Poldark Series 2 Episode 3 Review : Thoughts from our fan reviewer Sarah Vita-Younan!
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 Sarah Vita-Younan (one of our lucky readers chosen to write a fan review of the series alongside Celia Fox) is back again to share her thoughts on the Sunday night’s episode. Take a look at Sarah’s thoughts on episode three below:
* Warning: spoilers. Do not read if you have not seen Poldark series 2 episode 3 *
Poldark Hearts Are Not Easily Withdrawn
I know I’ve probably said this both weeks past, but I can’t help it… I do NOT enjoy my week long wait for Poldark! And I was even more impatient this week, seeing as a lot of the storyline I was looking most forward to was to be introduced. I can honestly say it did not disappoint!
This week’s episode opens with Ross returning home, taking a moment to just stop and look at his mine, Wheal Leisure. His failing mine. He has an idea to start digging a tunnel with hopes of striking a new and more prosperous load of copper, after all their previous veins have now gone dry.
Unfortunately, this venture is now met with the repercussions of another. A loan Ross took out of coming due, and he must pay the interest of 400 pounds. This week. As if his financial affairs couldn’t get any worse, he is also, non-intentionally, been neglectful of his beloved Demelza.
Elsewhere, spoiled-little-rich-boy, George Warleggan, has actually begun learning to fight. Though he refuses to admit it, he is taking precautions in case Ross comes after him after trying to have him hanged. Admit it, George. He scares you.
George has also resorted to obtaining more shares in Wheal Leisure, and sending his very creepy henchman, Tankard, to the Wheal Leisure share-holders meetings, pretending to act under Mr. Cook. Seriously? Do you guys think Ross, not to mention Captain Henshawe, are that dumb? -*insert eyeroll here*-
On a lighter note, after the last two weeks heartache with Francis, we see him playing with his son, Geoffrey Charles, and trying whole-heartedly to make a decent living on his land for himself. Though truthfully, this confuses Elizabeth, and everyone, quite a bit. But this is a happy and welcome change.
Not only has Caroline grabbed ahold of and managed to keep the attention of Dr. Enys, but Demelza also seems to have become the prize sought after by Captain McNeil, who has been sent to Nampara by Demelza’s other hopeful suitor, Sir Hugh Bodrugan. Bodrugan sent McNeil to ask Demelza if she would cure his sick cow. In his defense, the cow really was sick.
This leads to a little flirting of McNeil’s part, a lot of flirting on Bodrugan’s, and one peeved Ross Poldark. A typical Poldark spat takes place between Ross and Demelza, and she storms out of the house, not seeing him again until the next morning, accusing him of giving her the cold shoulder and looks.
After a night digging tunnels and sleeping alone, both Ross and Demelza wish to make up in the morning. Clearly, Demelza wishes to tell him she’s pregnant again, but Ross takes this chance to tell her of his distraction about the loan that has come due.
Demelza does go to see Bodrugan, but regrets it, as he makes quite a rough and handsy pass at her, only to be caught off guard by McNeil. The Captain also promises to take it upon himself to protect Demelza from the old man. No doubt she may live to regret that too.
Not having any other choice, Ross and Demelza sell nearly all their livestock except their cows and Garrick, and every material item they can do without, and manage to pay off their interest.
In town, they run into George, who makes a rather rude remark about Ross not looking well due to anxieties of late. Feeling the tension, Demelza resorts to physically pulling Ross away from George, stopping anything before it can get started. You better hope Demelza’s always there, George.
At Trenwith, both Elizabeth and Francis with to make things up with Ross, and Elizabeth enlists the help of Dwight to get Ross to come to Trenwith for the harvest celebrations.
Now… we all had to know Jud’s testifying Ross would come back to haunt him. And it does. Tankard and another man come upon him in the woods and beat him down. Not unlike Jud, he fakes death to see what Prudie would do. He’s not happy when he returns to find her spending the gold pieces he’d left her all on herself.
The next, Ross and Demelza do go to Trenwith, leading to a very delighted Francis. May I just take a moment to say, this scene made me cry. Francis wanting to desperately to patch things with Ross, and his face when he sees him. Not to mention the music! Que feels!!!
During the festivities, Dwight is called away to attend on Caroline Penevenen. The pain in her throat turns out to be the result of a fish that was not boned correctly before cooking. Dr. Enys’ skilled and gentle hands only lead to Caroline’s infatuation for him. And he seems to be attracted to her as well.
That night, back at Trenwith, Francis and Ross seem to finally make amends with each other. Francis retires almost in tears at the sight of Ross under his roof again. Ross smiles at him and tells him he was glad to come and to be at Trenwith again.
But maybe Francis should not have gone to bed so soon… Ross is only alone a short while before Elizabeth enters, thinking everyone else had already been to bed. At first, Ross helps her clear up, but after some friendly conversation, things seem to get flirtatious as Ross more than once mentions his and Elizabeth’s former attraction for each other.
She tries to get off the subject, saying their characters are too different for each other, but she still holds feelings for him. Though indeed, Ross says she is a lady and could not have played the scullery maid, this should not be interpreted as being said against Demelza, which is why Elizabeth does not defend her.
Ross lives in poverty. He has nothing. Though he is a gentleman, and his wife a lady, they do not live as highly as Francis and Elizabeth. Elizabeth does not have to work as hard as Demelza does.
Speaking of Demelza, neither party knows she is on the other side of the closed door and hear every word. She leaves to bed in tears. Almost immediately afterward, Elizabeth sends Ross away, telling him that Demelza will be thinking he has “gone astray.”
In their room, as Ross reminisces about their last visit to Trenwith, that being when Demelza told him she was with-child, she points out the fact that now their relationship is different and back then he would have never looked twice at another woman.
Trying to be patient with how she feels, Ross does defend himself, saying all men occasionally look at other women, and all women look at other men, but that it does not mean anything. He also says every couple with sense has the usual quams about having a child.
It is then that Demelza starts to cry, and Ross puts two and two together. He verbally tells her he does not want another child. That he cannot bear to have one grow into their hearts and then be taken. But at her silence and tears, he changes his tone. “A child is not a thought… it is flesh and blood. And if you can risk your heart again, then so can I.”
Very much like when she was pregnant with Julia, this episode ends with Ross and Demelza in each other’s arms, and they seem to still be happy. For now…
I feel I cannot point out one specific thing about each cast member this week, as to me, Aidan, Eleanor, Heida, Jack, Kyle, Luke, Gabriella, and even Caroline, all played off each other beautifully this week, and this has so far been the best episode I have seen. I have no doubt it will only get better.
Verdict
Poldark continues on Sunday nights on BBC1 at 9pm
: Our fan reviewer Sarah Vita-Younan shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Poldark, which was as entertaining as ever!){kind=link}