# Poldark (2015)

> A battle-scarred veteran returns from the American War of Independence to a ruined Cornish estate and a sweetheart promised to his cousin.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/55268

## Facts

- Seasons: 5
- Episodes: 43
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, romance, history
- Created by: Debbie Horsfield, Winston Graham
- Network: BBC One
- Cast: Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson, Jack Farthing, Kyle Soller, Luke Norris, Beatie Edney, Pip Torrens, Phil Davis
- TMDB rating: 8.2/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3636060/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: romantic, melancholic, sweeping, sincere, gritty

## What critics say

Acclaimed by audiences for its lush Cornish period setting, romantic tension and strong lead performances, though its final season is rated noticeably lower than the earlier ones.

## Synopsis

Poldark (2015-2019) is a British period drama series created by Debbie Horsfield and Winston Graham, produced for BBC One. Aidan Turner plays Ross Poldark, a former soldier who returns from the American War of Independence to his beloved Cornwall to find his father dead, the family mine closed and his house wrecked. Eleanor Tomlinson plays Demelza, the working-class woman who offers him unexpected hope, while Jack Farthing plays the scheming George Warleggan, whose rising fortune is built on the misery of the county. Across five seasons of episodes the engine is simple and emotional: Ross wants to rebuild his land and his life, while class rivalries, a shrinking economy and the tangled loyalties of love keep pulling him back into conflict. Each season moves through mine disputes, family quarrels, courtship and the tensions of a country in recession. Set in 1780s Cornwall, the series balances the wild, windswept coastal landscape with the grit of hard rural existence. Its tone is romantic and melancholic, with sweeping passion, sharp class resentment and a warm sense of belonging. Viewers who enjoy Outlander and Downton Abbey will find the same blend of costume romance and social drama here, delivered with a restrained, sincere heart.

## Shows like Poldark

- [The Last Kingdom (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/56246)
- [Downton Abbey (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/31209)
- [North & South (2004)](https://ember.film/tv/12717)
- [Sanditon (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/78590)
- [The Forsyte Saga (2002)](https://ember.film/tv/17628)
- [Anne with an E (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/61889)
- [The War of the Worlds (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/71592)
- [Parade's End (2012)](https://ember.film/tv/36399)
- [The Forsyte Saga (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/191983)
- [Outlander (2014)](https://ember.film/tv/50694)

---

Site overview: https://ember.film/llms.txt