We apologize for being remiss in our lack of coverage of Poldark season 2! We got distracted by Versailles and the many other costumey things out and about right now. I thought I’d start things off with my stream-of-consciousness thoughts on episodes 1 and 2 (with, sorry, one spoiler for episode 3!).
So here we go! Ehhhhh… a slow start for me! Do I really care about Ross potentially being executed, given that he’s the main character and clearly going to do just fine? What happened to Margaret the Prostitute and Ruth the Bitchy Neighbor? I’m also confused as to why Ross is so estranged from Francis — can anyone remind me? And I am SO confused as to why Francis is so bummed out.
I’m 99.9% sure that’s Robin Ellis, star of the 1975 Poldark…
Anyone care to comment on the historical accuracy of corduroy in the 18th century?
HOLY SHIT THEY CUT OFF ROSS’S MAN BOB!!! COLOR ME THRILLED!!! This is EXACTLY the correct kind of cut for a progressive man of this era!
Eleanor Tomlinson is SO wearing mascara.
Color me unconvinced by this jacket. Center-laced, rough stays would not be something you’d want to show off in the 1780s. Why Demelza would wear her jacket open to highlight these is beyond me.
Prudie appears to be wearing soft, unboned jumps under her jacket. Why does the jacket have such a lower neckline?
Is Elizabeth shopping for an inflatable airline neck pillow?
Calash spotting! Aka, the 18th century equivalent of putting a covered wagon on your head.
At first I thought Elizabeth was so down on her luck that her dress was covered in rips, but then I realized it’s embroidery.
Yasssss! We get an heiress (Caroline) with a wardrobe to match!!
Lovely hat, but WHAT IS THAT I SPY??
H.O.R.A.C.E.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Behind H.O.R.A.C.E…. a mulberry redingote with zone/cutaway front.
Redingote back and pug rumpus.
Exhibit A.
LADIES. AND. GENTLEMEN.
You’re welcome.
I like how Demelza’s jackets continue to have a slightly high waistline, but I am confused as to why her skirts aren’t worn higher. And why are the tabs of her jumps (light, unboned corset) showing?
Same heiress, same outfit, new hat!
Is Elizabeth trying out for head cheerleader?
Looking ahead to episode 3, a suggestion for Ross: if you don’t want more children, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN’T BE HUMPING YOUR WIFE. Ever heard of “everything but”?
Elizabeth’s dressing gown!
A lovely cut. That back looks very much like an old school, 1740s-70s nightgown (aka dress). The sleeves are very dressing gown appropriate.
I DON’T love the angle on Elizabeth’s zone/cutaway front gown. Not flattering. Kind of droopy-boobed.
Hat and H.O.R.A.C.E.
So, Verity’s redingote/jacket looks familiar….
Ruth Teague wore this jacket in season 1. How did Verity acquire it?
HORACE HORACE HORACE HORACE HORACE HORACE HORACE HORACE. Okay, and Caroline’s redingote ensemble.
Wait a second…
Caroline is wearing Margaret the Prostitute(TM)’s grey redingote from season 1, with a different petticoat and stomacher.
That is a LOT of Malibu Barbie hot pink for the 18th century.
I like the wave in her hair, and the side ringlets.
But I didn’t realize they had Wet N’ Wild lipstick in the 1780s! Also, important question: is she wearing winged/cat’s eye liner?
Verity is sticking with the 1940s hair, I see.
So the cut of Caroline’s redingote confuses me. Have you EVER seen such a narrow overskirt? I haven’t! Also, note the back of Caroline’s hair is up, which is not how a 1780s style would be done.
Nice hat! Nice Wet N’ Wild lipstick!
HOLY CRAP DEMELZA PUT HER HAIR UP!!!
I like this hat trim a LOT.
Same hat!
Apparently Malibu Barbie pink is going to be Caroline’s trademark color. I spent most of the trial trying to figure out what the embellishment on her dress was.
I’m still unclear! Embroidery, I guess?
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s excited about Horace:
The hair
The horse
The love triangle
Inspired by his distant cousin Horace, @itsdougthepug has gone totally #Poldark pic.twitter.com/xbo3VNL9yb— BBC One (@BBCOne) September 5, 2016
What are you thinking of Poldark‘s second season? Tune in for more stream-of-consciousness ramblings!
I’m also confused as to why Ross is so estranged from Francis — can anyone remind me?
Sure. Believing that Ross had arranged his sister Verity’s elopement to a sea captain who was also a former alcoholic, Francis had betrayed the names of the shareholders of Ross’ short-lived copper smelting business to rival George Warleggan. Also, Francis had discovered that Demelza was the one who had arranged Verity’s elopement.
And I am SO confused as to why Francis is so bummed out.
Because he eventually felt guilty for being responsible for Ross’ financial downfall.
Is Elizabeth trying out for head cheerleader?
I do not understand the joke.
1) thanks!!
2) side ponytail!!
I literally yelled, “Is she wearing a scrunchie?!?!” when I saw that head cheerleader hairstyle!
FIST BUMP
Sorry. That’s not Robin Ellis. It’s John Nettles, my crush from Midsomer Murders.
Damn!
Is the guy in the top photo with the Robin Ellis caption the same as the older man in the madder red coat in a bunch of the pics with Caroline? Because they don’t look at all the same in these photos and the man in the madder red coat is absolutely Tom Barnaby – I mean John Nettles. But I haven’t seen any of Poldark season 2 so I don’t know if it’s just some horribly disfiguring lighting or something going on in the top photo.
Oops, just saw this was answered below. Guess it pays to read the rest of the comments first!
She very obviously needed that inflatable airline neck pilllow by the looks of the droopy back of her anglaise.
1. Yes, that is Robin Ellis in the role of Dr Halse (John Nettles is playing Caroline’s Uncle) Dr Halse is a local magistrate.
2. What IS with the makeup, especially the lipstick… UGH
3. HORACE is a delight and that Doug the Pug video made me spit coffee.
4. Noone in their right mind would work in a mine without a shirt, just like you wouldn’t scythe a field without a shirt (your skin would get very irritated by contact with the grain/grass), not to mention completely immodest. I understand the cheesecake factor but this shouts so wrong, like the lack of bobby pins and bright pink lipstick
5. What’s with Caroline’s huge red poppy on the left lapel? In the UK a red poppy signifies Armistice Day (November 11th –WW1– so a little anachronistic). Perhaps it’s just an unfortunate choice of decoration?
As regards PINK dresses, I’m re-reading the books and Elizabeth does seem to have some cerise and red dresses according to Mr Graham. Haven’t got to Caroline yet…
Thanks for the correction. Didn’t recognize Ellis with the wig and thought it was just Nettles at a bad angle. Nettles is obviously Nettles in the other pix.
I figured out midway through ep 2 that the red cockades were in support of Caroline’s possible fiance and his election bid! Tons of people were wearing them, as well as others wearing another color (blue?).
The judge was Robin Ellis and the guy with Caroline the heiress was John Nettles
Yep. I sit corrected. I still pant more for Nettles than Ellis.
The striped redingote/jacket looks a lot like the one Natalie Dormer wore in the Scandalous Lady W as well.
Yes! SLW costume designer James Keast commented on our post, which pointed that out, that they are actually two different costumes: https://www.frockflicks.com/the-only-semi-scandalous-lady-w/
I’m on the fence for the second season. Fashion wise, are they channeling the 1780s or 1790s Scarlet Pimpernel era fashions? I wish they’d pick a year and stick to it.
Granted I’m Team Demelza, but has Elizabeth lost what brains she might have had? Confiding to George is a no no. I agree her curls are reminding me of Mia in Princess Diaries, but the look is too young for a married lady. Hair should be worn up or it is part of the Great Kirby Clip/Bobby Pin Loss?
Please more Horace scenes. Not sure of how I feel about Caroline, but I adore Horace.
Caroline is obviously a super-wealthy heiress because she can afford hairpins ALL THE TIME. We’ve got to week 6 in the UK, and I don’t think I’ve seen her with her hair down yet.
She must have stolen Demelza and Elizabeth’s hairpins! Bitch!
Or had poor Horace eat them. Cruel bitch!
The lipstick on Caroline is driving me crazy.
Granted I’m Team Demelza, but has Elizabeth lost what brains she might have had? Confiding to George is a no no.
I’m not aware that she knows that George was responsible for Ross’ arrest. And both Elizabeth and George have been friendly in the past.
In case you didn’t know, the actress who plays Caroline was actually pregnant during filming. A lot of the camera angles and her costumes help to conceal her belly – as does Horace, which is why she is seen holding him and why he sits in her lap so much! (he is pampered and held in the book too, but is the perfect accessory to hide her tummy!).
Then we will definitely see more of the adorable Horace, the lap pug.
Does anyone else feel that Caroline is trying to dress like her ‘Fashion idol’ Georgina Duchess of Devonshire? Her red outfit and hat reminds me of the paintings of the Duchess and of course the movie costumes.
I love this show, but I wish Demelza’s outfits weren’t so schlubby all the time. I get that they are trying to communicate that she is more earthier and less fashion-forward than Elizabeth, but everything that she wears just looks old and dirty to me. Even that outfit she wears in the courtroom…
I hear ya, sister…
The top photo is an image of Robin Ellis.
Corduroy was worn for men’s breeches in the late 1790s/early 1800s but I’m not sure if around in the 1780s.