Poldark episode 7

Poldark: A fan’s review by Celia Fox

Another Sunday night has passed and so has another super episode of POLDARK. Each week we look forward to the next episode, but as each hour passes, the finish line towards the end of the second series draws ever closer. After six 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 seven below:

* Warning: spoilers. Do not read if you have not seen Poldark series 2 episode 7 *

It’s a Risky Business: Life, Love and Free-Trading!

Well what a dark but thrilling rollercoaster of an episode it was this week with exciting twists and turns! I’m sure there were times when I forgot to breathe!

Having smuggled goods hidden in your home is always a risky business and Demelza, Eleanor Tomlinson is still not happy about it! Poor Paul Daniel, Ed Browning and Ted Carkeek, Lewis Peek certainly feel the rough edge of her tongue when they come to move the contraband. Even Garrick (who must be getting on a bit now- in dog years) shows his disapproval!

It is clear that owning a Copper Mine is also a risky business and the future looks bleak for if no copper is found soon then the Mine will have to close. Ross, Aidan Turner bemoans the sad state of affairs especially as he has sold all his shares in the one Mine in the area making a profit and gambled everything on making a success of Wheal Grace. Returning from the Mine, Ross surprises Demelza trying to break up a fight between Jud, Phil Davis and Prudie, Beatie Edney. Their combined rolling about on the floor is referred to by Ross with a smile as the ‘Noble Art of Cornish Wrestling!’ I’m not sure they will win any prizes though! It is one of those lovely little comic moments used so well to interject humour into the more serious and portentous story lines.

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Smuggling continues to be an even riskier business as Captain MacNeill, Henry Garrett appears to working hand in hand with the wily and weasely Jim Vercoe, Marc Danbury in another determined attempt to catch the free-traders- he’s like a little terrier isn’t he, he doesn’t let go! Whoever is sneaking around telling tales to the Customs Men has obviously been helpful as they seem to know all the likely suspects and it looks like Mr Trencrom, Richard McCabe’s card has been marked! This doesn’t bode well for Ross as he, CaptainHenshawe, John Hollingworth and Paul Daniel set out on Mr Trencrom’s ship, to seek Mark Daniel who has at last been found in the Scilly Isles. Sailing out on a smuggling trip is extremely risky at any time, but made more perilous with an informer about so of course Demelza is distressed and worried again. She’ll have a permanent furrow across her brow soon having to cope with reckless Ross as her husband, however many pairs of silk stockings he buys! As George, Jack Farthing once said, though I hate to admit he was right, Ross tumbles from one disaster to another and this dangerous venture isn’t looking any more promising! However, they all set out with optimism to meet Mark. Their plan is to return on Trencrom’s ship alongside the smuggled goods and land in Nampara Cove. What can possibly go wrong?

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With Elizabeth, Heida Reed now having no stake in Wheal Grace there is no need for Ross to visit so often. However, she doesn’t seem to be able to let him go and this is a continued threat to his relationship with Demelza who at least recognises the danger signs! Elizabeth still seems to have Ross hooked paying out the line so we think he’s escaped and then trying to reel him back in. What game is she playing and does she really know herself? Aunt Agatha, Caroline Blakiston is not impressed with the situation as her expressions show! Not knowing Ross is away from home, Elizabeth’s letters written to him asking for guidance go astray (In Prudie’s pocket- why am I not surprised?) and thinking Ross is becoming less concerned about her welfare she decides to seek help from another source… guess who? Be careful Elizabeth!

Poldark Episode 2 review

George obviously unhappy with the pace or lack of it in his plan to secure Elizabeth decides to take a more proactive approach by frightening her into his arms. He has his sidekick the deliciously creepy Tankard, Sebastian Armesto drop dire predictions of revolting peasants and looming doom into her ears. This could be a risky game to play particularly as wonderful Aunt Agatha looks handy with a gun and looks like she knows how to use it! It becomes clear that his intentions (as far as is possible for a Warleggan) are honourable as he plans to make Elizabeth his wife. George is ultimately playing for high stakes for with Elizabeth as his bride he knows he will have finally achieved something to hurt Ross beyond measure. He smirks like a pantomime villain who knows his devious plan is drawing to a conclusion. His trap is closing around Elizabeth… is it about love or revenge? What will she do? What will Ross do if George’s plan succeeds? Once again the twists and turns of the plot leave us eager for more.

Meanwhile, it seems that Ray Penvenen, John Nettles’s intervention last week in separating his niece from Dr Enys, Luke Norris has had the opposite effect to the one he desired, for it transpires that Caroline, Gabriella Wilde and Dwight are planning to elope. In common with many story strands developing this week, this is another risky venture. Caroline, in going against her uncle’s wishes could lose her inheritance and Dwight must leave behind everyone and everything he cares about and both could come to regret their choices. However, they decide to take a risk on love! Dwight explains the plan to Demelza who takes him into her confidence about Ross’s latest escapade and he realises he will gone before Ross’s return and therefore not able to say good bye to his friend. It’s all starting to feel unsettling as Caroline sneaks out in the darkness and waits for Dwight.

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Dr Enys answers a call to help Rosina who has fallen on her knee, believing he has enough time to help her and still meet Caroline who he knows will be waiting for him. Charlie Kempthorne, Ross Green feigns illness, having told everyone that Dr Enys has told him to stay indoors, so he cannot help with the landing of the smuggled goods that night. Now as Dwight knows he said no such thing, it doesn’t take any of them long to put two and two together and conclude that Charlie is the informer! (Hands up who guessed!) Dwight demands entrance to Charlie’s cottage and accuses him! (Dwight, Caroline is waiting- what are you doing?) Charlie, recognising the game is up attacks Dwight but it seems that Ross isn’t the only one handy with his fists! Leaving Charlie sprawled on the floor, and now understanding that Ross and the others are sailing into a trap, he rushes to try to warn them… and still Caroline waits and waits!

Ross realises he has been grasping at straws and the excursion to find Mark has yielded nothing. Life is ever easy for Ross is it? Now to compound the futility of this fool’s errand and thanks to Charlie Kempthorne’s treachery as they land back at Nampara Cove, Vercoe and gang are waiting- It is an ambush! Plucky and loyal Dwight builds a bonfire on the headland just in time to warn Ross and the others as they land on the beach… It is chaos and confusion! Ross has been seen by Vercoe and if he is caught it will mean trial, prison or worse AGAIN! (Déjà vu springs to mind and I’m not sure any of us want to go through it a second time!) Run Ross run! A soldier sneaks up behind Dwight and a blow to the head sends him crashing to the ground… and Caroline, downcast and feeling abandoned may not wait any longer! Gunshots are heard by those inside Nampara and the soldier on guard is no match for Demelza when her man is in trouble for she manages to give him the slip and escapes outside. She sees Ross is alive but desperately looking for somewhere to hide.

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Vercoe and the soldiers arrive dragging a wounded Dr Enys with them (Hurray- he’s still alive but is Caroline still waiting?) The informer has done his work well as they know about the cache but on opening it up expecting to find Ross hidden inside are surprised to find it is empty- no-one more surprised than Demelza!

Another day and a devastated Dwight reads the letter left by Caroline in which she explains that the choices he made that night, while she waited in vain have led her to the conclusion that their relationship is over. She has left him and gone away and that they will never meet again. Poor Dwight! This can’t be the end can it? This isn’t fair! Let me repeat that- THIS ISN’T FAIR!

And where is Ross? He was hidden in the cache after all but in an additional and cleverly constructed cache within a cache! As the soldiers leave, a dishevelled Ross breaks his way out. I’m not sure how he accomplished hiding himself away without any help and we may never know- but let’s be glad he did for now he is safe again. As a worried Demelza takes comfort in softly singing to herself she turns her head and sees Ross standing in the doorway. It is enough- no questions asked, for once more they are in each other’s arms and all is well again. Only, of course it isn’t because Vercoe will surely accuse Ross of involvement in the smuggling. Dwight Enys cannot escape his part in aiding the free-traders to escape and how will he cope without Caroline? Charlie Kempthorne lies dead on the beach… Oh and there’s still George and his plotting and planning- where will it all lead?

Poldark episode 7

With such an exhilarating and dramatic episode this week maybe we should pause and take a deep breath and prepare ourselves for next week- because clearly there is more danger, menace, threats and heartaches still to come and so much more story to be told! I’m already counting the days!

Verdict

Poldark continues on Sunday nights on BBC1 at 9pm

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