Well, I'm sorry to say it but that was a load of rubbish. I'm not really in it for naked shots of AT so I couldn't even perve over that.
Demelza's gormlessness is just annoying. That hideous loose top she was wearing when even Prudie had a tight fitting top - why? Ross would have clothed her long before he bought her the cloak. And her lopsided gait and holding her arms to her chest and here open mouthed gormless expression - just NO! Bring back Angharad Rees. She was mouthy and pert and attractive. This woman is awful.
Verity and Blamey - well, after that episode, who believes in their relationship? It was stagily done in the original series but at least you got the impression, through dialogue, that they were meeting over a long period of time and gradually getting to know each other. Tonight, it seemed as though they progressed from meeting to planning to elope in the space of a week. And her behaviour at the assembly, fawning over his tedious talk of sails - what woman would have been interested in that? You got no sense of their mutual attraction.
The mining stuff was ok but I imagine was pretty impenetrable to those who are unfamiliar with the plot. (and quite boring anyway).
I really really don't like Prudie being a prize cow. She is supposed to be lazy, yes, but I don't see her as vindictive. Jud is a bit better - liked his tirade when Ross told him to get out - but not much.
The Verity scandal thing wasn't played right either. When the other Poldarks tell Ross about Blamey, he is supposed to tell them he won't interfere with Verity's affairs because he is a man who stands up for the underdog and believes in people being self governing. It was a great scene in the original. This Ross just meekly allows himself to be swayed - 'oh yes, we must stop Verity seeing Blamey' and then, when she tells him her side of the story: 'Oh ok then, met at my place' - blowing in the wind Ross! To my mind, that is wrong.
There were other complaints too but I need to go to bed.
Disappointing, that's all I can say. And I really liked Ep 1 so it is not just that I am comparing unfavourably with the original.