‘Poldark’: Season 4, Episode 2 Recap
Previously on Poldark: Ross and Demelza have a surprisingly satisfying heart-to-heart about the state of the relationship that somehow doesn’t include any information about Demelza’s feelings for Hugh or what precisely happened between the two of them. Lest we think Ross might be turning over a new leaf, he immediately goes back to keeping secrets from his wife, this time that her brothers were sort-of involved in a grain riot and might hang for it. A stirring speech from Ross saves the Carnes brothers from death, but not the newly introduced son of one of his miner friends. This, somehow, is the straw that convinces Ross he must brave the world of politics. (Because he apparently forgot the Season 3 finale.) Need more info? Visit last week's recap right this way.
This week, the locals celebrate the Feast of St. Sawle, which involves most of the town going to church, then gallivanting around an intricately decorated log, flinging ribbons and generally making merry. And also there’s two dudes literally fighting over a woman, because that’s always entertaining. Yes, Sam Carne and Warleggan’s horrible toady Tom Harris engage in a very dramatic wrestling match for the soul of Tholly’s daughter Emma. It’s all very patriarchal and gross, right down to the part where Disgusting Tom distracts Sam with the implication he’s known Emma in the biblical sense in order to win the fight. (Before that, he literally tried to gouge Sam’s eyes out. Twice! What a winner!)
Happily, Emma is a girl who knows her own mind and clearly prefers Sam anyway. But, she apparently needs to take a year working as a lady’s maid, so that she can figure out if she can really commit to a man like him, who’s so dedicated to his faith and spiritual life when she is not. Nice work if you can get it, I guess. This ridiculousness is the sort of entertainingly nonsensical story that Poldark used to excel at in its first season. Back then, everything seemed to revolve around some weird village custom, or quaint medicinal trick, or community whip-round where everybody pulled together to save someone’s share of a mine.
