With the premiere’s Trial of Poldark over, PBS’ second installment of the second season finds a transition episode full of family, lust and laughter.
Full confession time: like last season, I’ve been watching Poldark on the BBCprior to it showing on PBS. (The show is two episodes ahead over there.) And though I usually complain at how PBS changed up the schedule to force two hour premieres by smashing the first two episodes together, after seeing episode 3, it might be the first time I can say it was warranted. After all, the first two episodes were The trial of Poldark and very little else. This third episode following (second in PBS’ numbering) is very much not of the trial. In fact, it’s almost like the trial was a bad dream that everyone would like to forget about.
"Mrs Chynoweth: “Bosoms. Acres of them, exposed like capons on a platter.”"
Instead we focus on the aftermath as no one mentioned the trial–and in Demelza’s case the baby’s she’s carrying. Instead we get an episode full of miscommunication, comedy of errors, house parties of all stripes, more of Caroline and Enys, and several moments where it tooks like happily ever after is going to go off the rails, only to have “alls well that ends well” moments.
Image via the BBC
Yes, with the trial out of the way, it was party time in no less than three locations all happening at the same time. The rich partied richly at Ray Penvenen’s place. The moderate partied moderately at Trenwith, as befitting Francis’ fallen fortunes (and the source of Mrs. Chynoweth’s disgust). Meanwhile, back at Ross Poldark’s own house the farmhands and poor folk were partying for one of the only three reasons they ever do: either birth, death or marriage. In this case in was the middle one. But more on that in a moment.
"Sir Hugh: “Have you come to steal my heart?”Demelza: “No, sir, I’ve come to visit your cow.”"
Before the parties though, there’s the little matter of Ross Poldark being the World’s Worst Businessman. Everyone, well at least his creditors, are perfectly happy to allow him to continue being that way, since it help drives the plot. Even moreso now that Warleggan’s Wormtail-esque minion Tankard is on the Board of Directors for Wheal Leisure. Of course, that means coming up with the interest, and a “family bands together scene” between him and Demelza as they sell nearly all their worldy possession to pay the £400 fee. This includes their beloved cow, sold to Sir Hugh, who clearly thinks he’s paying to milk whatever he likes from the Poldark household. Considering it was Captain MacNeil that Ross was worrying about turning Demelza’s head, perhaps, once again it might behoove him to be more perceptive.
Image via the BBC
But who needs perceptive? Perhaps showing herself to be Ross’ true soul mate, Elizabeth is just as lacking in that department as she watches Francis act like a born again fool, post suicide fail. She does try to ask if that’s what’s happened, both of Ross and Doctor Enys. (The latter of which only knows the truth) but runs up against a wall of non-explanation. Instead she has to content herself with a happy husband, which sometimes sees to be the antithesis of her entire marriage to him. At least some good has come of it. The kinder, gentler, nothing to lose Francis welcomes Ross back with open arms and a complete lack of holding grudges. (Something Ross could learn a lot about!) Also, he’s finally throwing those house parties Elizabeth always wanted, and inviting Ross to spend the night at them. Even if they are for the farmhands, the latter part I’m sure at least pleases Elizabeth and Ross.
"Warleggan: “What’s the use of having an MP in your pocket if he’s too obtuse to do your bidding?”"
The rich parties, which Elizabeth is no longer attending, are up at the Penvenen estate. That’s where George Warleggan wanders about in his best clothes, whispering to his Wormtail and looking at if he needs either a mustache to twirl, or perhaps a Nagini to stroke as he puts up with Unwin Trevaunance MP, who continues his non-winning ways with caroline. Caroline, in fact is not attending the party at all. Does she actually have the putrid throat? or is she hypochondriac-ing once again to get the attentions of Doctor Enys, who seems to be dropping everything to make frequent house calls to see her, including the moderate level one at Trenwith. Turns out the answer is right in the middle–it’s a fishbone stuck in her throat. How’s that for a “how mommy and daddy met story” down the line? Horace the Pug would probably approve anyway.
Image via the BBC
Caroline thankfully isn’t dying of putrid throat, but like last wee, death is in the air. In our lone direct reference back to the events of the premiere, Jud is beaten by Wormtail and thug, for turning hostile witness on the stand, on Warleggan’s orders. Warleggan told them to beat the man within an inch of his life. Apparently they didn’t bring a measuring tape. The next thing you know Prudie is wailing and sobbing because poor Jud is daid.
So while the rich are partying it up (and Warleggan is ranting at Wormtail for careless deaths of minions), and Ross and Elizabeth are making eyes at each other when he and Enys and Francis aren’t putting two and two together over the circumstances of Jud’s death to blame Warleggan, Prudie is buying herself expensive widow’s weeds with the money Jud was paid by the Warleggans to lie on the stand. (It was in his pocket because he assumed when the thugs came he could return it and escape.) She’s in the middle of hosting a feast in the name of her once beloved, when suddenly….the body is gone.
"Jud: “I wakes up with a terrible thirst, dreaming of gin.”"
Yes, like Francis’ brush with suicide, the reports of Jud’s death are greatly exaggerated. Are those widows weeds returnable for a refund? But not before Demelza is conveniently distracted away from Trenwith so Ross and Elizabeth can have some badly timed alone time. To her credit, Elizabeth does not seem nearly as into this idea as Ross is now that it’s actually in front of her. That’s good for everyone involved since Demelza is the one up in the hallways on her way back from Jud’s resurrection overhearing the lot.
Image via the BBC
Ross comes to bed with the proper woman instead of the other one, only to learn he’s going to be a father again. His excuses for the scene in the parlor with Elizabeth are not the greatest “men look at other women and women look at men sometimes”, considering he was freaking out over Captain MacNeil’s arrival earlier. But all’s well that end’s well, I guess. Ross takes to being a father again with little complaint. Jud’s alive, which means he and Prudie will continue to be semi-useless servants and Ross and Elizabeth aren’t sleeping behind Francis’ and Demelza’s backs. Not yet anyway.
Next: Poldark Season 2 Recap: The Trial of the 18th Century
We’ll see how long that lasts, as next week’s trail promises Warleggan will get to put his faux boxing practice to good use, before Demelza tries to drown herself for reasons yet unknown.