Poldark (TV Series) Episode #5.1 (2019) User Reviews

Intriguing new characters Action packed adventures.

[pathills49 · 10/10 · 20 July 2019]

Poldark Series 5 is a rich courageous undertaking by screenwriter Debbie Horsefield fully sanctioned by the Winston Graham family to bridge the 10 year gap between The Angry Tide and The Stranger from the Sea. She has taken actual historical characters and brought them to life while still developing the ongoing saga of our beloved Poldark "family of characters" we have grown to admire.

The new characters Ned and Kitty Despard, Tess Tregidden and her rebellious ragamuffin family, Ralph and Cecily Hanson all bring new, adventurous, intriguing plots to an already exciting vibrant Poldark Saga.

I look forward to how this series unfolds and is brought to its bittersweet conclusion. Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson remain the heart of the series and are exceptionally brilliant in their roles as Ross and Demelza.

Interesting and Well constructed first episode to the final Serie

[denisemdl · 10/10 · 20 July 2019]

I thought it a really Interesting and clever episode combining real historic events and people - the Despards and the attempted assassination of the king - with mental health issues and the early attempts to abolish slavery which cleverly use the Ross, Dwight and George characters to tell those stories. Great start to the final series I thought and wonderful to see Aidan Turner as the dashing and daring Ross Poldark putting his all into every scene once more

High drama

[clairejbonny · 10/10 · 20 July 2019]

Really impressive first episode. Debbie Horsfield has gone off book for this fifth and final series and although I had reservations about that, having seen the first episode, I think she's done well. It was a fast paced episode, setting up various plots and new characters and was exciting and dramatic

Great start

[marylizbennett · 10/10 · 20 July 2019]

The first episode set the scene well and introduced some interesting new characters. A good blend of real people of the times interacting with fictional characters and a great way to give a history lesson. Also gives the original cast to stretch their acting skills. Fantastic start.

Aidan Turner shines again as flawed hero Ross Poldark

[tracibaker-44841 · 10/10 · 21 July 2019]

For a fifth season, Aidan Turner leads a spectacular cast, and shines in no small part due to the tremendous writing team responsible for Poldark-and in large part to his gift at acting. This time around, writer Debbie Horsfeld, with the permission of Winston Graham's family (Graham is the author of the books from which this series is adapted) has written her scripts without the guidance of any of the books. Instead she integrates existing characters, new characters and characters based on real life people and events from the time, filling in a ten-year gap left by Graham between the book volumes covered through series 4, and the next volume. Episode one is chock-full of new characters, and new storylines. But it still has the familiarity of the characters, drama, and love of all things Poldark so familiar to fans. Ross Poldark, gallantly galloping along the beautiful Cornwall coastal cliffs on his steady beauty Seamus the horse...the ever-good hearted Demelza supporting her man, loving her children and kicking when needed. And surely no episode could pass without servant Prudie being passed out from too much of Mr. Ross's rum, although this time it's during some real danger at Nampara. And never to be forgotten, George Warleggan is as nasty and awful as ever... But this time, there are a few new twists to George's personality that will be interesting to watch play out over the season. Ross is quickly drawn into drama as a visit is requested by an old friend from the war, layers of intrigue and drama are presented by this old friend's wife, and some new other characters that seem much more like George than they do Ross also present some potential new challenges and may be behind the troubles Ross's old friend Ned is having. Fans will love the return of Drake and Morwena - and will delight in the fact that Caroline and Dwight seem as happy as ever. One new character seems particularly awful, and it's not clear from this first episode why. It seems as though Tess is going to be quite a problem, and it will be interesting to see how her character plays out over the next seven episodes. I'm hoping we get to see sweet Verity in coming episodes, she and her sea-Captain did not appear in this episode. With lots going on, episode one certainly delivered on the drama-and seeing Aidan Turner's return as tricorn hat-wearing Ross Poldark was nothing short of thrilling! Episode two sneak peaks promise a sword fight between Ross and his old friend... Surely that has to be enough to get people excited to watch next Sunday! 'Tis fair, 'Tis right, 'Tis proper to watch season 5 of Poldark!

Another adaptation goes off the rails

[LCShackley · 4/10 · 30 September 2019]

The stars in my review are for the lead actors, the scenery, and the music. The fact that there are only FOUR stars out of 10 is because of my disappointment that yet another classic set of stories has been mangled by British producers who think they know better than the creators.

The BBC mangled Father Brown, Granada tainted Miss Marple, and most of the Beeb's current drama shows of ANY variety are bound by PC groupthink. Up to now, Poldark has stayed fairly close to the original books, at least through the end of book seven (season four). They could have just stopped there...or decided to jump to book eight, but no! A showrunner with literary ambitions has decided that her vision for Poldark would be far better for us know-nothings. Besides, the Beeb wanted to milk the original cast rather than let them age 10 years or be replaced entirely.

So of course, we have to introduce slavery, which MUST now be included in anything historical. And ranting against capitalism. And the usual characterization of Christian characters as crazy people. And since that stuff is boring to the average viewer, we must keep them awake with: a FIRE! an ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT! and GEORGE GOING BONKERS! What a shame that literature (even the popular type as exemplified by Winston Graham) can't be treated with respect. What a sad way to end a powerful series.

Dissapointing

[winterstewart · 4/10 · 6 August 2019]

What has happened? The early seasons were great. The writing is very poor, the themes are poor. Very dissapointing. I try to watch but slowly literally fall asleep with boredom. The story is all disconnected. The actors deserve better. What a shame.

This is not the Poldark writers series.

[margaretrhona · 4/10 · 15 July 2019]

As is usual now with the BBC "progressive" movement they feel free to disregard writers works change the stories and themes in order to introduce political diversity themes relevant today but not in Cornwalls eigtheenth century England. especially the brilliant work of the the Poldark books. I seriously think it is time to boycott BBC and spend our hard earned money more wisely.

I knew it would be drivel

[aslenodsnud · 4/10 · 15 July 2019]

As soon as I heard that they were steering away from the books for this series because they didn't want to jump 10 years as the books do, that it would leave the writers to completely decimate the story. It's been bad enough with how certain areas from the books were handled, like Demelzas fling or the Morwenna saga... so based on this episode, the series will be dreadful

Well.. they finally ruined it

[kmbama · 2/10 · 18 December 2019]

2019 social justice wokeness meets 1800. Look no further for how to kill a historical series.

What a difference this series

[jknousak · 4/10 · 7 February 2020]

OK, so not all of the language is 18th/19th century, but use of the word "task" as a verb is definitely -- and unfortunately -- a 21st century bastardism that does not fit here. Slap-dash writing, poor direction and questionable editing make for a serious and sad change from the previous 4 seasons. *SIGH*

Poldark the Bad Sequel

[Hedgehog_Movie_Lover · 1/10 · 17 July 2019]

I was a great fan of the novels and the original series in the 70s. Several instances of bad miscasting in the new series, most obviously Warleggan who is an aristocratic fop, not the grandson of a blacksmith. Elizabeth was a dizzy dame, not the shrewd, manipulative woman of the novels. I could go on and on. But now this, Poldark the rehash. Winston Graham was a brilliant writer, to disregard him is arrogant and stupid. Go to the last set of novels you fools. Anyway, as usual I wanted to hold Aidan Turner down and force someone to comb his hair and give him a shave. No self respecting gentleman of his era would have gone about looking like a refugee from a Fabio Romance novel cover. Lord how I miss Robin Ellis and Angarhad Rees, though I do give credit to this version's Demelza, Eleanor May Tomlinson. She is quite good. Too bad there's nothing for her to work with here.

Terrible story line and poorly directed and lit

[filks1 · 1/10 · 13 February 2021]

In comparison to seasons 1- 4 this production is totally amateurish in conception and execution. Very disappointing. This series really ends at the end of season 4

When showrunners go off the reservation

[theseventhstooge · 4/10 · 26 April 2023]

Unlike seasons 1-4 which are based on the first eight Poldark books, show runners admitted they decided to go off the books for season 5. Season 5 takes place between books seven and eight. Showrunners of shows based on books should stay with the books. The tone of this season is markedly different from the first four seasons. Likewise, new non-canonical characters are introduced. In an interview, it was said that went with this method because the other books dont focus as much on the main characters from the first four seasons. They should have followed Outlander, which kept with the books but changed certain aspects like characters to make it work. They could easily have kept the cast intact and adjusted the books to make the show consistent. Instead, they decided to go it alone when they didn't have the skill to be as good as the author.