A cracking episode, if completely unbearable. In summary, discovery of fortune-boosting copper: good. Evil George getting the promissory note: the end of the world. Worstest of all and t’ain’t right, t’ain’t proper: Francis going too far into the mine alone with only a rusty nail to save him. It’s horrific! As the mist rolls in! Have mercy!
At first it seemed that the worst would not happen and this would just be an excuse to show lots of footage of the beautiful boy-child Ross playing on the beach with not-so-beautiful boy-child Francis. But, no. This was bad. This was terrible. The look between Ross and Elizabeth ...
What a heartbreaking and superbly acted episode. Yes, it all rolls forward at an unfathomable pace and one minute Francis is having a nice self-help chat with Demelza about how she should have more self-esteem (which is not, actually, what I think Demelza’s problem is – her problem is that Ross really does love Elizabeth) and the next minute Francis is drowning in the mine. Please issue beta-blockers in future, BBC.
I wonder if some viewers will feel cheated by this turn of events. (I know it’s in the books and so officially needed to happen, but we’ll let go of that small detail for now. Can we please just ignore common sense and Bring Back Francis?) Kyle Soller has done a superb job as Francis. He will be much missed. He had a wonderful way of being able to play the serious without being melodramatic and the comic without being ridiculous. Francis was the perfect Poldark character and Soller the perfect Poldark actor. OK, so no match for Ross in the six-pack department, but that’s not in the script or the original so we’ll let him off. Plus, although he lives in London and trained at RADA, Soller was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, fact fans! Fancy that. He is an American gentleman. Top marks for accent work. I was certainly fooled.
Before the moment of tragedy, meanwhile, there was plenty to be distracted by. “May I ask how you learned of this promissory note?” Great question, Elizabeth! But why are you believing Evil George’s slippery insanity? Luckily, the reformed Francis (while still alive) was on the case. Although his rage may make things worse even after his death. “It will be a small price to pay for the noxiousness of your acquaintance.” Evil George won’t forget that insult in a hurry. But first: back to the puny boxing master for his Fight Club therapy. (“First rule of Evil George’s Fight Club: we talk about Fight Club all the time and show off about it whenever possible. Second rule of Evil George’s Fight Club: everyone must know about Evil George’s Fight Club.”)
The Sindy doll dog woman engagement sideshow, so generously sponsored by Bergerac, didn’t go on for long. The wimpy MP was dispatched and romance finally sprouted amidst the bluebells for the virginal Dr Enys. “I hardly ever met women, except as cases,” he blushed. Wow. Canny single men everywhere should put this declaration on their Tinder account. Sindy countered implausibly: “I don’t know men at all.” “What would you like to know?” But that’s it until December! “In December I come of age.” She is supposed to be 17? Or she’s 20, about to turn 21? Either way it seems too long for Dr Enys to have to wait to get to know women. I am available prior to December if he really can’t wait. Obviously I will be dressed in black, due to mourning Francis.
Pewter tankard award for bonkers brilliance as supporting actor
The tankard’s back in the old biddy’s hands. “I’m due in court, Aunt.” “On what charge?” I love Aunt Agatha, the crazy-faced old lady at the window. Of course if you were ill you would send for Verity! (Unless you had a fish bone, that is. There’s only one doctor who can cure that.) “I need no physician. Little Verity is perfectly capable of tending me.” Clearly there is no complaint at all, unless being a curmudgeon is a medical condition. “Wish me dead, he did. Called me ‘old crone.’ Big mistake.” Out with the tarot cards, Agatha! Bring on the impending ill which only Verity can prevent. Except she couldn’t. Ah well, at least Aunt Agatha got to wear the best headdress ever at the funeral.
Classic Poldark lines
“They’re damnably sly. We can never be sure how they are disguised.” The third member of The Proclaimers sniffs out the smugglers.
“And if you think you do by slumming with scullery maids ...” Oh dear. Don’t say that to Ross. He’ll lamp you.
“Don’t you flutter your eyes at t’surgeon. ‘Tis not for thee.” What woman wouldn’t set their cap at Dr Enys? Not sure whether I have a phantom pain in my knee or a fish bone stuck in my throat, but I really do require some urgent attention ...
Regulation reverse sexism bare chest moment
It’s the bath! “Do I leave such a lot to be desired?” “Yes, Ross, a lot to be desired.” Well, possibly what the viewers of the programme would have desired was for this scene to be longer than 2.7 seconds long. I hereby predict that up and down the land, fingers will be hovering over the “pause” button of BBC iPlayer.
