Poldark Series 2 Episode 1 Review : Thoughts from Celia Fox- a fan’s eye view!
Sunday evening may have been the day you have been looking forward to for so long with the return of the hugely popular BBC 1 series, POLDARK gracing our screens once again. After a long 16-month break, the series is back and we have chosen two of the show’s biggest fans to share their thoughts on the new series.
Celia Fox was one of our lucky readers chosen to write a fan review of the series alongside Sarah-Vita Younan. Take a look at Celia’s thoughts on the first episode below:
*** Warning: This review may contain spoilers! ***
Passions, Power, Pecs’ and Perfect Panoramas- it can only mean one thing!
From a breath taking cinematic opening shot, sweeping over the Cornish landscape to focus on the soldiers marching our hero Ross away, set to Anne Dudley’s evocative soundtrack, we realise we are following on immediately from where Series One ended with the arrest on the cliff edge and with satisfaction we fans can relax because we know where we are- the popular and engaging drama that is Poldark is really back! The wait is over!
Debbie Horsefield‘s skilful script-writing draws us straight back into the lives of the characters we care about and missed so much. She slowly and deftly racks up the tension scene by scene as Ross Poldark seems to be in denial about the danger he is in while a wonderfully malevolent and manipulative George Warleggan (played so admirably by Jack Farthing) adds to the impending doom. The writing is beautifully paced as the story unfolds with scenes of quiet tender moments, emotionally charged confrontations, views of magnificent Cornish scenery that make us want to book a holiday right now, all interspersed with lovely little comic ‘laugh out loud’ moments from Aunt Agatha that relieve the tension.
We welcome new characters, Ray Penvenen, (lovely to see John Nettles out of retirement) his rather self-assured niece Caroline, (Gabriella Wilde) who in a gently comic scene calls for Dr Dwight Enys (Luke Norris) to administer to her dog!
Watch out Dr Enys as that is one young lady who knows her own mind! We are also introduced to Caroline’s hopeful suitor Unwin Trevaunance (Hugh Skinner) whom I’m sure will bring fun and humour to this role!
These new characters somewhat drift into the story just leaving us tasters as to what impact they will have on the lives of the well-established characters we’ve learned to love. And we do fall in love all over again with the charismatic Ross Poldark played by the impossibly handsome Aidan Turner who once more is as smouldering and tousle-haired as everyone hoped he would be (I’m sure I heard a collective sigh of relief around the UK) and the stunningly beautiful Demelza played by Eleanor Tomlinson. These two talented young actors portray so much in some wonderfully poignant scenes sometimes with little or no dialogue. Demelza, in particular showing us in more than one scene her continuing grief over the loss of her child… beautifully, subtly written and acted while Ross works out his emotional turmoil by stripping off and getting hot and sweaty down the mine in an apparently futile attempt to keep some control over his life with good honest toil.
Meanwhile Elizabeth always competently played by Heida Reed, already lets us see that she might have a more pro-active role this series. Many fans hoped that the talented actress would be allowed to show another side to her character and she certainly has something going on behind her usually calm demeanour, plotting to use George Warleggan in order to save Ross from the gallows, something which given the smirk on George’s face may not work out in the way she hopes!
We find Francis, excellently played by Kyle Soller, struggle with his lack of self-worth and in a sad little scene we witness his attempts to seek affection and his subsequent rejection by Elizabeth which is cleverly contrasted with a sensual and loving scene between Ross and Demelza. We recognise that the Poldarks have already lost so much and still have so much to more to lose. Almost without us realising it we are led towards the jeopardy waiting for more than one character and the shocking cliff-hanger ending, that made many, I’m sure gasp in shock- I certainly did!- Wonderful work!
A stirring, exciting first episode of this long awaited new series of Poldark, exquisitely filmed and superbly acted by all certainly leaves us fans wanting more- much more! As things look very bleak for the Poldarks with both Ross and Francis having written what could be their last goodbye to their wives, our favourite flawed hero languishing in Bodmin gaol, possibly awaiting the gallows and his suicidal cousin, putting a gun to his own head, we can’t wait to find out what happens next! Ross will have to fight for his life… and Francis… oh… Francis! Roll on next week for Episode Two!
Verdict
Want to talk about POLDARK with Celia? You can find her on Twitter: @CrazyFoxPanto
Poldark continues on BBC1 on Sunday nights at 9pm
[…] write a fan review of the series alongside Celia Fox (you can read her review of the first episode here). Sarah has been blogging about Poldark and Aidan Turner on Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, and […]
What a wonderful comprehensive review of Episode 1 series 2. Just brilliant, looking forward to next week.
Yes, Celia has done a wonderful job. Just four more days to go until the next episode! 😉
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