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

Paying the Warleggan Bill

As the PBS recaps have suggested, Poldark really needs a new name. Ross just isn’t cutting it anymore as a proper hero. They opt for Demelza; we opt for Demelza and Caroline, because we could watch them sass men, wear fabulous clothes, and generally be the best two characters in the show all day long. Anyway, Poldark doesn’t change Caroline’s choice to buy up Ross’ 1000-pound debt. However, it does add in some additional drama for the eventful Christmas payment to George and Cary Warleggan.

In the show, Ross and Demelza show up to the Warleggans’ house with the money and some impressively smug smiles, especially on Ross’ part. Meanwhile, George seethes. To put it in some modern American terms, Ross is a rascally rabbit who has evaded his Elmer-Fudd-like attempts to take him down once and for all while the viewers cheer. (Does this make Demelza Lola Bunny?)

In the books, it is far less exciting. Ross and Demelza head off to Verity’s for Christmas and send Harris Pascoe to pay George off, because paying your hated enemy to his face is Not Done, at least in Winston Graham’s world. In that of Debbie Horsfield, who created and writes for this reboot, it is Most Certainly Done.