he will but there is going to be a reckoning first.

Ambrose puts a switchblade on the table and explains he wants Fogg to use it on Passepartout. He threatens to kill everyone if he doesn’t do it and again reminds him he needs to pick a side. Abigail watches through the window and retrieves the pistol from her bag. Fogg is ordered to take Passepartout’s finger. If he does that, he’ll be allowed to leave. Passepartout places his hand on the table before telling Fogg to do it. He keeps encouraging Fogg to do it before he sees Abigail outside and screams stop. He delays Ambrose and his gang. He gives Fogg and Bass a message to be prepared. Abigail comes riding in on a horse as Bass flips the table over. She shoots one man and hits Ambrose in the leg. Ambrose rushes out the back while Abigail runs out of bullets.

She knocks over a table and hides behind it. Phileas sneaks up behind the gunman and kicks him as hard as he can in the balls. He turns around and prepares to shoot Fogg. Passepartout grabs the rifle, throws it to Bass, and Reeves shoots the man before he can. Then, he shoots the last man. When one of the men rushes up and grabs a gun, Passepartout jumps over and punches him through the window. Bass tells the others to leave and he is going to go after Ambrose on his own. However, they decide it is their fight as well. Abigail and Passepartout go together while Fogg teams up with Bass. As Fogg and Bass step outside, Reeves handcuffs one of the men to a wood column. Then, he tells Fogg to watch him and cover the street. Fogg stands around with the shotgun and checks his pocket watch. He sees blood on the ground and figures out where Ambrose went. Before long, Fogg finds Ambrose and holds him at gunpoint. He orders Ambrose to drop the pistol and turn around.

Ambrose approaches Fogg and asks whether he is going to shoot him. He says it takes guts to kill a man face to face before wondering whether Fogg has the stomach for it. Once he calls him a coward, Fogg raises the gun and orders him to drop it again. He does this time. He asks whether Fogg would’ve done it. Passepartout shows up behind him and says he would’ve. Reeves enters and stops them from taking revenge. He says they have to be better than his kind. As Reeves leads him away, he tells Ambrose he’ll get everything he deserves and tells Fogg he did well. Fogg asks Reeves if it gets any easier standing up to people like that. Bass says it does when you have people standing with you. Bass reminds them they’re going to miss the train so they begin rushing toward it. Abigail and Passepartout take credit for saving each other’s life. They talk about the people in the world and whether their relationship could be possible before Fogg interrupts to hurry them along.

Bellamy argues with Bernard because they’re going to be late for the meeting. Bernard gets a telegram from his daughter confirming they haven’t died after all. Unfortunately for Bellamy, that messes up his plan. Bernard tells everyone that they’re alive and heading for New York. Fogg and the others are hounded by the media as they arrive at the picture of the clock.

 

Around The World In 80 Days Review

Unfortunately, this was likely the most ridiculous episode of Around The World In 80 Days yet although it wasn’t surprising. It would’ve been interesting to at least get a somewhat authentic retelling of Bass Reeves’s exploits. The actual story is far more interesting than the jumbled mess this episode turned out to be. It really doesn’t help that the writers didn’t put any effort into researching the subject before throwing together a wish list of “woke” agendas.

By this point in Fogg’s journey, the Klan would’ve been a moot point since it was broken by 1872. It is also odd that they decided to place Bass Reeves so far west although it was quickly explained away. In reality, Reeves and his family farmed until 1875 when he was recruited as a deputy by James F. Fagan. In other words, Reeves wouldn’t have been a marshal at this point.

In the late 1870s and early 1880s, many African Americans served at the Fort Smith federal court as bailiffs and guards. There are also accounts that Reeves wasn’t the first black deputy US marshal west of the Mississippi since that title belongs to Smith who was sent to investigate a stagecoach robbery at Atoka in the Choctaw Nation or someone before him.

There is further evidence that Bynum Colbert was before Reeves. It is good for television shows to remember these important figures, but the way it was done wasn’t great. By the point they reached the pub and Abigail stormed in riding a horse, things had just gotten too silly. Sadly, it was a missed opportunity to really introduce more people to Reeves.

With another season already announced, it is hard to believe they’d completely skip Fogg’s trip to San Francisco. Then again, it is hard to believe they’d even announce another season so soon. That might be a big mistake with the viewership numbers dropping like a rock thrown in a pond.

We can only hope the finale somehow makes this a worthwhile series. I don’t have much hope for it although I will finish it. This episode scores a 5 out of 10. Recaps of Around The World In 80 Days are available on Reel Mockery here.