Poldark Fan Review: (S02E03) On Dangerous Ground – Relationships & Retributions!

Poldark Series 2 Episode 3 Review : Thoughts from our fan reviewer Celia Fox!

Sunday night is all about two things on TV at the moment: VICTORIA on ITV and of course POLDARK on BBC 1 and with each episode, the series keeps on getting better and better! After two fantastic opening episodes Celia Fox (one of our lucky readers chosen to write a fan review of the series alongside Sarah-Vita Younan) is back again to share her thoughts on the Sunday night’s episode. Take a look at Celia’s thoughts on episode three below:

* Warning: spoilers. Do not read if you have not seen Poldark series 2 episode 3 *

On Dangerous Ground- Relationships and Retributions!

After the trauma and anguish of last week’s trial surely life can return to some equilibrium and calm for the Poldark clan and friends? We were treated to an episode that had everything- from laughter to tears with a cracking good story in between! Poldark keeps up the pressure!

With Jud Paynter, Phil Davis and Prudie, Beatie Edney, back in the Nampara household and being the ever so humble servants while Ross, the darkly brooding Aidan Turner, works all hours at the mine to try to make money to ease his financial difficulties, it looks like normality of a kind has returned to this picturesque part of Cornwall.

It certainly seems like things are looking up for Francis, Kyle Soller, who has taken his new chance at life with both hands and there are some lovely moments of him with his son Geoffrey Charles toiling in the fields and who knew Francis had such a lovely smile? It’s something we’ve rarely seen. Even Elizabeth Heida Reed looks happier although we are never quite sure what she is thinking but at least for the moment there seems to be some peace and harmony at Trenwith.

There is a lovely idyllic scene of gathering in the harvest as Ross and Demelza, Eleanor Tomlinson, walk across the fields in hazy golden sunlight to mend ‘broken bridges’ and the family is reconciled and all looks right with world. The scene was beautifully filmed, looking like oil on canvas… not unlike a painting by John Constable. Even the melodic and lush musical score by the talented Anne Dudley lulls us into a false sense of security for underneath it all trouble is brewing and many are on dangerous ground.

For Ross and Demelza there is the still concealed pregnancy and growing uncertainty in their relationship, not only about this yet unspoken news for Demelza, but also Ross’s annoyance about Hugh Bodrugan, played with a wicked relish by Patrick Ryecart, and his intentions concerning Demelza- and in this instance Ross is correct! Old rogue Bodrugan with wandering eyes and even more wandering hands has set his sights on having more than just friendship!

If that wasn’t enough, the rather dashing Captain McNeil, Henry Garrett, returns to Cornwall and comes to renew his acquaintance with Ross or is it really to see Demelza? Did I detect a twinkle in his eye? There is certainly some friction between Ross and Demelza this episode caused by stress, misunderstandings and secrets. I wonder if our favourite couple’s relationship is beginning to show some cracks! This relationship could be on dangerous ground.

Meanwhile, Dwight Enys Luke Norris, having been personally requested to attend to Caroline Penveven, Gabriella Wilde, impresses her with his deft removal of a fish bone stuck in her throat which had been causing her much discomfort. The way she gazes at him leaves us in no doubt of her continued and growing interest in the young doctor and Dwight looked a little flushed on his return to Trenwith. Be careful, Dr Enys you may be on dangerous ground!

It’s very clear that the foppish and faintly ridiculous Unwin Trevaunce Hugh Skinner is out of favour. He may as well go and pack his bags! The poor hapless man is faring no better with George Warleggan, Jack Farthing, who is disappointed in Unwin’s absence of influence and lack of abilities… and what about George? He glowers, stares and plots and plans the downfall of the Poldarks, with the help of his deliciously devious and dastardly sidekick Tankard, Sebastian Armesto, both acting like bad boys of Bodmin!

George, concerned about what retribution Ross might exact from him knowing that he tried to ensure Ross’s demise through the unforgiving gallows rope, is having lessons in boxing. He can try but I know who most people’s money would be on in a fight! As George fears retribution from Ross so also does Jud Paynter fear similar from George and with good reasons! Ambushed in the woods by George’s lackeys he suffers a brutal beating and is left for dead. This leads to a wonderfully underplayed yet comic sequence of events with Prudie swinging from a being a ‘widow all forlorn’ to fierce anger when realising Jud had gold coins in his possession that she never knew about, and subsequently spending all Jud’s ill-gotten gains on a lavish wake and plans for the burial.

When Paul Daniel Ed Browning rushes in looking flummoxed to state that Jud’s body has gone missing and Prudie doesn’t even have a husband to bury, there is much confusion. The dramatic entrance of a drunken ‘Corpse’ staggering into their midst like some gin-sodden grubby cherubim from… well, certainly not from Heaven, wondering why he is dressed in a burial sheet and realising that Prudie has spent all his gold coins on drink for everyone else was a lovely comedic moment! T’aint right, t’aint fair, t’aint proper! Well played Jud and Prudie for injecting some humour into the drama of the threatening storms ahead!

Back at Trenwith, as the family celebrates the harvest supper and not un-noticed by Demelza, our ever flawed hero, Ross finds his eyes straying towards his first love Elizabeth who seems to be positively glowing.

Mrs Chynoweth, Sally Dexter, so good to see her back this season, ever irascible and with a cutting remark always on the tip of her tongue, provides a moment of humour with her discourse on bosoms in the new London fashions as well as dropping a snide remark about scullery maids in Demelza’s hearing. Demelza, already feeling insecure really could have done without that comment! Later she overhears Ross and Elizabeth talking in hushed and flirtatious tones. We all feel her pain like a knife to the heart as Ross tells Elizabeth she is too much a lady and could never ‘play the scullery maid’! Ouch! Ross and Elizabeth speculate about how life could have been if they had stayed together. The looks on their faces tell us all we need to know. The tone of their voices tells Demelza all she needs to know. It is heart-breaking!

This flicker of a flame between them has never fully gone out and the look on Elizabeth’s face shows us it could be re-ignited. Oh Ross! What is going on in your head? What are you thinking? Oh Elizabeth, what are you doing? This is such dangerous ground for everyone! In their room, later, when Demelza tells Ross she is pregnant he tries to reassure her with another one of those lovely tender moments that these two young actors do so well… but the look in his eyes as he pulls her close and hugs her, leaves us wondering…

And where was Verity, played so well by Ruby Bentall? After previously being less than effective in comforting Demelza in Bodmin and totally ineffective in creating a reconciliation with Francis it was to be hoped she would have more luck this week- but no… she had no presence at all… poor Verity!

Next week: Will all the different relationships become even more complex and complicated? Should we be worried for the happiness of our favourite Cornwall folk? Will there be deserved retribution for George? How can one squeeze so much drama and story into one hour? What has the clever and skilful script-writer, Debbie Horsfield planned for us? I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to find out!

Verdict

Poldark continues on Sunday nights on BBC1 at 9pm

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