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The Worst Episodes of Poldark

Every episode of Poldark ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Poldark!

Binge this in 1d 1h•Peaking at 8.9/10

Poldark is a television drama based on Winston Graham's novels of the same title. It was first transmitted on BBC Two across two seasons between 1975 and 1977. The adaptation covered all seven novels (of

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Poldark Season 2 Episode 4 - Episode 20
    7.9/10(33 votes)

    S2:E4

    Warleggan presses trumped-up charges against Drake in revenge for his romance with Rowenna, and Ross plans a daring rescue of Dwight from a French prison.

    Director:Philip Dudley
    Writer:Alexander Baron

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  2. Poldark Season 1 Episode 1 - Episode 1
    8.0/10(60 votes)

    S1:E1

    In 1783, Ross Poldark returns from the American wars to his native Cornwall to find his home in shambles and his betrothed Elizabeth engaged to another.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Jack Pulman

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  3. Poldark Season 1 Episode 2 - Episode 2
    8.0/10(51 votes)

    S1:E2

    Ross determines to put Nampara back on track and get his mine Wheal Leisure running again. Ross decides to take young Demelza Carne into his house as a servant.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Jack Pulman

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  4. Poldark Season 1 Episode 5 - Episode 5
    8.0/10(48 votes)

    S1:E5

    Ross and Demelza, now married, celebrate the birth of their daughter, Julia. A travelling troupe of performers stages a play at Nampara, and Mark Daniel falls for a young actress named Keren.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Paul Wheeler

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  5. Poldark Season 1 Episode 16 - Episode 16
    8.0/10(38 votes)

    S1:E16

    Warleggan evicts hundreds of tenant families in his efforts to exert power, and Ross discovers a valuable vein of tin in his depleted copper mine, Wheal Grace.

    Director:Paul Annett
    Writer:Jack Russell

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  6. Poldark Season 1 Episode 3 - Episode 3
    8.1/10(50 votes)

    S1:E3

    Demelza has taken over running Nampara; Elizabeth and Francis now married have had a child; Ross has to defend Jim Carter in court but to no avail as he is sent to prison.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Jack Pulman

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  7. Poldark Season 1 Episode 4 - Episode 4
    8.1/10(48 votes)

    S1:E4

    After another infidelity from Francis, Elizabeth decides to leave Francis for Ross after his father's death — but Demelza's pregnancy complicates everything.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Jack Pulman

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  8. Poldark Season 1 Episode 11 - Episode 11
    8.1/10(41 votes)

    S1:E11

    Ross rehires Jud, reestablishes his friendship with Francis, and becomes involved with smugglers in the hope of raising money to exploit a new vein.

    Director:Kenneth Ives
    Writer:Paul Wheeler

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  9. Poldark Season 2 Episode 1 - Episode 17
    8.1/10(38 votes)

    S2:E1

    Ross is discharged for medical reasons and returns home to find Warleggan occupying the house of his elderly aunt and expecting his first child by Elizabeth.

    Director:Philip Dudley
    Writer:Alexander Baron

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  10. Poldark Season 2 Episode 2 - Episode 18
    8.1/10(36 votes)

    S2:E2

    Elizabeth's son Geoffrey facilitates a romance between Drake Carne and Morwenna while Ross learns that Dwight is a POW in France.

    Director:Philip Dudley
    Writer:Alexander Baron

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  11. Poldark Season 2 Episode 8 - Episode 24
    8.1/10(32 votes)

    S2:E8

    At George Warleggan's behest, Sid Rouse categorically harasses Drake and his smithy. Meanwhile, Rowella announces to a horrified Rev. Whitworth that she is with child.

    Director:Roger Jenkins
    Writer:John Wiles

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  12. Poldark Season 1 Episode 13 - Episode 13
    8.2/10(41 votes)

    S1:E13

    After the birth of Ross and Demelza's son, Francis accidentally drowns in Wheal Grace after supposedly discovering a new vein of precious copper.

    Directors:Kenneth Ives, Paul Annett
    Writer:Jack Russell

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  13. Poldark Season 1 Episode 14 - Episode 14
    8.2/10(37 votes)

    S1:E14

    Ross tries to locate Mark Daniel in hopes that he will remember the location of the copper vein he found while hiding in Wheal Grace.

    Director:Paul Annett
    Writer:Jack Russell

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  14. Poldark Season 2 Episode 3 - Episode 19
    8.2/10(35 votes)

    S2:E3

    Morwenna's love for Drake causes her to reject an arranged marriage with a pompous minister, and Drake bedevils George by seeding his pond with toads.

    Director:Philip Dudley
    Writer:Alexander Baron

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  15. Poldark Season 2 Episode 7 - Episode 23
    8.2/10(31 votes)

    S2:E7

    George, newly elected to Parliament, has become obsessed over Valentine's as Whitworth takes on his teenage sister-in-law as mistress.

    Director:Roger Jenkins
    Writer:John Wiles

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  16. Poldark Season 2 Episode 9 - Episode 25
    8.2/10(30 votes)

    S2:E9

    Sam consents to wrestle Sid Rouse at the fair in order to get Emma back to church while Warleggan agrees to stop harassing Drake in order to save his marriage.

    Director:Roger Jenkins
    Writer:John Wiles

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  17. Poldark Season 2 Episode 11 - Episode 27
    8.2/10(34 votes)

    S2:E11

    Whitworth attempts to break off his ongoing affair with Rowella but is seduced into continuing when Solway becomes aware he's being cuckolded.

    Director:Philip Dudley
    Writer:Martin Worth

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  18. Poldark Season 1 Episode 6 - Episode 6
    8.3/10(45 votes)

    S1:E6

    When Jim Carter becomes seriously ill in prison, Ross worries that he'll die before completing his sentence.

    Director:Paul Annett
    Writer:Paul Wheeler

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  19. Poldark Season 1 Episode 9 - Episode 9
    8.3/10(42 votes)

    S1:E9

    After Ross is released on bail on charges of looting a wrecked ship, the Warleggans stubborn witnesses in order to have him legally executed.

    Director:Kenneth Ives
    Writer:Peter Draper

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  20. Poldark Season 1 Episode 15 - Episode 15
    8.3/10(39 votes)

    S1:E15

    Ross's hopes for a new vein of copper are shattered, and his distress amplifies when he finds out Elizabith is to wed Warleggan, resulting in the break of their vows.

    Director:Paul Annett
    Writer:Jack Russell

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  21. Poldark Season 2 Episode 5 - Episode 21
    8.3/10(32 votes)

    S2:E5

    Ross and his men successfully return Dwight from France, but Drake is severely wounded, and Watleggan's son develops a serious case of the rickets.

    Director:Philip Dudley
    Writer:Alexander Baron

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  22. Poldark Season 2 Episode 6 - Episode 22
    8.3/10(35 votes)

    S2:E6

    Whitworth becomes sexually frustrated when Behanna asks him to abstain for his wife's health, and Warleggan stands for Parliament after Ross declines the opportunity.

    Director:Philip Dudley
    Writer:Alexander Baron

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  23. Poldark Season 1 Episode 7 - Episode 7
    8.4/10(41 votes)

    S1:E7

    Young Geoffrey Charles is stricken with a serious illness; when Francis also falls ill, Demelza assists Elizabeth in caring for him.

    Director:Paul Annett
    Writer:Paul Wheeler

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  24. Poldark Season 1 Episode 8 - Episode 8
    8.4/10(43 votes)

    S1:E8

    Mark Daniel learns of Keren's affair with Dwight Enys; Ross helps Mark avoid capture by the authorities.

    Director:Paul Annett
    Writer:Paul Wheeler

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  25. Poldark Season 1 Episode 12 - Episode 12
    8.4/10(43 votes)

    S1:E12

    Warleggan's minions beat Jud to death in revenge for his changing his testimony. Francis and Ross plan to open Wheal Grace using Warleggan money.

    Director:Kenneth Ives
    Writer:Peter Draper

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Episode 20" is the worst rated episode of "Poldark". It scored 7.9/10 based on 33 votes. Directed by Philip Dudley and written by Alexander Baron, it aired on 10/2/1977. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Episode 1".