Every character death on Poldark ranked, from least to most heartbreaking

Poldark Season 5 may have claimed it’s first significant casualty last week, but it’s the latest in a long line of dramatic demises we’ve seen on the show.

Poldark’s final season may have claimed its first significant character death last week, with the execution of Ned Despard, but it’s hardly the first time the Grim Reaper has visited the fine folks of Cornwall.

Some of these exits are more heartbreaking than others, of course. (And Ned’s was no picnic.) But with Ross’ own life hanging in the balance in Episode 7, we’re not sure this show is done making us emotional just yet.

So, in a vain attempt at girding our loins for what is to come, we thought we might do a quick In Memoriam segment for our favorite Cornwall community, looking back on those we sadly lost over the previous five seasons, as well as those we purposely (and likely thankfully) misplaced.

14. Monk Adderley

We’re off to a slow start here because poor Monk was a B Plot villain who is only really memorable for enabling Ross to duel in season 4 and looking like the shark from Finding Nemo. Moving on.

13. Reverend Ossie Whitworth

Far more memorable, but also a lot more evil, Ossie sits low down this list because we can’t bear the idea of him being any higher. His well-awaited demise meant freedom and justice for our Morwenna so frankly: good riddance.

12. Tom Carne

Demelza’s dad had been utterly awful (to put it mildly) to his daughter before she was taken in by Ross, and let us not forget the beating he gave to our curly-haired Cornishman precisely for doing that.

Tom made a vague attempt to come good towards the end, having found religion and his third wife, but he still managed to be horrible to his daughter so it’s a moot point really.  His main contribution to the show was giving Drake and Sam a reason to visit Nampara. And fathering Queen Demelza of course.

11. Ray Penvenen

Not much to say here, other than he started off as a thorn in our Dwaroline sides and ended up a shipper himself on his deathbed. A good trajectory, all told.

10. Charles Poldark

Best known for being Francis’ and Verity’s father, Charles was the head of the Poldark family when the show started. He was interfering – he perhaps wisely brought forward Francis’ wedding to Elizabeth to ensure it actually went ahead in the wake of Ross’ return – bombastic and often domineering.

But his heart was (loosely) in the right place. Everything he did, he did for the Poldarks; but his constant comparisons between Ross and Francis were unhelpful at best. All in all, it’s been five seasons now, we’re over it.

9. Jim Carter

Remember Jim Carter? We’ll forgive you if not, since his death was all the way back in Season 1 and it didn’t have that much long-lasting fall out. Still, it was heartbreaking to watch as he was imprisoned mostly for the crime of being poor, caught a fever there and left behind a young wife and baby.

A classic Poldark death this one – sad but ultimately just another cog in the machinery of drama.

8. Hugh Armitage

Pretty face, terrible poetry. Hugh Armitage was quite the love rival to Ross, being soft and gentle as opposed to Ross’ approach to romance, which shares more in style with a hurricane. Indeed, it is Demelza’s attachment to him that made his loss so upsetting.

But, just like Jim, poor Hugh was just collateral damage, a conflict that needed to be resolved to set the Poldarks back on the right, romantic path. Still pretty, though.

7. Ned Despard

We probably don’t need to recap this one for you, but given that we spent most of season 5 frustrated by him, his hanging at the end of the last episode was unexpectedly sad. He did stand for all the right things, after all. And when Ross cries, so do we.

6. Jago Martin

Poor Jago was sacrificed in an attempt to show us that no one in Poldark is properly safe (unless you’re Ross at least, who must have used about 12 of his nine lives thus far).

Ross may have been able to save his series regulars – sorry, brothers-in-law – from the noose, but he could not save poor Jago, son of his mining pal Zacky. It was a heart-wrenching moment, made all the more so by Tristan Sturrock’s performance as his grieving dad.

If only he’d been related to the Carneses. He might have stood a chance.

5. Captain Henshawe

Speaking of still being sad, we’re not really over this one either. Reasonable, steadfast and full of heart, we can’t say we don’t miss Ross’ most loyal ally besides his banker, even if he did die all the way back in season 3.

We’re not the only ones, either. Ross, too, feels Henshawe’s loss keenly – especially since it’s his reckless, if noble, plan that gets him killed. Being forced to leave the loyalest man he’s ever known behind can’t have helped.

Alas, goodbye, Cornwall’s rose.

4. Francis Poldark

Oh Francis. Sweet, flawed Francis. Every day we lament your lack of swimming ability, just as Ross did back in season 2. In a tragic reflection of what could have happened in season one, when Ross saved him from the water (after, admittedly, pushing him in), he drowned trying to save Wheal Grace, and this time, Ross was too late.

The timing is the absolute worst. Having gambled, sniped, and generally been a bit of a wet lettuce, Francis was in fact at peace with his life, having seen through the manipulations of George and reconciling with his favourite cousin Ross.

Alas, poor Francis.

3. Aunt Agatha

Justice for Aunt Agatha!

We were worried about Cornish Mon Mothma from day one, since she was a ticking drama grenade waiting to happen. And in many ways, she went out doing what she loved: stressing out George.

The animosity was mutual, with George being so horrible to her in later life when all she wanted was a birthday party, but she was more than a match to any man in her life, and was yet more evidence that Cornwall should be ruled by its women.

She loved the Poldarks, never minced her words or suffered fools, and was almost always right. In conclusion, she’s our hero.

2. Elizabeth

We probably don’t need to recap this one either, but we will anyway, because it’s sad and we miss her. Elizabeth died because of the inadequacy of the men around her.

George was too jealous, Ross too controlling and negligent, Francis too spineless (until it was too late anyway). Even now, it’s only George, of all people, who really acknowledges it. Our girl was done dirty.

No one really gave Elizabeth the credit she deserved in life – she was tenacious and wise, she picked her battles knowing exactly how and when she could win them. Aunt Agatha knew she was a queen, and so did we.

We’re glad her legacy lives on in Geoffrey Charles (albeit a little more stupidly. He is a Poldark after all).

1. Sarah Enys and Julia Poldark

We couldn’t separate these two tiny babies because they are both equally heartbreaking. Who can forget Dwight’s face last season, or Demelza’s when she recovered from her fever back in season 1?

Okay, turns out we can’t actually talk about it too much, it’s too sad. And that’s why they’re at number one. Justified.

What do you think? Is there anyone we missed? Let’s hope we don’t add Ross to the list this weekend.