Lets Talk About Poldark on PBS

I just noticed that the second season of "Poldark" is going to be aired on PBS. The program is starting here in St. Louis on September 4.

To recap, "Poldark" is a series based on a British Officer who was imprisioned during the AWI and returns to find his fiance married to his cousin, his property in ruins. As he works to restore his finances and improve the lot of the miners, he deals with class prejudice and stands up for the workers on his land.

What makes this important to us is the detail that this program gets the material culture of the 18th century correct.

If you get a chance to see this program, don't let the back story of a Rev War officer who is on "the wrong side". You are not likely to find a better program about life about 1800 coming out of American television production.

My fiancée and I absolutely love this show. She's on the second book now, too. You'd posted about it earlier and that's what clued me in to its existence. (A hearty thank you for that).

I have really never seen a better television production, much less movie, that does a better job at portraying the era than "Poldark." The class divisions of British society, family politics of inheritance, and the gritty reality of their lives are all very expertly rendered. Ross Poldark himself, moreover, is an intriguing character, a radical for his time, no doubt.

In my most humble opinion, historical dramas like this are a great way to educate the public about history. Populate history with character to which they can relate and with which they can empathize is a valuable tool; it makes history "real" in the same sense that we do as historical interpreters.

That show can't get enough praise!

Season 1 is on Amazon Instant Video, for those that have that, by the way. Well worth a binge watch on a rainy day.

I'll second ye on this one, SgtErv. Very good depiction of the late 18th Century. A lot of fun looking at the clothing, which I assume is historically accurate from what I know about the subject. Attention to detail is good, even down to the changing of hat styles in this period. I think the setting is around 1795, so some men are wearing tricorns, and some men are wearing the latest in fashion: the new tophats that pretty much took over by the early 1800's. Good show!

I remember this being on tv in the 1970s, when I was a kid, and my parents watching it. I later read the series of books by Winston Graham and watched a lot of the episodes on VHS. The PBS series did a great job with most details, costuming and sets. There were, however, a few real clunkers with flintlocks, where someone fires a pistol that is uncocked with an open frizzen, but that's far from the only tv series or movie that's ever gotten that wrong.

In my "neck of the woods" here in CA PBS had a "behind the scenes" special on Poldark three weeks ago. It covered the history of the show and featured the first season then showed up-coming snippets from season 2 -- looking forward to it. I find these type of shows very interesting not like the rest of the junk on commercial TV. I also like PBS for their no commercials policy except for their fund rasing moments but you have to "pay the price" at one time or another :cursing: .

There's a number of p;aces you might be able to view the first season of "Poldark". Your public library might have the series. You might be able to find the episodes available for download viewing on PBS.org and looking for the videos.

I also loved the 1977 series. In some cases they showed the material culture in several unique ways. In one episode the maid, Purdy, was using the washing machine. She had a tub of water with the clothes in it. She was using a T shaped device with prongs to agitate the clothes. Miners in the copper mines used head lamps that consist of their old tricorns with lit candles stuck to the brim. Oh, yes, their flintlocks worked like normal although you don't see anyone loading one.

Season 2 starts this Sunday 25 on my PBS station - got the beer & popcorn all ready :grin: :grin: !

'Ma lel an leuv, 'ma'n kledha mas
'Ma'n golon lowen, gwir!
Tus Mytern Jams 'wra konvedhes
Pandr'yll Kernowyon sur!

Yw ornys le ha prys ankow?
'Verow Trelawny bras?
Mes ugans mil a dus Kernow
A wodhvydh oll an kas.

'Verow Trelawny bras?
'Verow Trelawny bras?
Mes ugens mil a dus Kernow
A wodhvydh oll an kas.
'Medh aga Hapten, krev ha dreus,
Gwas lowen ev a veu,
"A pe Tour Loundres Karrek Loos,
Ni a'n kergh mes a'n le."

"Ni 'dres an Tamar, tir dhe dir,
A pe 'vel Havren down,
Onan hag oll, dhe'n den eus fur;
Dhe'gan lettya 'fedh own."

'Verow Trelawny bras?
'Verow Trelawny bras?
Mes ugens mil a dus Kernow
A wodhvydh oll an kas.
"Pan wrellen dos dhe Fos Loundres,
Dhe wel a bleg dhyn ni;
Ownegyon oll, gwrewgh dos yn-mes
Dhe dus eus gwell eso'hwi!”

"Yn karhar kelmys rag ankow
Mirowgh Trelawny bras!
Mes ugans mil a dus Kernow
A wodhvydh oll an kas."

'Verow Trelawny bras?
'Verow Trelawny bras?
Mes ugens mil a dus Kernow
A wodhvydh oll an kas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0I9_mTX0lg

Thanks for posting the National Anthem of Cornwall.

I'm ready for the airing of the first episode of "Poldark" Season 2.

What I find so interesting is that the British shows seem to accurately follow the story line as told in the novels and then use research to accurately portray the material culture of the time.

Zug said:

Season 2 starts this Sunday 25 on my PBS station - got the beer & popcorn all ready :grin: :grin: !

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You'm want beer'n a pasty m'luvver, Season 2 be along dreckly

For folks who use a streaming device I think it'll be up the next day.

Tedn't right. Tedn't proper. Tedn't just.

I saw the second season episode yesterday and it was 'riveting" but I think poor Ross would have been hanged. Too much going against him but where whould that have left the show :haha: ? I think from here it will get interesting. Ross has to "get even" with that weasel George Warleggan :thumbsup: . I did like the part where Francis Poldark tried to dispach himself with a flash-in-the-pan then decided to clean the gun just in case he would be giving it another try :grin: .

I thought that brass double barreled flintlock pistol George Warleggan slipped in his nightstand was interesting too.

There's 12 books in Winston Graham's "Poldark" series. I'm afraid that George will be around for a fairly long time.

My mother watched Poldark religiously when it first was aired on PBS when I was a kid. Recently I passed up on the video collection of the series. Even as a tike, or maybe because I was so young, I just remember it being an evening period-piece romantic soap opera. Know what? That's still what it is and many readers here will be disappointed and lose interest quickly I think.

I agree, not my cup of English tea.

Spence

I think "soap opera" is a poor description of this production .
It's much better than that .
I have watched both the old series ( back in the 70's and again just recently) and the new series 1.
As an Englishman and knowing a little about the landowning classes,I prefer the older series, it's more earthy and as it was designed for the small screen , the acting takes precedent over the scenery and the characters seemed more realistic.
The new series is meant for the large screens and is more visually appealing , the characters seem a little wooden and the peasants don't seem to know their place .lol.
However,both are excellent viewing and a welcome relief to the usual garbage that passes for entertainment these days .
I suggest you cast any preconceived notions aside and give it a try .

dodger said:

I suggest you cast any preconceived notions aside and give it a try .

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I did both, twice. It didn't help. It's OK, they won't miss me.

Spence

If there were any conceiving to be done it'd be rated X and I'd be right there. As it is it is Upstairs Downstairs meets Dallas in the 18th C. without any of the action of the Sharpe series, another of mom's favorites that I grew to like only AFTER getting nothing but references to it from blokes attending a behind-the-scenes class in Napoleonic small-arms at The Armories in Leeds with me.

Folks, I'm telling ya, stick with Black Adder!

George said:

dodger said:

I suggest you cast any preconceived notions aside and give it a try .

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I did both, twice. It didn't help. It's OK, they won't miss me.

Spence

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Perhaps there is some kind of therapy you could try

Alden said:

If there were any conceiving to be done it'd be rated X and I'd be right there. As it is it is Upstairs Downstairs meets Dallas in the 18th C. without any of the action of the Sharpe series, another of mom's favorites that I grew to like only AFTER getting nothing but references to it from blokes attending a behind-the-scenes class in Napoleonic small-arms at The Armories in Leeds with me.

Folks, I'm telling ya, stick with Black Adder!

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One does realise that period British dramas will never appeal to all persons in the former colonies. :slap:
However I espy an element of redemption in your fondness for Sharpe and Blackadder . :hatsoff:
What does your mom make of Blackadder's antics ?
Mine thinks he is very silly .