More of the same, but in this case that's not at all a bad thing. As with the other series, this presentation is full of enlightening and fun little episodes, like Palin visiting a charity for dirt-poor kids in South America and letting them paint his face, and him in Japan meeting a comely young woman who claims to be the first ever Japanese Python fan. Nobody says or even hints at anything to this effect, but judging by that look on her face I'll bet she got, ah, extra extra friendly with him

Charming and engaging, but with 8 months of travel squeezed into 10 hours, it does feel a bit shallow and cursory. Watching this in 2018, it's quite striking just how distant 1997 feels even though it's only 20 years. The China leg in particular is a window into a time and place that simply does not exist anymore.

I can't put my finger on it but Michael Palin is so unengaging that I can't bear his presence

Brilliant stuff. I can't think of many better people than Palin to travel with!

Excellent. Complete series.

Superior to all his other journeys, the longest and most interesting of them all: a journey through the countries around the largest ocean in the world. 7.5 hours of Michael Palin's humour, wit and charm and you just can't get enough of him. This almost forces you off the couch straight to the nearest travel agent, Beware!