Poldark - I'm late to the game I know, but.... may contain spoilers if you haven't watched

[Shnuzzbucket]

I'm basing this on the TV show with Aiden Turner

1. are we meant to ignore his rape of Elizabeth? It ended looking like he had consent, but he didnt.

2. Morwennas sister Rowella... why was she having sex with that toad? Later on it was clearly for money, but at the start?

I'm interested to know, but mainly because I read the books not the show!

SPOILERS FROM BOOKS

In the books, Elizabeth swears on the bible as a devout Christian that she never gave her body to another man. And although he flip flops and justifies stuff to himself, in the 12th and final book he thinks about "taking her against her will".

Rowella is an interesting one - I think she's just devious and self-interested. Always found it a mystery she wanted to marry the librarian at all.

Personally I always found Ross to be a self-aggrandizing moralistic turd, and Demelza annoyingly twee in her "earthiness", oh la, why can't people who are in love be together.

The side characters always make it for me - I even prefer Warleggan, who never rapes anyone, kills anyone, assists wife-killers or cheats on his wife.

I really enjoyed watching a while ago. However, came across Ep1 on Bbc4 the other night and thought “ooh how delicious!” I was really quite disappointed and found both Ross and (especially) Demelza annoying.

I'm not sure you can attach 21st century sensibilities to a story set in the 18th century and written in the mid 20th century. Don't all bonkbusters and bodice rippers have some morally dubious bits in them?

In the first adaption with Robin Ellis, Elizabeth resists and then sort of says Ross! all dreamily as he takes her. I took from that that she secretly wanted him as much as he wanted her but was resisting because that was what 'good' women should do. But no, it doesn't fit 21st century sensibilities.

I agree with the post above that Ross (especially the Aiden Turner incarnation) rather comes across as a turd, above the law, both legal and moral. His plea to Demelza (before she thwacks him) along the lines of 'I had to do it, can't you see?' was his lowest point for me.

Warleggan has too much of a chip on his shoulder and a persecution complex for me. Personally, Dwight Enys has always been my man. 'What do you want to know?' is my favourite swoon moment.

As for Rowella, I always assumed she was another of those horrid misogynistic tropes: the scheming nymphomanic.

Dwight is just wonderful

Ross, very nice to look at, but yeah annoying

SPOILER ALERT

I still prefer the first adaptation I felt it stuck closer to the book especially regarding Demelza's pregnancy. She ran away someone let it slip(Ginny?) she was pregnant and Ross went looking for her and brought her back - doesn't seem to happen in the second adaptation unless I am misremembering

Rowella - I think she thought her sister was stuck up and saw a chance to get something for herself and one over on her sister

Edited to add spoiler alert and also thoughts on Rowella

The original tv series was much better, and the books surpass that by some margin. I encourage everyone to read them- the most recent tv series portrays Ross as some kind of social worker/ reformer.

To be fair, so do the books. He's very sanctimonious about a lot of issues, and it's not always a virtue - his arrogance means that people get in worse trouble.

Dwight is without doubt the best of the bunch, but I think the worst is actually Stephen Carrington, who is only in the later books focused around the children.

We always laugh at the " Oi, Cap'n Poldark, you got a cottage we can 'ave?"

I want a Poldark garden. Let it grow as a wild flower meadow all summer, then get Aiden Turner, stripped to the waist, to scythe it in September, while my friends and I watch, with glasses of champagne. As he was then, that is, the last TV thing I saw him in he had a hideous beard you could lose a badger in.......🤣

Demelza doesn't run away in the book. She didn't get pregnant until after they are married.

I loved the first adaptation and much preferred that version of Ross and Demelza, but it is very dated now.

He might have been the fittest guy ever to grace our televisions, but as the series went on he proved he was morally bankrupt. I had to stop watching after a while because I didn't like the main characters anymore.

I thought he looked like he needed a good wash. Not my sort at all!

I am actually rewatching at the moment. Aiden is so delicious that I find myself able to ignore a lot of his annoying traits but I did tell him, or the TV, that he had let himself down big time when he decided to rape/ravish Elizabeth. George reminds me of Draco Malfoy with his henchmen. I cannot stand droopy Elizabeth.

Ah I got it wrong then. I'll have to read the book

Oh I actually rather liked the Elizabeth in the 2nd adaptation. She was kindly enough for you to see what Ross saw in her. The Elizabeth in the 1st adaptation was an out and out bitch.

I kind of enjoyed that though. Her face when Ross said he was marrying Demelza!

The second version didn't do Francis justice - he was supposed to be just as attractive as Ross and very charming too. Francis making up to Demelza is one of my favourite parts of the books.

The first Francis was much more attractive!

I had a huge crush on George Wallegan in the Aidan Turner version. Ross was just irritating and constantly galloping up and down the ruddy cliff path.