Review: Poldark (Season 1)
Wow. Just...wow.
What a ride.
Starring Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson, Poldark is a BBC television dramatization of the Poldark book series by Winston Graham. A young Cornish man named Ross Poldark (played by Turner) leaves his family, friends, significant other, and ancestral home to fight alongside the British in the American Revolutionary War. Following a head injury, Ross's family in Cornwall loses contact with him, and he is presumed dead. When he returns home, he finds his father passed away, his former sweetheart engaged to his cousin, and his inheritance in shambles-- an estate and copper mine riddled with debts and picked clean of funds. However, Ross is no ordinary man. He is determined to rebuild his life in Cornwall, all the while striving to improve the lower classes' quality of life and help the less fortunate, much to the confusion of his wealthy peers.
The first season covers the plot of the first two Poldark books. A second season recently aired in the fall of 2016, and Season 3 is set to appear on television this coming fall. Earlier this week, it was announced that the series would also be renewed for a fourth season next year.
Other reviewers have called Poldark a "sumptuous visual feast," and quite rightly so. The setting is gorgeous! The show is filmed on site in Cornwall, England, a beautiful green backdrop creating a romantic undertone with sheer mammoth cliffs dropping off to the sea. With the rise and ebb of the waves on the shore, the ocean breeze and sound of the water serve to enhance the beauty of the story (and the cast).
The soundtrack performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London marries the scenery with the period costume. Not too overbearing, but not too generic, the music reminds one of the highlands and moors of old Britain. The soaring violins play over the heartstrings in tragic scenes and pull the viewer further into the tale, truly immersing one in the setting. Whenever I want to feel the "Poldark spirit," I put on the theme music from the opening titles/closing credits, and it instantly takes me back to an episode of the show.
Not enough can be said of the acting! The quality of performance to be seen in this show is phenomenal, especially by Turner, Tomlinson, and supporting actress Heida Reed. The entire cast, in truth, performs impressively, and the script naturally lends itself to emotional scenes and emotional audience reactions, written brilliantly by Debbie Horsfield.
See for yourself! The season is available on DVD and can be streamed through Amazon Prime.
*CAUTION: SPOILERS FOUND BELOW*
Alright, now that the spiffy overview is done, we can get down to the meat.
I cannot believe I waited so long to begin watching this show. The vast hype is everywhere, and I saw allusions to the series all over social media; however, it took me a full year and a half post-air date to jump on the bandwagon. Once I started watching, however, I couldn't stop, and I am now completely obsessed.
My favorite character of season one was Demelza Poldark (formerly Carne). Tomlinson's portrayal of the urchin-turned-gentlewoman borders on perfection; the subtle nuances of the character seen during her journey towards gentility are expertly developed-- for example, Demelza's Cornish accent gradually, ever-so-slowly fades into a soft English cadence as she learns the manners expected of her new station. While maintaining the independent personality exhibited in her first episode, Demelza becomes calmer and more aware as she is transformed by her love for Ross and her new expectations in the Cornwall social sphere.
Tomlinson also sings in the role of Demelza, as the character is fond of folk songs. Although not a perfect singer (but by no means poor!), her vocals are charming and sweet, and very reflective of Demelza's demeanor. Three songs performed by Tomlinson as Demelza Poldark can be found on the Poldark deluxe soundtrack-- "I'd Pluck a Fair Rose," "How the Tide Rushes In," and "Medhel an Gwyns." (My personal favorite is "Medhel an Gwyns.") I could listen to her unassuming and unaffected tone all day.
The speed at which Tomlinson can turn on the tears is extremely impressive, and her on-camera emotions are convincing to a T. Every thought can be seen in the color and expression of her face. In the early days of her pregnancy with Julia, Demelza experiences bouts of morning sickness, and, at one point in episode 4, she reenters the Nampara kitchen with flushed cheeks and a visage clearly affected by a recent episode of vomiting. Even the color in and around her eyes bespoke illness. (Perhaps some credit should go to the costume and makeup departments...?)
Speaking of color, that hair! Contrary to what I had originally assumed, Tomlinson is not a natural redhead; she is a blonde. She herself made the decision to go red for the role, and I am so glad she did. Ginger hair suits her and suits Demelza as though it were meant to be.
Closely following Demelza in my heart is Ross, the famous Mr. Poldark. He is physically and mentally so attractive, with a powerful presence directly contrasting Demelza's inclination to shrink (an inclination which shrinks itself as the season progresses and Demelza's confidence grows). He is also flawed, however, which makes him real and unpredictable. Without his flaws, the Ross-Demelza relationship would not have gelled, as Demelza's generosity and logic fills in the spaces where his are found to be lacking. Their marriage is a team partnership, and their complementing of each other makes clear the fact that any alliance between Ross and Elizabeth would not have gone as well.
An evolution is seen with regard to Demelza's character, but she is not the only one to evolve. Ross evolves as he enters marriage. He does not quite come to love Demelza but physically until the turning point of the Christmas party, when he realizes how much she has come to mean to him. As he himself states, she was meant to be a "distraction," but quickly becomes the "love of his life." Love makes Ross, too, kinder and more responsible, and Turner conveys this wonderfully. Little inflections in his voice, small facial changes. One of my personal favorites occurs in the fourth episode as Ross rushes Demelza to the beach and she admits, "Sometimes I d' think I displease you." Ross makes a face of pure surprise and disbelief, then proceeds to assure her otherwise. Turner's expressions bring honesty to the role.
The degree of emotion exhibited by the leads is astounding. Ross's tears as he clutches his daughter to his chest are devastating. "I will not have her be afraid," he vows after Doctor Enys realizes he cannot save the child. That was when my tears, too, began to flow. Turner's portrayal of grief is spot on and guaranteed to convince any viewer.
My least favorite character at the beginning of season one was Elizabeth, Ross Poldark's lost love. I found her to be irritating and thoroughly unworthy of the time Ross spends thinking of her. However, as the series progressed, my opinion changed. Elizabeth becomes one of the strongest characters, forced to cope with a lazy and unfaithful husband and financial misfortune. Throughout all of this, however, she stays true to her word. No one can blame her for engaging herself to Francis Poldark when the entire area assumes Ross is dead, but when Ross does return, Elizabeth does not back out of the agreement, no matter how much she obviously wants to. Later, although her husband is unfaithful, she is not. I now admit that I love the character of Elizabeth.
The storyline of the show is thoroughly engaging and entertaining, fraught with betrayal, love, and adventure. Against all odds, our heroes persist. Highlights for me include the unlikely love story of Ross and Demelza, and the misfortune of Julia Poldark's death. It is hard to remember that Turner and Tomlinson are not actually romantically involved new parents as Ross holds Demelza to his chest and they sob over the departure of their daughter from their lives. The fact that the joy of Julia's arrival had occurred only a few episodes prior heightens the sense of tragedy. The audience feels that the happiness of the Poldarks as parents is secure because they only just finished celebrating as she was born [below], and then as Demelza taught Julia to walk, and so forth...but that security is soon torn away, leaving the viewer breathless.
Demelza's selfless time at the sickbed of her husband's family costs her her own health and the life of her only daughter. It will be interesting to see how this loss affects Demelza's mental health in upcoming seasons, as one can assume some measure of guilt is bound to plague her. After all, it is probable that Demelza caught the "putrid throat" from Francis, Elizabeth, and their son, and then passed it to Julia, causing her daughter's death. Does she blame herself? I hope that Tomlinson will explore this possibility within the character of Demelza.
Now that Ross and Demelza have been separated, one can only wonder if Demelza will be able to fully recover from her illness. In the final scene of the season finale, Ross and Demelza ride out to the cliffside site of Julia's burial, Demelza's head tenderly laid on Ross's shoulder, and Demelza seems to still be weak and recovering. After the soldiers escort Ross from the presence of his wife, is yet-frail Demelza forced to hike home? Does she attempt to mount Ross's horse alone, in her reduced state? I worry about the toll this arrest will take on Demelza's health, both physically and mentally. Especially so soon after such a shocking blow as the loss of her child, how will Demelza handle the separation?
I wait with bated breath for the next installment of the Poldark story.
The first season covers the plot of the first two Poldark books. A second season recently aired in the fall of 2016, and Season 3 is set to appear on television this coming fall. Earlier this week, it was announced that the series would also be renewed for a fourth season next year.
Other reviewers have called Poldark a "sumptuous visual feast," and quite rightly so. The setting is gorgeous! The show is filmed on site in Cornwall, England, a beautiful green backdrop creating a romantic undertone with sheer mammoth cliffs dropping off to the sea. With the rise and ebb of the waves on the shore, the ocean breeze and sound of the water serve to enhance the beauty of the story (and the cast).
The soundtrack performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London marries the scenery with the period costume. Not too overbearing, but not too generic, the music reminds one of the highlands and moors of old Britain. The soaring violins play over the heartstrings in tragic scenes and pull the viewer further into the tale, truly immersing one in the setting. Whenever I want to feel the "Poldark spirit," I put on the theme music from the opening titles/closing credits, and it instantly takes me back to an episode of the show.
Not enough can be said of the acting! The quality of performance to be seen in this show is phenomenal, especially by Turner, Tomlinson, and supporting actress Heida Reed. The entire cast, in truth, performs impressively, and the script naturally lends itself to emotional scenes and emotional audience reactions, written brilliantly by Debbie Horsfield.
See for yourself! The season is available on DVD and can be streamed through Amazon Prime.
Alright, now that the spiffy overview is done, we can get down to the meat.
I cannot believe I waited so long to begin watching this show. The vast hype is everywhere, and I saw allusions to the series all over social media; however, it took me a full year and a half post-air date to jump on the bandwagon. Once I started watching, however, I couldn't stop, and I am now completely obsessed.
My favorite character of season one was Demelza Poldark (formerly Carne). Tomlinson's portrayal of the urchin-turned-gentlewoman borders on perfection; the subtle nuances of the character seen during her journey towards gentility are expertly developed-- for example, Demelza's Cornish accent gradually, ever-so-slowly fades into a soft English cadence as she learns the manners expected of her new station. While maintaining the independent personality exhibited in her first episode, Demelza becomes calmer and more aware as she is transformed by her love for Ross and her new expectations in the Cornwall social sphere.
Tomlinson also sings in the role of Demelza, as the character is fond of folk songs. Although not a perfect singer (but by no means poor!), her vocals are charming and sweet, and very reflective of Demelza's demeanor. Three songs performed by Tomlinson as Demelza Poldark can be found on the Poldark deluxe soundtrack-- "I'd Pluck a Fair Rose," "How the Tide Rushes In," and "Medhel an Gwyns." (My personal favorite is "Medhel an Gwyns.") I could listen to her unassuming and unaffected tone all day.
The speed at which Tomlinson can turn on the tears is extremely impressive, and her on-camera emotions are convincing to a T. Every thought can be seen in the color and expression of her face. In the early days of her pregnancy with Julia, Demelza experiences bouts of morning sickness, and, at one point in episode 4, she reenters the Nampara kitchen with flushed cheeks and a visage clearly affected by a recent episode of vomiting. Even the color in and around her eyes bespoke illness. (Perhaps some credit should go to the costume and makeup departments...?)
Speaking of color, that hair! Contrary to what I had originally assumed, Tomlinson is not a natural redhead; she is a blonde. She herself made the decision to go red for the role, and I am so glad she did. Ginger hair suits her and suits Demelza as though it were meant to be.
Closely following Demelza in my heart is Ross, the famous Mr. Poldark. He is physically and mentally so attractive, with a powerful presence directly contrasting Demelza's inclination to shrink (an inclination which shrinks itself as the season progresses and Demelza's confidence grows). He is also flawed, however, which makes him real and unpredictable. Without his flaws, the Ross-Demelza relationship would not have gelled, as Demelza's generosity and logic fills in the spaces where his are found to be lacking. Their marriage is a team partnership, and their complementing of each other makes clear the fact that any alliance between Ross and Elizabeth would not have gone as well.
The degree of emotion exhibited by the leads is astounding. Ross's tears as he clutches his daughter to his chest are devastating. "I will not have her be afraid," he vows after Doctor Enys realizes he cannot save the child. That was when my tears, too, began to flow. Turner's portrayal of grief is spot on and guaranteed to convince any viewer.
My least favorite character at the beginning of season one was Elizabeth, Ross Poldark's lost love. I found her to be irritating and thoroughly unworthy of the time Ross spends thinking of her. However, as the series progressed, my opinion changed. Elizabeth becomes one of the strongest characters, forced to cope with a lazy and unfaithful husband and financial misfortune. Throughout all of this, however, she stays true to her word. No one can blame her for engaging herself to Francis Poldark when the entire area assumes Ross is dead, but when Ross does return, Elizabeth does not back out of the agreement, no matter how much she obviously wants to. Later, although her husband is unfaithful, she is not. I now admit that I love the character of Elizabeth.
The storyline of the show is thoroughly engaging and entertaining, fraught with betrayal, love, and adventure. Against all odds, our heroes persist. Highlights for me include the unlikely love story of Ross and Demelza, and the misfortune of Julia Poldark's death. It is hard to remember that Turner and Tomlinson are not actually romantically involved new parents as Ross holds Demelza to his chest and they sob over the departure of their daughter from their lives. The fact that the joy of Julia's arrival had occurred only a few episodes prior heightens the sense of tragedy. The audience feels that the happiness of the Poldarks as parents is secure because they only just finished celebrating as she was born [below], and then as Demelza taught Julia to walk, and so forth...but that security is soon torn away, leaving the viewer breathless.
Demelza's selfless time at the sickbed of her husband's family costs her her own health and the life of her only daughter. It will be interesting to see how this loss affects Demelza's mental health in upcoming seasons, as one can assume some measure of guilt is bound to plague her. After all, it is probable that Demelza caught the "putrid throat" from Francis, Elizabeth, and their son, and then passed it to Julia, causing her daughter's death. Does she blame herself? I hope that Tomlinson will explore this possibility within the character of Demelza.
Now that Ross and Demelza have been separated, one can only wonder if Demelza will be able to fully recover from her illness. In the final scene of the season finale, Ross and Demelza ride out to the cliffside site of Julia's burial, Demelza's head tenderly laid on Ross's shoulder, and Demelza seems to still be weak and recovering. After the soldiers escort Ross from the presence of his wife, is yet-frail Demelza forced to hike home? Does she attempt to mount Ross's horse alone, in her reduced state? I worry about the toll this arrest will take on Demelza's health, both physically and mentally. Especially so soon after such a shocking blow as the loss of her child, how will Demelza handle the separation?
I wait with bated breath for the next installment of the Poldark story.
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