Poldark Geeks Rejoice - The Magic is Back
Review by Jackie Little
Isn’t this great? The long anticipated new Poldark series has finally arrived on our shores and not a moment to soon for
me.
I won’t drone on about the Saturday nights in Seventies England with Angharad and Robin (well not too much anyway) but I
was absolutely DYING, like all Poldark geeks, to see how the whole thing compared. (not without trepidation it must be
said, look what a pig’s ear the remake of Brideshead was)
And when I say Poldark geek, I would confidently challenge anyone for the crown. I fell in love with the costume drama
to beat all others in the said seventies along with much of the population. Then – and only then – I started reading the
books – there turned out to be eleven of them over the years.
I vaguely recall an old schoolteacher trying to explain to the class how much better it is to read books than see an
adaptation on TV and I was utterly perplexed(“You what?.) I was only about 11 at the time. But oh but how right he was.
Nevertheless the seventies show was fantastic, especially after the author himself insisted on getting more involved –
they did make a bit of a hash of the characterisation – most particularly with Demelza – in the first series. It got
better. Much better.
Anyway, to the new one. I suppose I should give myself a bit longer to express a perspective but first impressions an’
all. I thought it was wonderful.
Yeah yeah, the costumes, the set, the scenery blah. All a given really. What I love is the faithfulness to the books
(which seem to get more captivating every time I (re) read them.
The new Ross, with his restlessness, reserve, courage, inherent decency and ability to at least cope with if not
overcome the several disappointments (to say the least) upon his homecoming from the American war is brilliant.
The new endearingly useless Jud and Prudie are brilliant.
The new so called “ plain” but wonderful Cousin Verity is spot on.
The new old man Charles is brilliant.
The new Demelza, I can’t yet judge as it is such early days
The new Elizabeth seems to have been just as much miscast and mischaraterised as in the original series, but ah well.
The new (evil) George has yet to be properly revealed.
They (whoever they may be) have kept so much more of the original dialogue (bless them BLESS THEM) I am convinced that
Winston Graham would be proud.
Anyway, as I say, this is very premature, but the first episode bodes very well.
Back in the days of yore my dad used to come in every Saturday night as my mum and I were settling to watch our beloved
programme: “Enjoying your Pol Dark and Handsome girls?” he would say (how we laughed week after week)
It may be Wednesdays now but the magic is definitely back.
ends