Poldark: Will Geoffrey Charles find love in season 5?

One of the most delightful surprises of Poldark’s most recent season is the emergence of Geoffrey Charles as a romantic hero in his own right.

One of the most delightful surprises of the new season of Poldark is the emergence of young Geoffrey Charles as a romantic hero in his own right.

In fact, he appears to be following in his Uncle Ross’ footsteps in almost every way: he shows a strong dislike for George, a healthy disregard for authority and a recklessness that would have his late father Francis despairing (if only he had learned to swim, indeed.)

This has shown mostly in his relationship with this season’s designated Evil Man’s daughter, Cecily Hanson. Knowing full well that her father Ralph is a bad man and won’t approve, the handsome pair have embarked on a (distinctly scandalous and unchaperoned) friendship that has become more and more romantically fraught with each interaction.

Well, we’ve been in the market for a pair of star-crossed lovers since Morwenna and Drake joined the marrieds last season – and we can scarcely rely on the only other bachelor in Cornwall, Sam Carne, whose chemistry with anyone fled along with the last girl he proposed to.

So yes, we were hoping for GC to get a little action this series, having graduated from cute toddler, Mordrake matchmaker, and, later, drunken schoolboy to bona fide charmer (indeed, Freddie Wise, who plays him, has been an absolute delight over the past three episodes; cast him in every period drama from here to eternity, thank you, please).

Cecily seems like the perfect prospect: flirty, cool, socially minded. Unlike her father, she actually believes in justice and rights for all, which is basically a prerequisite for marrying into the Poldarks. (Even Elizabeth, who was perhaps the most comfortable in her societal position, helped where she could; as Cousin Verity said upon Elizabeth’s untimely death, ‘She was a Poldark’, not a Warleggan).

Unfortunately, Cecily’s evil and terrible father (attributes made obvious with every scrap of his airtime…that conversation with Kitty in Episode 3…yikes) has other plans and this week’s preview shows Cecily confessing to GC that she is betrothed to another.

We can certainly hazard more than a guess to who that might be. George’s Uncle Cary has been giving his nephew the old nudge and wink combo ever since the despicable Hanson entered their house (which, of course he did, because our George has not yet met a principle he couldn’t dispose of for the sake of a business arrangement) with his lovely daughter.

So not only has the GC got to watch his beloved marry another, said another is likely going to be his stepdad. Who he hates.

The course of true love never did run smooth. Not in Cornwall, anyway.

Is history repeating itself – will Cecily face the same fate as poor Morwenna when she married The Terrible Reverend?

Does she even like GC or this flirting just another part of her rebellion? And, quite frankly, will this poor motherless lad ever catch a break?

We shall have to watch Episode 4 to find out.