“Poldark”! Has anyone said that yet?
Never thought I’d get into a British period piece. And yet I polished off five seasons in rapid order. Ross Poldark is a soldier returning from war. In fact, a British soldier returning from the American war for independence. Now there’s an angle we don’t often — ever? — see. Once back in his beloved but downtrodden Cornwall, he lives an eventful and suspenseful life amid late 1700s English society.
Wonderfully told story, based on a set of novels that I’m now tempted to read. Think of it as the “Hornblower” series, except the protagonist is a soldier back home rather than a sailor at sea.
I loved the first Masterpiece “Poldark,” in the 20th c., and equally love the second. The judge in the second version who Ross gets into it with is Robin Ellis, who played Ross in the first Poldark series.
The Cornish sea coast is the scene-stealer. Demelza is beautifully cast, though Angharad Rees in the first series was equally strong and feisty. Ellis and Rees have explosive chemistry, well-matched by Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson in this version.
Now you have to watch both and do a comparative analysis. I’ve read all the Winston Graham novels, an enjoyable series. There is a bit of dating when seen though modern eyes - Ross essentially rapes Elizabeth, but clearly there wasn’t a problem writing about it back when these were written, because society generally didn’t envision “acquaintance rape” as an issue.
I’m a sucker for any Masterpiece series or Mystery series, a decades-old habit.
I’m currently co-watching the second season of “Brittania” and first season of “Domina.” DH laughs at my “historical drama escape series” predilection. And yes, I watched the blood-and-gore STARZ Spartacus/gladiator series.
A serious recommendation for
@MidCakePa - HBO’s “Rome” series. Some well-known actors from UK stage and screen: Ciaran Hinds (Julius Caesar), Kevin McKidd, Polly Walker, Tobias Menzies, Ray Stevenson, Indira Varma, Lindsay Duncan, and many more. Plenty of action and scheming and not-seen-on-regular-network “interpersonal actions.”