Poldark review: Following in Ross’ footsteps in all the wrong ways

Although this episode does not have a mine collapse, Poldark manages some character growth and actual politicking to boot!

It’s back to the letter-writing between Ross and Demelza on Poldark, with the episode starting out by jumping between Ross giving a speech and everything going pretty terribly in Cornwall. At least there are other characters in London this time in the forms of both Caroline and Monk (walking together, no less).

The episode makes sure to draw a sharp contrast between the different striations of London society. Although Ross spends more time at a soiree hosted by Caroline, he also does visit a poorhouse, and though the scene is brief, it does show that things could — and often are — much worse without privilege, even for people who work in gambling houses and thus rely on tips from cleaning up. As a result, Ross even comes up with something of a universal basic income, though it’s a “sliding scale” and meant to be temporary; he compromises to get it, which means that he’s actually capable of learning. Good on him.

Meanwhile, back in Cornwall, it seems like this episode realizes that there are indeed other characters than Demelza, building on previous positive inclinations. This is both a good and a bad thing, in that we get more of Dwight again, but we also have to deal with more of Osborne Whitworth being completely and totally heinous, going so far as to hire yet another nurse. Moreover, Rowella’s husband finally finds out about her and Whitworth, by peering into the window. All of a sudden, there’s some flat-out comeuppance. After an attack by Arthur in the woods, Whitworth is dragged off by his horse and dies.

Not that this is a bad thing, because, again, Whitworth was the worst. But wow, does this seem quite sudden. At least it results in Morwenna shaming Elizabeth and George for what they did to her by marrying her off to Whitworth.

The events in Cornwall to the most awkward attempt at a not-confession on Drake’s part, since he still has all of those feelings for Morwenna and tells Rosina about them before also saying he likes her enough to offer her a wedding. She accepts. Honestly, at this point, there are maybe two decent men on this show, and one of them is married and the other is super preachy. Drake, like Ross, seems condemned to be cute but absolutely infuriating in generally everything, even while backing into good fortune, since Morwenna is free to wed again, meaning that Drake also jilts Rosina at the altar because Demelza tells him. Also, Drake’s forge gets burned down while he’s off having feelings and getting rejected by Morwenna. These are what we call consequences.

Interestingly, the show also gets to explore a relationship that it really hasn’t for the past seasons: that of Demelza and Dwight. There’s even a point where they wonder aloud if they’d be better suited to each other (and Ross and Caroline). It’s probably not wrong, actually, even though Ross and Caroline would also fight. But because their spouses are left at home, they get to grow as friends together.

As a result, it also lets Ross and Caroline bond over the experience of losing a child. For all that the show has made a big deal over Ross being older than he used to be, it’s in his monologue to Caroline about letting oneself experience grief that Aidan Turner really lets that age and life experience get into his voice. However, Gabriella Wilde matches him with her own monologue closer to the end of the episode.

At least Ross and Demelza get their happy reunion for about 30 seconds, since he needs to test his system before proposing it in Parliament.

It may not be the best episode of season 4, but now that we’re five episodes in, it’s safe to say that it’s not the worst, either. All in all, even with some of the ridiculousness, this episode feels like it’s setting some stuff up and showing something like character growth. It’s only a shame that it’s taken so much time to get Demelza and Dwight to the point where they can hug.

Additional thoughts:

• Why exactly do George and Elizabeth care about Ross getting into London high society?
• Why exactly does Geoffrey Charles gamble? Is this going to become a thing while Ross is in London?
• Elizabeth’s sigh when George says he needs Tom Harry is about as close as this show will ever get to a full on The Office moment.