Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Poldark: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 26, 2015

“Poldark” isn’t simply emerging from out of nowhere. Adapted from the literary series by Winston Graham, which already inspired a 1975 television series, the brand name is well known for its depiction of tragedy and heroism, and for its critique of class divide. With “Downton Abbey” currently working on its final season, now is the time for “Poldark” to rise. While the two shows don’t have much in common, the producers of the new series have made sure to provide some familiarity, delving into the period piece with a plan to celebrate far-off locations, forbidden love, financial horrors, and a dashing leading man in Aidan Turner. What should be a slam-dunk of churning emotions is instead quite tedious at times, with a strange concentration on repetition and padding that’s meant to fill eight hours of entertainment. Truthfully, there isn’t enough incident to keep the effort alert.

Although the “Poldark” franchise is spread over 12 books, the series is primarily comprised of the first two novels, which work to introduce the characters, including broken Revolutionary War soldier Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner), his lost love Elizabeth (Heida Reed), and his rebound wife, peasant girl Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson). The program actually finds fertile dramatic ground to work with for the first handful of episodes, studying Ross’s return from America, reclaiming his tattered family land with intent to rebuild and reclaim Elizabeth. The complications that arise during this plan are moderately engaging, finding secure beats of longing and frustration to play as Ross comes into contact with ruthless bankers who’ve worked to divide the community into the haves and the have-nots. Surprises are few, but passion connects the dots with care, transforming Ross into a fallible hero who often acts before he thinks, trying to claim a sense of business control while his domestic life takes unexpected turns. Societal judgments are in place, a few bodices are ripped, and simmering tensions arrive as Ross begins to build his new empire, challenging the old guard with fresh ideas on equality and charity.

Halfway through the show, “Poldark” stumbles and never regains momentum. Even with an extensive, established source material, the show is prone to padding, recycling conflicts and adding in characters haphazardly to expand the story, and it mostly results in dramatic stagnancy. Talk of loans and mining doesn’t spark the show to life, and it’s strange to watch “Poldark” remain determined to make its business machinations the most important element of the series. The endeavor is better off with its characters, with Turner doing his best to keep Ross complex and dignified. Tomlinson has her moments as Demelza, actually achieving a sense of growth as the poor girl grows from a mouthbreather to a dignified member of society. Alas, the show doesn’t stay with Ross and Demelza, following several subplots that engaged in fierce melodrama as disaster strikes and sexual gamesmanship commences.

Episodes

Disc 1

“Episode 1” (61:08)

After serving in the Revolutionary War, Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) returns to his family home in Cornwall to discover the land in ruin and the local tin mine stripped clean. Also lost during these years is Elizabeth (Heida Reed), Ross’s former lover who, like the rest of the community, thought the soldier was dead, agreeing to marry his cousin, Francis (Kyle Soller). Distraught but determined to pull himself out of debt and disaster, Ross works to return his estate to its former glory, while tensions with Elizabeth and his uncle, Charles (Warren Clarke), run high. Bringing in troubled runaway Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) as a servant, Ross begins to reclaim his dignity, finally finding hope for the future.

“Episode 2” (59:44)

Trusting in the potential of the land and the promise of copper in his mines, Ross works out a business plan to raise money to revive a dying industry. This ambition is welcomed by George (Jack Farthing), a predatory banker and friend of Francis. Unable to flush Elizabeth out of his system, Ross makes a plan to remain close to his married ex, confusing an already troubling domestic situation that threatens their reputations. And Ross’s spinster cousin Verity (Ruby Bentall) has finally landed a love interest in Captain Blamey (Richard Harrington), but his dark past prevents family acceptance, leading to violence that divides Ross from his extended family.

“Episode 3” (60:08)

Time has passed, and Ross’s Wheal Leisure mine is finally open, with careful examination retrieving evidence of copper. Taking on a charity case in Jim (Alexander Arnold), Ross provides a hopeful future for the boy. However, old habits die hard, with Jim’s interest in poaching bringing him to court, threatening everything that’s been arranged for him. Elizabeth has given birth to a son, but Francis can’t get over the past, lashing out at his wife over her unresolved feelings for Ross. And Demelza grows into a domestic force, tending to the house and land with devotion, but her curiosity about Ross’s past life and mistake pushes her closer to her master than ever before, triggering passions between the two.

Disc 2

“Episode 4” (60:29)

After their marriage, Ross and Demelza have difficulty adjusting to their new reality. For the former servant, life as a wife in high society triggers crippling doubt, with Demelza turning to Verity for friendship and guidance in the ways of proper conduct. After the death of his father, Francis is lost, becoming aware of his responsibilities as the family business begins to fail. In Ross’s mine, work to reach any copper deposits drains his financials, providing a bleak forecast for his act of redemption. And Christmas comes to Cornwall, with the family gathering for a celebration, but for Demelza, time alongside Elizabeth deepens uncertainty about her marriage.

“Episode 5” (59:23)

Arriving in Cornwall to meet up with his old friend Ross, Dr. Enys (Luke Norris) is overwhelmed by attention from local females and George, who’s suspicious of the stranger. Mine woes plague the land, with Ross and Francis facing a corrupt industry in need of challenge. When a circle of owners decides to stand up for themselves by opening their own smelting facility, Ross is elected leader. Verity is handed hope once again when Demelza asks Blamey to return, trying to secure her dear friend a future away from domestic service. And Francis puts his financial future on the line during a card game, trying to reverse disaster through chance.

“Episode 6” (60:00)

Ross’s quest to save Jim from hellacious conditions in prison has failed. Facing the death of the young man, Ross embarks on a downward spiral of drunken, combative behavior, lashing out at a corrupt legal system and George’s stranglehold on the local economy, which extends to an investigation into the new smelting company that’s now open for business. Miner Mark (Matthew Wilson) has trouble keeping wife Keren’s (Sabrina Bartlett) attention, with the new bride drawn to Dr. Enys, finding reasons to encourage his company. And Demelza is invited to her first ball, but what should be a joyous occasion celebrating her acceptance into high society is instead stained by Ross’s destructive ways.

Disc 3

“Episode 7” (60:18)

The relationship between Verity and Blamey causes a great disturbance with the Poldark family after news of their engagement spreads. Adding to tensions is trouble between Ross and Francis, who finds his fortune restored by George, who’s looking to shatter any secretive collaboration that’s out to disturb bank rule. Mark’s world is turned upside down by a terrible accident, soon hunted by the British Army as Ross attempts to help his friend, alienating Dr. Enys. And Demelza reveals her position in the Verity/Blamey debacle, leaving Ross upset and betrayed, adding to his woes as his mining operation sets a course for closure.

“Episode 8” (59:29)

An illness known as the “putrid throat” is spreading across the land. Going behind Ross’s back to help Francis in his time of need, Demelza becomes a caretaker for the family, nursing them back to health. For her charity, Demelza pays a heavy price, forcing Ross to do some soul-searching as George buys his revenge, using a shipwreck event on the shores of Cornwall to destroy his rival.

Poldark: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a satisfactory viewing experience. The HD-shot program is generally quite good with detail, offering sharpness with close-ups that make facial features stand out, and the locations are truly inspiring, with distances preserved and naturalistic textures open for study. Colors are secure and vibrant, supplying gorgeous sunsets and greenery, and period costuming gifts a range of hues that brighten up the show. Skintones are natural. Delineation has challenging moments during evening sequences, with some mild crush present. Banding is detected as well.

Poldark: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is basic for this type of programming, which doesn't favor expanse, only dramatic emphasis. Dialogue exchanges are working uphill with thick accents, but nothing is lost to distortion, keeping clear enough to share exposition. Scoring is intentionally aggressive with fine instrumentation, never steamrolling over the action. Atmospherics are comfortable, offering a fresh sense of the outdoors and the tight confines of the mines.

Poldark: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary (for Episode 1) features actors Aidan Turner, Heida Reed, Jack Farthing, and Eleanor Tomlinson, writer Debbie Horsfield, and producers Damien Timmer and Karen Thrussell.

• Behind the Scenes (6:42, HD) is a basic run-through of production inspiration, pulling influence from the original book series and a previous mini-series. Interviews with cast and crew celebrate narrative and character achievements, and underline motivations.

• "Poldark the Man" (7:54, HD) focuses on the titular character, returning to the cast and crew to help identify the appeal of Ross and his unique growth over the series. While the interviews are in salesman mode, there are glimpses of BTS footage that are worth a look.

• "Poldark - The Women Behind the Man" (10:01, HD) moves over to the female characters, charting dramatic arcs and thespian choices that helped to flesh out this dramatic world.

Poldark: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's no conclusion to "Poldark." Ending with a cliffhanger, the show simply winds itself up for a second season, which is traditional formula for programs planning to return, but feels oddly insulting here, making eight hours spent with the characters tremendously anticlimactic. "Poldark" wants to keep going, but such ambition blocks a satisfying viewing experience. While the series rarely comes to a full boil, it's mostly in need of a decisive conclusion, presenting the viewer with a sense of completion. Instead, everything in season one is meant to carry into season two, which is a ballsy move for a new series, especially one that's already proven it's unwilling to attack conflicts with necessary brevity.