Poldark season 5 episode 3 review: Trouble in the mines

If there’s one thing Poldark knows, it’s how to deliver drama. Episode 3 is no exception, delivering perhaps one of the best hours in the show’s history, with at least one heart-wrenching moment leaving us on the edge of our seats.

When it comes to danger, Poldark is no Game of Thrones. Perhaps, as a result of its source material, we’re thrilled but never truly scared when Ross is in danger, but this week, another character had us screaming at our televisions: George Warleggan.

Now, as we’ve discussed previously, George is going through a tough time at the moment, and it all came to a head in this latest episode, as we saw him be subjected to barbaric treatments – ice-baths, leeches, restraints – to ‘cure’ him of his hallucinations (he’s still seeing his dead wife Elizabeth everywhere).

It was shocking to witness – and kudos to Poldark for going there, and showing that, of course, there is another way and its name is understanding. Fortunately Dwight, so often the voice of reason in this show (not hard considering his best friend is Ross and he wouldn’t know reason if it hit him in the face), is on hand to deliver some devastating home truths about the cruelty of George’s treatment. (“The only lunatic in this room is there,” he says, staring down the posh doctor.).

Indeed, the entire episode is a love letter to Dwight Enys, since he is saving the day left right and centre. If he’s not rescuing people trapped in the mine (we’ll get to that in a second), it’s stopping George from falling off a cliff. It’s a truly heart-stopping moment, and well done to all involved. Again, Jack Farthing’s Emmy campaign begins here and now, when poor George replies to Dwight’s concern with an all-too-lucid “Would it matter?”.

Yes, George, it would.

Elsewhere, there was a cave-in at the Warleggans’ mine, and since it involved poor people, Uncle Cary was more than willing to close it without launching a rescue party – albeit he did so with a semi-haunted look. Ross and his new old pal Ned were more than happy to pick up the reins, as is their reckless wont, and embarked on a gloriously nonsense rescue attempt that somehow featured rigging a pulley system – that they built even as they lamented the lack of time before the cave fully fell in.

But what would Poldark be without a little nonsense? It’s what they actually mine down there, or so I hear.

The (Cliff) Peaks

Valentine meeting the Poldark children: Again, shouldn’t they be closer to Geoffrey Charles’ age by now? Regardless, it was a lovely moment that felt weirdly full circle for the final season, especially given that it’s Valentine’s half-brother GC himself who brings him to Nampara. It’s a lovely family reunion. Most of all, it was a bittersweet reminder of how much better things could be if George and Ross just learned to tolerate each other (although, fair enough, that is now much harder for George given that Ross slept with his wife.)

Caroline’s party: Please invite me next time. I’ll be a hoot, and I promise not to punch anyone (you always invite Ross and he punches someone every time). Admittedly, I would probably make an exception for Ralph Hansen, who has yet to show a single redeemable quality that isn’t providing the biological material for his cool rebellious daughter, Cecily.

Drake trying his best: This man was born to be a husband – sticking up for his wife against her much posher and terrifying former mother-in-law – and yet again, it’s worth noting that Poldark has done an excellent job of not brushing Morwenna’s trauma under the carpet. It remains absolutely gutting that George married her off to the Evil Vicar before she could live her life with Drake – possibly the worst of his crimes, no?

Demelza, all the time, always: Honestly, give that woman a medal. No wonder her little brother is an angel, he’s born to a family of them (father not included). If it wasn’t the kindness she showed Valentine (I know its a low bar but come on – she knows he’s Ross’s; she has eyes!), it would be the way she champions education in the community. Is there no one in Cornwall who doesn’t benefit from her presence? An icon.

One final thing worth mentioning is that this series has been really brilliant at reminding us of where we started. Tess may be mocking Demelza when she says “Not everyone can sell their body to their master for the price of a wedding ring”, but we know it was always more than that, and it brings the humble beginnings of the Poldarks back to the forefront of our minds. Simpler times.

Well, for George at least, who wasn’t involved in that.