Poldark Season 2: 10 Changes from the Books to the Small Screen

Francis’ Death

After his attempt to kill himself before Ross’ trial fails, Francis acts more cheerfully than he ever has before, weirding out viewers and fellow characters alike. However just before his drowning death in the mine, he brings Demelza some samples that seem to promise copper, right?

Well, that’s at least the case in the show. In the book, he and Ross go up to Nampara for dinner after a day’s work of overseeing Wheal Grace. Ross then gets the news about the Warleggans obtaining his promissory note and leaves to go hash it out with his man of business.

This is when Francis and Demelza have the conversation where he tells her not to sell herself short in relation to Elizabeth. In the book, he actually adds that he could love her himself. Demelza making pretty much every man who isn’t a Warleggan fall a little bit in love with her is kind of a running theme in the books.

Then, however, Francis gets the bright idea to return to the mine. In fact, the text effectively spells out how long he spends trying to stay afloat — several hours, including the hallucination of Ross holding out a hand to save him. Ross narrates that his cousin died about an hour before he got into the mine to look for him.

Warleggan also doesn’t show the funeral, instead cutting directly to Caroline’s return that October.