Poldark Series 1, Episode 1: Recap and Review



Waves crashing against rocks with the setting sun in the background. A tinkly piano and delicate strings. At first I thought I'd stumbled on an old episode of Wycliffe, but the romantic figure in a frock coat signifies that it's not the 1990s but the 1780s. And just in case anyone should mistake the Cornish coastline for Essex, there's a helpful signpost telling us how far away we are from London.

Because Poldark is back. This time it's a new version of the one aired 40 years ago, which I never saw, although I've grown up always being aware of its existence as legendary television. Tuning in this time to see what all the fuss was about, I could see the appeal. A tale of thwarted love in which a brooding hero with dark gypsy looks and long tousled locks gallops across wide landscapes, it's a recipe for success. The sea apart, this is Wuthering Heights with Aidan Turner as the Cornish Heathcliff, Ross Poldark.

Ross has been fighting in the American Revolutionary War for three years, in which time he has acquired a facial scar (down the side of his face, so as not to detract from his good looks) and lost his sweetheart Elizabeth to his cousin. The frisson that still exists between them inspires many a moody huff. Scowling and smouldering like a tin mine personified, Aidan Turner and does a good line in flouncing out of a room with a swish of his frock coat, before galloping off for a pouty glower at the sea.

It's all very swoon-worthy and his appearance is even commented on by the characters. "Ross looked well," observes cousin Verity. "Better than one might have expected."

"Considering one thought him dead,"  replies a sardonic aunt Agatha, a character even more comic than jolly, shifty servants Jud and Prudie. And there are plenty of comic moments, most obviously the comedy brawl instigated by what at first appeared to be "hoards" of burly miners marching down a country lane to claim Demelza, and which suddenly become about 4.

It's a right old punch-up, in which Jud rallies his band of genial brothers to save the day, and from which Ross emerges well enough to gallop off again to bring back Demelza, who runs off in the aftermath. Cue more earnest 'silent acting' between lines, and it's this, along with the exchanges of meaningful looks in candlelit interiors, as well as the contrived 'period' language  – lines like "Wastrels and thieves, the lot of you!"  and, "Oh, sir! Bless me!" –  that lets it all down a little. I sense a French and Saunders parody may well be on the cards (with Dawn French as Prudie, Jennifer Saunders as Demelza, and Alan Rickman as, well, anyone as long as he's in it). Perhaps tarot-reading Aunt Agatha will predict it.

All in all it's a good laugh, pretty and dreamy enough to appreciate with the sound turned down. The Cornish landscapes with their little lanes, quaint cottages spectacular views of the sea can be no better advertisement for Cornish tourism, and are bound to go down well with the international market for which I suspect this programme was really made.

We always knew Cornwall was beautiful, didn't we? What really surprised me was that "crawlers" in the hair are apparently eradicated by shoving your head under a water pump. Who knew?

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