‘Poldark’ finale review (PBS): Ross, Demelza deal with a devastating death

Make no mistake about it: The season finale of “Poldark” that aired tonight on PBS is devastating. Sure, it gives you some closure for the time being on some stories, but it also contains one of the cruelest deaths imaginable given how much strife and turmoil Ross and Demelza have been through already. (Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD.)

So there’s no real way now to get around tackling what is one of the most devastating sequences of the entire summer: The death of Ross’ daughter Julia, who was infected with a deadly disease traveling across Cornwall. We saw so much of what Demelza and others did to try to protect and help her, but even still it was no avail. This will fundamentally change these two characters, and it shows that in this world deserving happiness is not a prerequisite for getting it.

As of that was not enough, Warleggan managing to get Ross arrested for theft and murder while visiting his daughter’s grave makes the situation so much worse. Everything that he has worked for, from the business to his personal life, is running the risk now of being in ruins. Sure, this was far from a perfect hour for Warleggan, but do we really care about that at the moment? The answer seems to be a pretty clear “no” when there are other issues commanding so much of our attention.

Also in this episode Demelza tended to Francis and Elizabeth when they were suffering from the sickness, and at times during this we started to wonder whether or not there was some sort of closure on Ross and Elizabeth after the way we started with the two of them early this season.

The finale of this show is of the sort that could make some out there angry, distraught, or maybe even proclaiming that they don’t want to watch anymore. What we would tell you for now is that there is light on the other side, and a season 2 to air next year. There is still hope for the Poldark family.