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Poldark, series three episode six recap: George Warleggan is hopping mad, but now we know why he hates Cap'n Ross

Jack Farthing as George Warleggan - 6
Jack Farthing as George Warleggan - 6

Another heart-scorching episode played with our emotions grippingly as poor, innocent Drake set about wooing Morwenna all over again only to fall foul of her cousin’s wrath; Ross again showed his heroic side but in a comradely, family oriented way; and George Warleggan was at his most appallingly spiteful and malicious – to magnificent effect. Boo, hiss!

Ooh, that George Warleggan is pure evil, isn’t he?

Well, the say the devil gets all the best lines and George – played brilliantly with an aching edge of vulnerability by Jack Farthing – is certainly no exception. He is cracking villain who, no matter how much we loathe and despise him always seems capable of sinking lower in our estimation as he attempts to climb, by any means necessary, the greasy pole that is Cornish high society 

That look on his face when he followed Morwenna down the aisle was punchably smug, wasn’t it.

Ellise Chappell as Morwenna Chynoweth - Credit: BBC
Ellise Chappell as Morwenna Chynoweth Credit: BBC

Oh yes, matched only by the expression of pure heartbreak and horror on Morwenna’s (Ellise Chappell) at finding herself wed to the odious Rev Whitworth (Christian Brassington), and Drake’s (Harry Richardson) devastation as he walked in on the scene and discovered the love he thought he’d won had been snatched away from him yet again.

So, is that the end of Drake and Morwenna, do you think?

I doubt it. If there’s one racing certainty in Poldark, it’s that love will always triumph. Oh, and that right will always win out. And that heroism and being true to oneself will always win the day.

But that’s three things, maybe even more, no?

Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson as Ross Poldark and Demelza  - Credit: BBC
Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson as Ross Poldark and Demelza Credit: BBC

But the basic point is the same: goodness always gets the better of bad, eventually. It might take time (even stretch into series four) but it’s quite clear that being married to the toe-sucking, brothel-creeping Osborne Whitworth is a fate no woman should have to endure for long. Not if Ross (Aidan Turner), Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) and Drake have anything to do with it.

Cap’n Ross was playing the hero quite a bit again this week, wasn’t he?

Thankfully. After all his derring-do in France last week the worry was he’d revert to being a drip again. Fortunately there was plenty to get his dander up, and get him back on that people-championing high horse of his – giving away land to the poor, defending Aunt Agatha (Caroline Blakiston) and Drake, even reconciling traumatised Dr Dwight (Luke Norris) with his lovely wife Caroline (Gabriella Wilde).

She was a bit insensitive, wasn’t she? Telling him not to be so “girlish” when he’s clearly been through the mill in that awful French prisoner of war camp.

Gabriella Wilde as Caroline Penvenen - Credit: BBC
Gabriella Wilde as Caroline Penvenen Credit: BBC

Well, Caroline might not be the sharpest knife in the box but, to be fair, they had no notion of post-traumatic stress disorder in the early 1800s. And she can’t have been the only one to detect a ripple of homoeroticism in Dwight’s reunion with his poetically inclined former fellow prisoner Richard Armitage (Josh Whitehouse). These manly bonds can be so easily misinterpreted – and a cause for jealousy, it seems.

No! You don’t think Dwight and Richard will become an item, do you?

No, not at all. This is Poldark for heaven’s sake. And anyway, rumour has it that Lieutenant Armitage’s affections are about to find an altogether different focus, very soon indeed.

Seriously? So who’s he going to take a shine to?

Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza - Credit: BBC
Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza Credit: BBC

Well, they are just rumours, so I wouldn’t like to say. But Demelza hasn’t had much to distract her – or even do – in series three so far, has she?  Been a bit quiet, by her standards, really. Almost too, much so, some might say.

No! But she must be twice Armitage’s age?

Calm down. Certainly not that much. And don’t get so excited. It’s only a rumour. The point we should really be focusing on is that George didn’t win out and have Drake hanged for a crime he didn’t commit. It’s a cause for celebration.

And we discovered why exactly George hates Cap’n Ross so much, didn’t we?

Too right. Who would ever have guessed they’d been to school together? Or that George was bullied by the posh boys, Ross among them. No wonder George has a Cornwall-sized chip on his shoulder. I mean, who wouldn’t resent having toads regularly stuck down their breeches? Even in fun. Really, I think I’m beginning to feel some stirrings of sympathy for the poor old toadophobe, despite myself.

Who's who in Poldark?
Who's who in Poldark?