‘Poldark’: Season 4, Episode 6 Recap

Previously on Poldark: Ross finally goes to Parliament and does his job, which appears to be making a lot of progressive speeches and inventing what is essentially welfare. Drake decides to marry the nice but drippy Rosina, but can’t go through with the ceremony after he learns that the odious Reverend Whitworth has died (thank goodness!) and Morwenna is free. The newly widowed Mrs. Whitworth, however, is convinced she’s now damaged goods, and rejects Drake, because this show can literally never let us be happy for more than five minutes. (Need more details? Last week’s recap is this way.)

Seriously though, what are they even fighting about anymore? Both men are well off financially, successful, married to the women of their choice and part of the cultural elite in that they are literally making the laws that govern their country. Sure, Ross is a pompous do-gooder sometimes, and George is the definition of scummy, but I honestly fail to see what either could have at this point that the other wants. Mostly, this continuing feud isn’t saying anything interesting about either of them, and it isn’t even fun to watch anymore.

Did anyone actually think that George’s Scooby Doo villain- style plan to wreck the town bank would be successful in the end? This show is called Poldark, and no one even bothered to pretend that Ross and his family have suddenly become destitute paupers for more than like two minutes. As a threat, this plot never even tried to feel serious. I get that the Ross versus George rivalry is a big piece of the show, but surely there’s a better way to let their relationship evolve naturally. (If only so we aren’t constantly subjected to these wacky schemes.) They’re both MPs now, couldn’t we see them battle it out about something political? At least that would be new.