A quick refresher of the first three magical, turbulent, heart-stopping seasons of MASTERPIECE’s Poldark … presented in GIFs. We re-watched every single episode start-to-finish – so you don’t have to.
Season 1
British soldier Ross Poldark returns home from the war to find that his father has passed, his first love Elizabeth is engaged to his cousin Francis, and his inheritance is nonexistent. Life comes at you fast.
Ross saves a young damsel in distress named Demelza during a dog fight – literally. She becomes a kitchen maid. Then his wife. Then a mother. The Poldark family is less than pleased (Ross is very off-brand) but as we’ll learn – time and again – Ross Poldark is not one for conforming to high society.
Cousin Francis beings to tailspin. He gambles away the family’s resurrected mining company on cards and frequents local prostitute Margaret despite the birth of his son Geoffrey Charles. Not to mention a nearly-fatal encounter dueling against his sister Verity’s suitor, Captain Blamey.
Ross isn’t a fan of local financial juggernaut George Warleggen. And George really doesn’t like Ross. Warleggen buys up Francis’s debt, a stake in the mine, a fancy ship… everything under the sun to try to outmuscle Ross. Everything but a conscience. Ross leads his village comrades on a pillaging of said ship when its maiden voyage goes awry. Season 1 ends with Ross standing trial for wrecking, inciting a riot, and murder. Yikes.
Season 2
Ross is a free man – despite George’s best efforts to bribe the court into guillotining him. After suffering through the loss of her daughter to putrid throat, Demelza is already on edge. The emotional baggage of the trial doesn’t help. Good news, though… Baby Poldark No. 2 is on the way.
Dr. Dwight Enys, meet heiress Caroline Penvenen. Caroline Penvenen, meet Dr. Dwight Enys. A match made in heaven… sort of. Their engagement is on – then off – then ultimately back on. They tie the knot as Dr. Enys ties his fate to the Navy. Cue up: **DRAMATIC SMOOCH**
Meanwhile, Francis continues to spiral into the depths of despair. He barely survives a suicide attempt during the trial, only to drown in the depths of the mine.
“Why the hell didn’t you learn to swim?” - Ross
Our thoughts exactly, Ross. With Francis out of the picture, George wastes no time trying to reel in Elizabeth.
News of George and Elizabeth’s pending nuptials travels fast. Ross throws himself at Elizabeth in a last-ditch effort to… we’re not really sure. Old habits die hard? No matter – Elizabeth sours on Ross when he fails to follow-up on their night of romance and she keeps her engagement promise to George.
George’s reaction:
Demelza’s reaction:
“It is not my pride that is wounded, Ross. It is my pride in you!” - Demelza
Despite narrowly escaping a smuggling bust, discovering a tin deposit that could resurrect the mine, and saying “no thanks” to enlisting back with the troops, Ross seems unable to impress Demelza as we tie a bow on Season 2.
Season 3
Indeed, it does. We welcome Baby Valentine into the fold. His biological father?
George? Ross? It’s anybody’s guess. The plot thickens.
She really won’t. Loose lips sink ships, right? Speaking of ships – Navy man Dr. Enys becomes a POW when he is captured by the French. Fear not - Ross to the rescue. He does, after all, have some free time after turning down the local magistrate position.
Ross’ rescue mission is a success. He saves Dr. Enys and his new Navy buddy/wingman Lt. Hugh Armitage. Bromance continued! Back in Cornwall, Demelza gives birth to Baby Clowance, but is growing weary of her absentee husband. More on that later.
Meanwhile, Demelza’s brother Drake has his sights set on Geoffrey Charles’ babysitter Morwenna.
George has had enough. He intervenes and has Drake falsely arrested for stealing - a capital offense for those keeping score at home.
Enter Rev. Whitworth.
Then there’s ‘ole Aunt Agatha. She wanted a 100th birthday party. Never one for cake and balloons, George blows out those candles when he finds out Agatha’s only 98. She has the last laugh, though. She tells George he’s not ACTUALLY Valentine’s father. Uh-Oh.
Season 3 ends with things heating up mightily between Demelza and Lt. Armitage.
Demelza, what about Ross?
So, what’s next? Poldark Season 4 starts Sunday night at 9pm on WGBH 2.
