Poldark season 3 episode 4 review: Anatomy of a break

Poldark packed in some surprises with this pivotal episode of season 3, and it kept to a pretty clear theme of breakage — in many forms.

Poldark brought out the explosives, both literally and metaphorically, for episode 4 of season 3. Did anyone actually expect that Ross’ band of would-be jailbreakers had some explosive experience among them? No, but somehow, it ended up being pretty great anyway. Ross’ attempt to break open a prison just represented the most obvious iteration of this week’s theme. If last week’s word was power, this is an episode summed up in the word breaking, whether that be breaking up, breaking out, or even splintering or fracturing.

Let’s start, as we so often do around here, with Ross’ storyline this week. Rescuing Dwight has consumed him for the bulk of the season, and even if he has to do it with just his own group of handpicked men (and stowaway Drake), then he’ll do it. At this point, we should all just adopt Demelza’s attitude when she tells him that she’s not going to try and give him advice she knows he won’t follow anyway.

But even with Dwight himself, we see the idea of a fracture in how he wants to stay behind to take care of the other prisoners, even as Ross literally stands right there and is ready to escort him out immediately. It’s continued in his scenes with Caroline, where he doesn’t respond right away to her affection, and at the funeral scene at the end, where, even clean-shaven, he looks distant and not quite there. (RIP, Dwight’s excellent beard.)

Ross, too, has a brief break. That hallucination while trying to row to catch their ship almost comes out of nowhere, but think about how much trauma the man’s suffered over the past three seasons (and before the start of the show), including the loss of Captain Henshawe.

Adding in a baby’s cry was a very nice touch, by the way. In an episode where Demelza also brings up their lost first child, Julia, it’s a good way to keep the couple at the heart of all of this in sync even as they’re in different countries.

Over in Drake and Morwenna’s corner, the word break is actually used in the episode to describe what happens between the two of them. Both are, dare we say, broken-hearted, and in his loss, Drake goes off and stows away. For a moment, we have to say we almost thought he would die, not Henshawe, but no, dear Drake is spared for now.

Meanwhile, with George and Elizabeth, their relationship seems to be fraying. It’s not a full-blown break just yet, but it could be going that way. Whether it’s George being upset their son has rickets or chastising her for not doing exactly what he wants, she has no patience for it in this episode and even points out a few reasons why she’s not having any patience for it. We’re still not quite sure where Elizabeth’s path leads, but this episode almost seems like a return to an earlier form of Elizabeth.

Some thoughts:

• The show continues to find ways to dump on George Warleggan. This week, it was courtesy of Demelza. After enduring his jibes about dancing and Ross, she shuts him down with a pointed question.
• Ross is still a really good shot.
• The ending scenes where Demelza goes from joy to grief in the span of seconds as everyone save Henshawe returns home, and then sings at his memorial service? Fantastic.
• Lieutenant Armitage is trouble. Handsome, but trouble. For bonus points, he’s also related to Lord Falmouth! Again, the show dumps on George, since Falmouth is one of the people he desperately wants to be around.

Next: Supergirl: 3 reasons we love Miss Martian

What themes did you see in this week’s Poldark?