Season Five, Episode Two: Conspiracies Abound

And after all of that, we're finally here: the end. Five seasons of copper, chaos and romantic mishaps comes to a touching close on the Cornish shores, and so, too does this podcast. Co-hosts Robin Ellis and Barrett Brountas bid Ross and company farewell one final time.

Could we really be here? Is there really only one episode of Poldark remaining? We'll ignore the pending goodbye by focusing on Ross, who seems to be continuing his ongoing trend of making questionable choices in the coastal caves. Is he a spy? A traitor? Did we miss something? The verdict is still out.

The British justice system works its harsh way through Col. Ned Despard’s imagined case of treason, ending in a gruesome public hanging. But it’s not all bad news for our heroes this episode. And in a special treat for dedicated Mining Poldark listeners, Andrew Graham — son of Poldark novelist Winston Graham — joins co-host Barrett Brountas in a frank conversation about Cornwall, Ross and real British history.

Drake has made his fair share of mistakes during his years in and around Cornwall's Sawle village. Several of said mistakes have lead to his near death, multiple times. But never fear, dear viewers and listeners! He's got more mistakes up his blacksmith’s sleeve. 

Colonel Ned Despard hasn't been long for Cornwall when he gets it in his head to stage a raid on the great house of Trenwith. It might seem like a good idea, sure — but knowing criminal justice around here, we can't see this working out in his favor. 

As Sir George tumbles further down his troubled mental path, his Uncle Cary taps a local doctor with less than healthy healing methods. Thank goodness Dr. Dwight is around to save the day...but who will rescue young Valentine?

Colonel Ned Despard is a free man again, but vile below-ground conspiracies suggest he won't stay that way for long. Dr. Dwight makes no new friends by defending the rights of a criminally insane, would-be royal assassin, while Sir George Warleggan furthers his descent into grief-stricken madness. Our new Cornish century continues to surprise.

In this debut episode of the fifth and final season of our series, we meet a slew of new characters, including Ross Poldark, Assassination-Avoider. We’re confused about the series of events that led our rebellious young hero to a life of noble order-keeping, just as we’re also concerned about the arrival on the scene of Colonel Ned Despard, a fellow lusty-warrior type from Ross and Dwight’s time at war.

It's a dramatic wrap of a rather heady fourth season of Poldark, with new Warleggans, old flames and fresh tragedy afoot. Elizabeth may not be the most popular of characters, but you can't say she doesn't make up her mind when she needs to. 

Our heros make way for the British capital, and everyone has a rather jolly good time for a short while. But political intrigue and personal vendettas catch up with Ross and Demelza, and a slimy fellow MP leads to familiar familial tensions between our romantic leads. Horace plays a key role in a lovely moment, though, which helps resolve some of the sore feelings.