At the start of the episode, Ross (Aidan Turner) speaks with Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) about going back to London. Before too long, he finds himself on a carriage with Ned (Vincent Regan) and Kitty (Kerri McLean). George (Jack Farthing) has started integrating back into society. Dwight (Luke Norris) and Caroline (Gabriella Wilde) decide that it would be wise to go to London too. After they leave, Demelza speaks with Sam Carne (Tom York) about raising money for the school. She believes that Sam should step up and try to convince the others to donate to the cause. Ralph (Peter Sullivan) speaks with Joseph Merceron (Tim Dutton) about the slave trade. He believes things would have been fine if Ralph had gotten George’s signature on the paper.

Ross and Ned go to William Wickham (Anthony Calf). They try to talk him into allowing Ned to go back to the West Indies to run things. They learn that the Prime Minister is no longer. He has resigned. Demelza goes to the bank and sits down with Harris Pascoe (Richard Hope). She learns that the bank is no longer issuing gold. Instead, they’re handing out paper money for the time being. Drake (Harry Richardson) watches as Morwenna (Ellise Chappell) goes to see John Conan. Ross speaks with the others about the PM’s replacement Addington. They agree to position him at once before running into Dwight and Caroline. Dwight lets Ross know that George has been painting Ned as a lunatic who broke into his house and threw him down the stairs.

Meanwhile, Ralph lets George know that the slaves are trying to rise up. Ross begins working to get Ned restored to his post right away. He speaks with Merceron about it. Ned becomes angry in the streets and speaks out against the crown. Dwight tries to convince Ross that letting Ned spout off at the mouth is going to backfire on him. Ross tries to come him down but he doesn’t seem too worried about it. Next, Ralph introduces Joseph to George. They begin speaking about Ross. Meanwhile, Zacky Martin (Tristan Sturrock) pays the workers with the paper money. They’re not happy. Tess (Sofia Oxenham) and Jacka (John Macneill) see an opportunity with the money.

They decide to reproduce the money and create chaos for Demelza. Zacky, Sam and Demelza speak about the trouble that Tess has caused. Dwight meets with George to make sure he is fine. George shows him that his arm is working perfectly. Cary (Pip Torrens) suggests the fall helped knock some sense into George. A little later, Ross speaks out against slavery. Ralph takes a report to Joseph. It explains that a lot of the slaves are dying and pleading for water. When they leaves, Cecily (Lily Dodsworth-Evans) finds the report and reads it. Sam speaks to the community and encourages them to give money for the school. Drake confronts Morwenna and insists that visiting her son might be a bad idea. Drake makes a suggestion that the boy comes to them. The lesson with the local children begins a short time later.

Drake goes to Lady Whitworth (Rebecca Front) and tries to convince her to let John live with them. She isn’t having it. She tells her servants to lock him in the barn until the constable can get there. Drake breaks free and runs away. Ralph pays another visit to George. He is eager to get signature and he wants him to speak up for slavery. When Ralph leave, he runs into Geoffrey Charles (Freddie Wise) who asks for Cecily’s hand in marriage. Ralph doesn’t give him an answer. He returns to George and tells him what has happened. Ralph believes that they can take care of Geoffrey and change Cecily’s mind about him too. Ralph goes to his daughter and lets her know that George wants to speed up the marriage. She isn’t interested but has little say in the matter.

Geoffrey is expelled from the academy for theft. Demelza finds out that Drake stole John Conan. She pleads with him to take the boy back before it is too late. He manages to do so but only after Whitworth found out that he is missing. Cecily meets with Geoffrey and tells him that her father was likely involved. She tells him that they need to find a way to drive a wedge between George and her father. Cecily takes the report to Ross and Ned. Sam gets a lot of donations from the locals. Morwenna learns about Drake’s actions. She doesn’t want to speak with him anymore. Demelza and Sam learn that someone has created counterfeit money. George gives his support for slavery and speaks in parliament. Valentine likes his father’s speech. Then, Ross presents the report provided by Cecily.

This turns Ross into a hero and George into a villain. Demelza tells the locals about the money and the watermark. Joseph and Ralph discuss their next move. They agree that something needs to be done with Ned. Morwenna visits her son one more time and Drake follows her. Morwenna tells the boy that they cannot see one another anymore. Lady Whitworth comes outside and Drake tries to stop her. She ends up hearing Morwenna speak to her son and it appears that Whitworth might change a bit. Morwenna and Drake leave without incident. Zacky and Demelza learn who has been creating the forgeries. They know that it is Tess. Meanwhile, Morwenna tells Drake that she has grieved for her son. Now, she has love for her husband.

It looks like they may finally sleep together. George tells his business partners that he has been denounced. He explains that he wants to restore his reputation. Joseph wants to make Ross the villain. They believe they can do that by showing people that Ned likes to use his fists. Sam convinces Demelza that she needs to confront Tess. She goes to the pub and speaks about the forgeries. She doesn’t expose Tess but she does scare Tess and Jacka. George and the others put together a plan to convince others that Ross and Ned are against the crown. Ned gets drunk and begins spewing out the mouth once again. Dwight realizes that things are getting worse. Dwight pleads with Ross to get him away from here.

Ross doesn’t believe it is a big deal. Dwight tries to convince him otherwise. Ross doesn’t like the fact that Dwight will not follow Ned blindly like an idiot. Dwight leaves with Caroline after giving Ross a piece of his mind. Ned scares his wife before continuing with his ranting. George tells Cary about the place where Ned drinks and the fake that his cups are mostly unguarded. Ross and Kitty sit by while Ned drinks like a fool. George explains that they’ll get Ned to sign the oath and that will give them the upper hand. George admits that their plan is hazardous but it could yet more spectacular results. They’ll also be doing something in Ross’ lodgings. We watch as the men attempt to plant the oath in Ned’s pocket. Meanwhile, Dwight and Caroline speak about Dwight’s decision to challenge Ross.

Ned continues drinking and laughing with his buddies. Dwight and Caroline find out that the others have invaded Ross’ lodging. Ross tries to shut Ned up but he isn’t willing to listen. Ned ends up hitting Ross and that gives them plenty of time to plant the note. The evidence is planted against Ross as well. Dwight knows on the door and speaks with the maid. Ross learns Ned alone with the evidence in his pocket. Dwight and Caroline search the property. Dwight wonders if the man was leaving something behind. He begins looking for whatever it was that they hid. The authorities arrive to search Ross’ property. Dwight manages to find the oath of allegiance for the liberation of Irish Catholics with Ross’ name on it.

The oath falls out of Ned’s pocket. He ends up fighting with the authorities. They do not find the notes. Cecily meets up with Geoffrey. She tells him that the day of her wedding has been named. George learns that their success was mixed. Ned was arrested but they could not find the oath. Joseph seems satisfied with that they have so far. Dwight and Ross speak about Ned and Dwight tries to convince him that Ned is going to be his undoing. Kitty arrives and tells them what has happened. Meanwhile, Demelza speaks with the children. Ross visits Ned at the jail. Ned explains that the charge is seriously impressive this time. William enters and tells him that Ned has been charged with high treason. Poldark is told that if Ned falls he will go down right him.

 

Poldark Review

Boy. This season of Poldark has been a real stinker. Ross and Ned have been acting like complete idiots the entire time. Ross refused to listen to Dwight and I really hope that backfires on him in the end. At this point, Ross deserves whatever he gets because he is a fool. The Ned character isn’t likable in the least. I get that they’re fighting for the right thing and all but they’re going about it the wrong way. They’re reckless and deserve to be punished for their stupidity.

I’ve found myself rooting for George Warleggan. Deep down, I know that Ross will win in the end and that is only going to make this season suck even worse. Oh, but the oath miraculously fell out of Ned’s pocket so all is good. That is the worst bit of writing I’ve seen in a while. Morwenna was a real airhead this episode too. She went off on Drake but her behavior was equally reckless. Dwight and the Carne brothers are still likable. I don’t mind Geoffrey Charles or Cecily either. Don’t even get me started on Ned being abusive to his pregnant wife. Doh! Sadly, I am not sure I can ever watch Vincent Regan in anything else. I might be haunted by the Ned character too much.

This is the last season of Poldark and it should have been much better. I wish I would have stopped after the last season because there is nothing here that compels me to continue watching. Now that George is sane again, we’ve jumped back onto the hamster wheel. The boyhood rivalry continues without missing a beat. I’ll finish it out because I’ve come this far. However, I don’t have much hope for it. The episode scores a 6 out of 10. Catch up with previous recaps of Poldark before you go!