Poldark season 3: 3 questions for episode 2

Poldark season 3 has not made everything clear just yet, and that’s not a surprise. Here are three things bothering us as we go into episode 2.

Poldark season 3 rolled right in on Sunday night. The result? We’re already wondering about these three things for next week’s episode.

How bad is Elizabeth going to get?

Repeated exposure to George Warleggan can cause one to become like George Warleggan, and Elizabeth’s married to him. As much as she still clings to her elder son, Geoffrey Charles, the show also made sure to make it abundantly clear that she’s hardened somewhat. Part of this can be attributed to her ongoing concern that George will find out Valentine isn’t his, because dear old Aunt Agatha, much as we love her, is not known for being quiet or subtle. (We don’t think Agatha will directly tell George, though … it’s not her style. She’s much more about the dire proclamations.)

But that’s never going to change, and in the meantime, Elizabeth is still married to George.

So, are we going to see more of the somewhat unhappy and bitter side of her that keeps popping up? And if so, will it only worsen as Valentine gets older and might end up looking like Ross? She has to gamble that the kid looks like her, and that’ll wear on her, too.

How long will Ross resist?

He’s already hared off to France to try and rescue Dwight, but before that, Ross spent the bulk of the back half of the premiere trying to behave himself. It was, honestly, a little too boring of him, and it led to Demelza chewing him out. So, what happens when he comes back to England, presumably with Dwight?

Look, we get why he’s doing it. He’s trying very hard to give up his wilder ways, but cutting out the nonsense cold turkey makes for a not very interesting hero, and it’s really not in him. We might not be fans of Tholly Tregirls (yet; give it time), but the man had a point. Ross can’t not be more than the simple “country squire” he talked about being.

Once you’ve done shirtless mining, you can’t go back. Sorry.

What’s Sir Francis Bassett’s game here?

He hosts French nobles fleeing the revolution, but he’s also a man who made his own fortune. This could really be nothing; he could just be a minor character. But from the way the characters made sure to talk him up and from the way his house looked, he could end up being a player going forward. All of a sudden, it’s not just Ross and George circling around each other for social points and actions; it could also be an attempt to try and score points with him for additional social standing.

(Okay, George and Ross are still going to circle around each other. We don’t believe Ross is going to keep himself isolated for a second.)

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What are your Poldark questions?