If one year's back on my shoulder

[sovay]

Not having read any of the source novels, approximately twenty minutes into the first series of Poldark (1975–77) as I lay on the couch self-medicating with the late eighteenth century, I remarked to spatch, "Is there any aspect of this homecoming that is not going to be a clusterfuck?" on which the answer turned out to be no, whence it seems the engine of the plot. Since I came to this show by having to wait for the third season of Turn: Washington's Spies (2014–17) to arrive at my local branch library, I was more than ordinarily entertained by the line pertaining to the hero's soldiering past, "Shocking business, eh? Losing the Colonies." The bomber leather frock coat is as impressive as advertised.

Comments

[moon_custafer]

A friend and housemate of mine used to watch that adaptation. All I can remember is that in later episodes/seasons, Chris Biggins plays the amoral and perverted vicar that somebody-or-other ends up married to.

[lauradi7dw]

Turn is available through PBS's Passport system if you have access to that.
https://www.pbs.org/show/turn-washingtons-spies/
I watched some of the first season on TV when it originally aired but was so irritated at the historical inaccuracy of Sam Adams that I quit.

The 2015 remake of Poldark starring Aidan Turner was very pretty to look at, but my recollection is of too much rapid horse riding back and forth. I love this behind the scenes dance rehearsal. AT was s cpmpetition dancer before he was an actor and I guess the show's choreographer decided to goof with that
https://youtu.be/dhrcALuT-gI?feature=shared

[thisbluespirit]

Not having read any of the source novels, approximately twenty minutes into the first series of Poldark (1975–77) as I lay on the couch self-medicating with the late eighteenth century, I remarked to [personal profile] spatch, "Is there any aspect of this homecoming that is not going to be a clusterfuck?"

It's fair to say that there's nothing involving a Poldark or a Warleggan that is not a clusterfuck. XD

In general, the 70s edition is my favourite (over books & 2015 version), as you will have noticed, but impressively in the books (and the 2015) the homecoming is even worse, because Ross walks right into the engagement party for Francis and Elizabeth, going, hi, not dead after all, everyone! (I understand why the 70s changed it, because they use that to do some key groundwork for the Ross & Elizabeth storyline, but the sheer drama of original canon there is faultless.)

Also, generally: *flails* I mean, obv, I hope Turn comes in for you, but while it's wending its way you-wards, I hope you enjoy your visit to the other side of the Atlantic.

And you'll have seen enough to understand now why I, having seen Robin Ellis first as Essex in Elizabeth R and then as Ross & also as Franklin Blake in The Moonstone, on spotting he was in the 1971 Sense & Sensibility just went, oh, well, yes, who else would be Willoughby? And then he walked in as Edward Ferrars & while I was still recovering from that, Clive Francis turned up as Willoughby, because sometimes watching non-linearly is the funniest way to do things. XD

(Funnily enough, while you've been watching this, I've been watching a 2019 film that had Clive Francis doing a cameo in the middle. I wasn't sure if he was still alive/still working to that date, but he still had that unmistakable weirdly off-beat charm of his, so it had to be him).

... I don't know why I say 'funnily' at this point, really. I should just say 'inevitably', given that we apparently do only have about 20 actors, so while you were watching Turn, inevitably I was watching Kevin McNally in a 2025 crime drama, and when you turned to Poldark, I watched a thing with 21st C Clive Francis. Oh, all while listening to a 1980s radio drama with Robin Ellis.

[selkie]

Aidan Turner is such a pretty, pretty Poldark that he became my mental sketch for pre-war Sherbourne, but he did not get to work that bomber coat. Unfortunately for the 2015 one in my uncultured media opinion, they did not spend any money on the plot.

[movingfinger]

WGBH is showing Turn on Thursday nights, possibly other times. Noticed it on the schedule yesterday---it was 1.08.