The worst episodes of Poldark
Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
Ross and Demelza face financial ruin, and George plans revenge on Jud. Francis, meanwhile, tries to rebuild his life and extends an invitation to Ross and Demelza.
- 02
Needing money to open a mine free of George's influence, Ross strikes a deal with a local smuggler. Dwight, meanwhile, tries to diagnose an epidemic and receives help from an anonymous benefactor.
- 03
Elizabeth obtains a tonic designed to induce an early labour, hoping to persuade George that Valentine is his child once and for all - but the Warleggans' rift is plain as they return to Cornwall. Ross returns to Cornwall to mend things with Demelza, realising he killed Adderley because he could not kill Hugh.Morwenna seeks out Drake and this time Elizabeth does not seek to intervene - but when George returns home to find Morwenna with Elizabeth in Trenwith, he banishes Morwenna from the estate.Spurred by George's ferocity, Elizabeth takes her potion and a painful labour commences. Dwight is on hand, but when Ross hears of Elizabeth's continuing ailment he rides immediately to Trenwith...
- 04
In the final episode of the series, George expands the Warleggan empire, launching a new ship and bankrupting Carnmore. Ross blames Francis, but when Francis and Elizabeth fall sick with a life-threatening illness, Demelza risks her own life to save them.
- 05
Ross and Demelza look to forget the past and rebuild their marriage, but new arrivals threaten their fragile reconciliation.
- 06
Drama set in 1780s Cornwall. Ross Poldark returns from the battlefield to find his father dead, the estate in ruins and his sweetheart Elizabeth engaged to his cousin.
- 07
2/8 Ross plans to reopen his family mine with Francis. Demelza struggles to fit in at Nampala.
- 08
Ross celebrates the opening of Wheal Leisure as rumours spread of a scandalous relationship between him and Demelza. Francis and Elizabeth celebrate the birth of their new son. Ross must fight to save his friend Jim, sparring in court with Reverend Halse.
- 09
With Jim gravely ill in Bodmin jail, Ross and Dwight launch a desperate mission to save him. Demelza is excited to attend a grand ball held by George, who is determined to ruin Ross and his smelting company.
- 10
Ross prepares for his trial as Demelza and Elizabeth try to help his cause. George does everything in his power to harm Ross, Francis wrestles with his conscience, and Dwight clashes with an entitled heiress, Caroline Penvenen.
- 11
Elizabeth tells George that she is carrying his child and George continues to mark his territory by erecting fences around Trenwith, denying commoners passage across his property.Dwight learns of Caroline's new engagement and enlists in the navy. Ross decides he must mend the rift between Caroline and Dwight before it is too late.Ross is called to Trenwith by George, suspicious that the purchase of Geoffrey Charles' share in the mine was fraudulent. Pascoe reveals to Ross that George will seek to bankrupt him through court proceedings.Demelza is assaulted for trespassing on Warleggan land provoking the villagers to march on Trenwith with vengeance in mind - will Ross be able to disband the mob?Elizabeth, meanwhile, is forced to face the possibility that her pregnancy might not, in fact, be the result of her union with George.
- 12
As Elizabeth becomes more ambivalent about Valentine, George courts Sir Francis Basset for the vacant magistracy position. Ross is reintroduced to Tholly Tregirls, an old friend of his father's and a ne'er-do-well who has returned to area. Verity returns to Trenwith, awaiting word from her husband, Andrew, whose ship is en route to Lisbon, while Elizabeth feels the sting of Morwenna and Geoffrey Charles's connection.
- 13
Ross and Tholly meet their contact Jacques Clisson in France, and Sam leads a large congregation of Methodists in song outside the church walls. Despite George's promise to be generous to his tenants to further his ambition of becoming a burgess, he revokes the Methodist's property lease. Clisson drives a hard bargain with Ross for his information, and George leads Caroline to expect the worst regarding Dwight.
- 14
George's cabal moves to ruin the Poldarks, and Morwenna wrestles with a heavy decision.
- 15
Demelza gives birth and resolves to help Verity reconcile with Captain Blamey. Ross welcomes old friend Dr Dwight Enys to Cornwall, and Francis's persistent gambling threatens the security of all he holds dear.
- 16
As the election leads to rioting, Elizabeth goes to Bodmin herself. Demelza tries to influence the case by making a personal appeal to the judge, but George has a number of tricks up his sleeve as the day of the trial arrives.
- 17
Francis' final breakthrough at Wheal Grace reveals nothing of value, so Ross meets with Trencrom to locate Mark Daniel and see if he can locate the copper in the mine.Trencrom strikes a deal to build a secret cache at Nampara where he can store contraband, putting much needed money in Ross' pocket but adding unwanted risk. Dwight is hailed as a hero for restoring Rosina to health, to Caroline's amusement.George calls in Ross's debt, which means Ross will almost certainly go to debtors' prison. Meanwhile, as Ross spends more time looking after the widowed Elizabeth, Demelza fears she is losing him.Dwight is ordered by Ray Penvenen to stop meeting Caroline but defies him and, though advised against it, Ross sells his remaining shares in Wheal Leisure in order to purchase Geoffrey Charles' shares in Wheal Grace anonymously - his last means of protecting Elizabeth and Geoffrey Charles.
- 18
Demelza refuses to speak to Ross and expects him to return to Elizabeth, abandoning her and Jeremy.Elizabeth and Agatha believe the same and Elizabeth writes to George to postpone the wedding. George rides to Trenwith to make Elizabeth agree to another date, ensuring his plans are not usurped. In Truro, Tonkin invites Ross to join him in a prospering shipbuilding partnership.Meanwhile, Demelza accepts Sir Hugh Bodrugan's invitation to his ball, where she finds Captain McNeil, inviting him to her room, having justified the possibility of adultery as something Ross has driven her to. Ross finds Demelza on Hendrawna Beach but hasn't the words to build a bridge between them.Ross is beckoned to the mine where they have cleared the collapse and come upon the richest lode of tin Henshawe has ever seen - may Ross soon may be free of debt?
- 19
Ross and Dwight stand trial for their part in the smuggling. A new tin lode gives Ross renewed hope in Wheal Grace, but it is George who is there for Elizabeth when her mother falls ill and deals Ross a bitter blow.
- 20
A grain ship grain is raided by starving villagers, and George proves merciless as the new magistrate, and arranges a harsh punishment for the desperate peasants while throwing a lavish Christmas party to impress the local gentry. Caroline hears news that the Admiralty has arranged for the release of the British officers, but Ross is not convinced. Demelza gives birth to a daughter, and warns Morwenna against a relationship with Drake. Ross discovers the means to both help Dwight and combat Cornwall's famine.
- 21
While George furthers his return to Westminster, Ross is reunited with his family at home. Tragedy strikes in Cornwall, however, forcing him from the quiet life into action again.
- 22
Demelza discovers the French are smuggling arms into Cornwall, but Ross is determined to take revenge on Merceron and Hanson for framing Ned and returns to London to confront them. Sam continues to meet with Tess against all caution as Cecily and Geoffrey Charles plan their escape with Ross's help, but the danger that stalks the Poldarks follows swiftly.
- 23
An informant in the smuggling ring poses a serious threat to all, and George buys Ross's debt to finally crush him. Meanwhile, Caroline returns to Cornwall to make an announcement, but it is Elizabeth who reveals a great secret.
- 24
Caroline convinces Dwight they must elope for a new life in Bat, as Ross sails with Trencrom to meet with Mark Daniel.Caroline is forced to pull her plan forward but it is threatened when Rosina dislocates her knee again. Dwight believes he can treat her and still rendezvous with Caroline; however, he and Demelza become suspicious that Charlie Kempthorne is the informant when they learn he has avoided the smuggling run. Dwight confronts Charlie, and a fight ensues.Demelza realises Ross will be walking into an ambush and attempts to warn the boat, but McNeil and his soldiers arrive at Nampara, leaving her under guard. Dwight incapacitates Charlie and escapes as Caroline sneaks out of Killewarren to meet him. Dwight attempts to warn Ross but is too late. Will Ross find a way to evade the soldiers?Having paid men to harass Trenwith with the aim of driving Elizabeth to him for protection, George arrives at her home and posts his men to guard Elizabeth, who is both shocked and grateful for George's attention. Dwight is released by the soldiers, but finds Caroline has already returned to London...
- 25
The French Royalists plan an invasion, which Caroline hopes will lead to Dwight's release. However, Ross is convinced this will only make matters worse, and recruits a band of allies, including Tholly, Zacky, Drake and Henshawe, to help him free Dwight from prison. George schemes to further his political ambitions, and when he learns of Ross' plan, he uses it as a means to discredit his rival, accusing him of recklessness - a charge that may prove true when the rescue mission proves to have fatal consequences.
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