Poldark season 4 episode 2 review: Did you think there were no surprises left?

Poldark never runs out of surprises, or at least dramatic twists that may or may not be obvious, but gosh, is it still entertaining.

This episode of Poldark picks up a week before the all-important election, and the first three quick scenes are all about that, either subtly or overtly. It turns out that young Hugh is not doing particularly well, which means that Dr. Choake gets to come back and be awful, including suggesting trepanning (and shaving off Hugh’s curls). Dwight comes back to treat him again.

However, it does also lead to Demelza and Caroline teaming up once again. These two honestly need to be together more often, because when they do, things get done quite effectively. Their political discourse with Francis Bassett and Lord Falworth ends up as one of the best scenes in the episode.

Later, Ross and Demelza pay a visit to Hugh as well, and there’s a good character moment here for him: he goes when Hugh asks for Demelza to sit with him, with only a moment’s resignation. It also leads to Ross getting picked as the new candidate for Parliament.

Instead of just saying that he’ll do it, though, he goes to talk to Demelza. That’s a sign that they are working back to a stable place, and he accepts the candidacy, even though he swears up and down that George is going to win anyway.

Even as Hugh lies dying, the vote takes place. But then, we get the turn of events that Ross needs: Bassett votes for Ross, meaning that he has the support of both of the leading men in the area. For once, the public vote helps, and Ross Poldark is now a member of Parliament.

But if the already established relationships weren’t enough for you, Emma Tregirls and Sam Carne are trying to heat up. Of course, it comes with a wrestling match that ends up becoming, as so many things do, a contest between George and Ross by proxy. It also leads to both Ross and Sam wrestling, and then Demelza giving Ross a bath, so can we complain that much? Well, no. Unfortunately, Tom Harry wins the wrestling match, basically by playing dirty. Fortunately, the money on the wager will go to charity, and Tom gets fired. But, to swing it back around to the sad side, Emma ends up saying that she’s going to Tahiti.

Because of the unexpected win meaning that Ross and Demelza will spend a lot of time apart, and her also grieving Hugh, this ends up being a more somber episode in general, but there are notes of hope, not in the least of which is the set of kisses Ross and Demelza share before he boards the post for London.

What’s left to be seen is whether or not the rest of the season will suffer in quality or improve with Ross and Demelza apart for much of it. Their tension, in whatever form it takes, tends to drive a season, so let’s see if more Demelza and Caroline and Ross on his own can fill in for that.

Other thoughts:

• Everything about Caroline and Dwight telling Demelza and Ross about the baby is glorious.
• Hugh’s poetry has not improved.