Poldark: What’s going on with George’s mental health this season?
The first two episodes of Poldark’s final season have aired. And while Ross is playing the long game plot-wise, the man of the moment is actually his nemesis George.
After the loss of his wife Elizabeth — probably the only person he historically put before himself and his indignant chin — at the end of season 4, George has been suffering, and his mental health has followed, deteriorating to the point where he is hallucinating her presence, seemingly unaware of the fact she died.
Now considering this is early 19th Century England, mental healthcare is… in its infancy, to put it mildly. George’s uncle is looking on concerned, but mostly by the impropriety of it all rather than for the welfare of his nephew. Alas, we can only imagine the barbarism of the treatments he, and the crackpot doctor from the preview (clearly hired to make Doctor Dwight look better later on) have in store.
Fortunately, as with Dwight in seasons prior to this, and similarly with Morwenna after her treatment at the hands of her abusive ex-husband, writer Debbie Horsfield has treated mental health with far more commendable delicacy, and thus far, the same is true of her writing of George. Jack Farthing, too, has consistently treated his character with empathy the antagonist hasn’t always deserved, meaning that now, in his darkest moments, we are presented with a well-rounded, thoughtful portrayal of grief.
It is also, of course, a reminder we all have mental health, even the villains of the piece. George’s Draco Malfoy energies have been delightfully strong in the past — up until now, he has all but cackled in his unapologetic displays of villainy — but it is to Poldark‘s credit that this storyline does not feel out of character for him. In fact, just as his love for Elizabeth did in previous seasons, it has added nuance to his character that few might expect from a swashbuckly adventure show like Poldark. (Seriously, get on its level.)
Whatever happens next, it’s clear any whiff of the word ‘madness’ is coming from the bad end of the character list. And Dwight, who has already saved a man from the noose by talking about his progressive studies on mental health this season, will be close at hand.
But, as the preview seems to show, George’s ordeal looks likely to get worse before it gets better.
Next. Poldark season 5 episodes 1 & 2 review. dark