Another Sunday and another night of high tension and entertainment as the Poldark household yet again bring us drama, action and more endearing moments to swoon over. After three fantastic 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 Sunday night’s episode. Take a look at Celia’s thoughts on episode four below:
* Warning: spoilers. Do not read if you have not seen Poldark series 2 episode 4 *
Obduracy, Options and Obligations… and a cart load of Oranges!
Gently we are drawn into this episode with a sweeping vista across Cornish cliffs and a beautiful sunset over an azure blue sea. This is familiar and comforting ground for us now. Ross, Aidan Turner and Demelza, Eleanor Tomlinson are taking an evening stroll and pass by a dejected group of men arrested for smuggling and on their way to Truro gaol- It should be a salutary reminder of what is past and what to avoid in the future, but Ross can’t help responding to the scene with a little sarcasm- Looks like our hero is back on form! The situation between Ross and Demelza is more open to question. Initially we think that the cracks in their relationship have been papered over and life goes on at Nampara. However, Ross still seems to be struggling with his obligations to provide for his wife, household and tenants with little or no money while Demelza, unbeknown to Ross, goes fishing alone knowing because of her pregnancy he would forbid it. It isn’t long before secrets, obduracy and disagreements tear the paper and the cracks begin to show again. We wonder why these two don’t just sit down and talk and share their anxieties- but that would be too simple! It isn’t long before we find ourselves tumbling headlong into another pacy episode that threatens to leave us all breathless!
A visit from Mr Trencrom, Richard McCabe the instigator and organiser of the large scale smuggling in the area causes more friction between Ross and Demelza. After having sold nearly everything they possess and still being in debt, it is clear that they need additional income from somewhere other than the mine. While Mr Trencrom’s proposal to run contraband into Nampara Cove for a fee is perceived by Ross as a temporary solution to their fiscal problems, in Demelza’s eyes it is rushing into another dangerous activity that could once more lead to disaster. Ross obdurately refuses to listen to Demelza’s concerns. Are the cracks widening? Luckily the first run is successful and Ross and his loyal friend Paul Daniel, Ed Browning and Ted Carkeek, Lewis Peek survive for another day although I wouldn’t want to be Ross shoes when he arrives home having seen the look on Demelza’s face!
It is lovely to see Verity, Ruby Bentall again! It seems she and Captain Blamey, Richard Harrington are happy (and aren’t we all glad about that?) and there are some awkward moments as she struggles to make friends with Esther, Isabelle Parris Blamey’s daughter who has no-intention of making that an easy option! The arrival of Blamey’s son James, Alexander Morris is a delight and it is about time something good happens for Verity. These few scenes make us realise that we don’t see enough of Verity or Blamey- I hope we see much more.
Meanwhile the burgeoning romance between Dr Dwight Enys, Luke Norris and CarolinePenvenen, Gabriella Wilde is fun to behold. There is a flurry of letters between them as Dwight is summoned. A demanding young Miss isn’t she? The phrase ‘Lamb to the slaughter springs to mind’! Caroline is definitely toying with him but how far will she go? Dr Enys continues to be in danger of losing his heart no matter how hard he struggles to fight it by trying to be calmly professional! He is also struggling with his obligations to diagnose the epidemic afflicting many of the mine workers, until a throw away remark from Ross about sailors finally switches on the lightbulb in his brain and he realises the condition is scurvy! (Maybe he was previously distracted by the charms of a certain Miss Penvenen!) Poor Dwight realises he now has the solution to the medical problems but not the means to treat it. Apparently fresh fruit full of the necessary vitamin C is too expensive for impecunious and needy miners and their families. After receiving a cart load of oranges sent by Caroline, bought with money she inveigled from her uncle Ray Penvenen, John Nettles, Dwight knows he is under an obligation to her- which is exactly how she planned it! Boy, this girl doesn’t give in easily when she sees something she wants! I don’t expect there are many people who do not sympathise with her aims after all if not Dwight, she’s left with Unwin Trevaunance, Hugh Skinner and let’s not even go there! That young man is fast running out of options where Miss Penvenen is concerned but he stubbornly refuses to recognise it!
While Dwight and Caroline continue to dance around each other, Ross does his best to develop the potential of Wheal Leisure. Tankard, Sebastian Armesto drifts into the share-holder meetings like a spectre at the feast, malice dripping from every simple line. All options for Ross seem to be thwarted at every turn by the growing influence of George Warleggan, Jack Farthing who day by day seems to be tightening his grip on Ross’s affairs. It is clearly part of his master plan to control Ross, something he intimated to Elizabeth, Heida Reed in an attempt to control her too. Was he really suggesting what I think he was suggesting? However, Elizabeth makes it clear she cannot be a part of George’s plans and the look on George’s face as he realises that maybe money won’t be able to buy everything he wants- and we know he wants Elizabeth, was a brief but priceless moment!
George thinks he knows exactly what he is doing but even after all this time he doesn’t really know Ross! For rather than be under the yoke of the Warleggans, Ross sells half his shares in Wheal Leisure, almost abandoning it to George who he knows will buy the shares… of course he will… and to think George once said Ross was predictable! With the money from the sale of the shares, Ross invites Francis, Kyle Soller to join him and invest in opening Wheal Grace Mine. It’s a gamble but we know the Poldarks like a gamble- let’s hope they win this time. Together they plan to have the ‘freedom to call their souls their own’ without George’s long talons gripping them around the throat.
George of course is not happy and aiming to burst Ross’s bubble(he is never going to give Ross a break is he?) hits out verbally by suggesting that the money Francis will invest was for services rendered in betraying Ross, and which led to the demise of the Carnmore Copper Company. The tension crackles between them as they stand face to face. It is easy to think one of them is going to ignite- and of course it happens. Ross hits back not with words but fists as a fight ensues with much grabbing, gouging and punching. Oh George, did you really say in last week’s episode that Ross wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you? You were wrong about that! As Ross throws George across the room in the bar brawl we’ve all been waiting for, I’m sure I heard a united roar of approval across the TV audience!
After binge-watching #GameOfThrones, George wanted to recreate his favourite fight scene. 👍👀👍 #TheMountain #Poldark pic.twitter.com/OUmVCP9wf8
— BBC One (@BBCOne) September 25, 2016
While having his bruises and cuts attended to by Dwight (isn’t it wonderful he always seems to be there when you need him?) Ross meets Captain Blamey, and on seeing Francis approach, makes a decision. Not allowing Blamey and Francis to skirmish and growl at each other, he takes total control and insists that this maybe the last chance to put the past firmly behind them. The look in Francis’s eyes shows he understands although the truth is unspoken between the Poldark cousins and a reconciliation of sorts takes place.
Sadly for Dwight it appears that Miss Penvenen is returning to London. At least she is sending him another cart load oranges! Don’t look so downcast Dr Enys- none of us believe you’ve seen the last of that little minx!
Demelza, despite being almost ready to give birth and probably to spite Ross, stubbornly refuses to be told what she can and can’t do so she sets off to go fishing in her little boat. What is the girl thinking? The inevitable happens and she goes into labour.
🎶 *Superman theme* 🎶 💪 #Poldark pic.twitter.com/P83UKChE3H
— BBC One (@BBCOne) September 25, 2016
This perilous situation for her and the unborn baby is resolved by Ross splashing into the turbulent sea to lift her out of the boat and they squabble and bicker as he carries her in his arms to safety- a lovely humorous moment that breaks the tension and makes us all smile.
The smiles continue as we gaze on our handsome hero adoringly gazing at his new born son- I imagine the soft sighs of a million women as they watch their TV screens!
Another episode ends with Poldarks in partnership (That will put George’s nose out of joint- if Ross hasn’t already literally done that!) and Ross and Demelza, with arms around each other, gazing out at another glowing Cornish sunset over a perfect Cornish seascape. All is well with the world again. For the time being we can forget that Wheal Grace may prove a failure, George Warleggan will be out for revenge, Elizabeth and Ross still have unresolved issues… and Debbie Horsfield’s clever script-writing has done it again and we are well and truly hooked- line and sinker!
I am already counting the days until Episode 5! It can’t come soon enough.
Verdict
