Poldark : Frances! S2/E4

Frances! S2/E4

I knew what was coming but it was still incredibly hard to watch.


Dr Jason Bull: Don't give up on people, they're all we've got.

Re: Frances! S2/E4

It really was. I cried. I had come to really like Frances and he seemed finally happy and proud he was forging ahead with a real future, mending broken fences with people and just becoming a kinder and happier person. It broke my heart.

Re: Frances! S2/E4


I had come to really like Frances [sic] and he seemed finally happy and proud he was forging ahead with a real future, mending broken fences with people and just becoming a kinder and happier person. I broke my heart.


I agree.

Re: Frances! S2/E4

Kyle Soller is very handsome, a great actor, and will have no trouble getting work.

Francis' fate was awful because it was so true-to-life as a sudden mining accident. For some reason, this series does not affect me emotionally. I like it, but have no attachment to any character, because it's exactly like Downton Abbey in not being very dramatic.

Re: Frances! S2/E4


I like it, but have no attachment to any character, because it's exactly like Downtown Abbey in not being very dramatic.


I'm glad you like the show as the more viewers that watch the more likely a new series will be commissioned. I never watched Downtown Abbey so I can't compare the two.

I am curious as to what you consider dramatic. It is far from a drawing room, society drama a la Jane Austen. So far Poldark contains, thwarted first love, damsel(urchin) rescue, rebuilding and failure in mining, duels, wife murder/manslaughter and escape of murderer, a ship wreck, riots, epidemics, the loss of a child, gambling, elopement, trials, more mine openings and closings, mine disasters, births and deaths, an expeditions to find information, smuggling, and infidelity. Series three will be even more packed.

Re: Frances! S2/E4


It is far from a drawing room, society drama a la Jane Austen. So far Poldark contains, thwarted first love, damsel(urchin) rescue, rebuilding and failure in mining, duels, wife murder/manslaughter and escape of murderer, a ship wreck, riots, epidemics, the loss of a child, gambling, elopement, trials, more mine openings and closings, mine disasters, births and deaths, an expeditions to find information, smuggling, and infidelity. Series three will be even more packed.


You're right, "Poldark" does have all these dramatic plot developments. The reason I liken it to "Downton Abbey" is that that show, as of its second season, jumped between characters every two minutes. There were too many characters and not enough time given to any specific character's development.

This is the case with "Poldark" as well--too many characters, scenes way too short. The two lead actors are charismatic in the extreme. I mean, they are really very intensely watchable. Either the director doesn't encourage them to play their characters with intensity, or the novels are primarily expository in nature--i.e., they are people of action, not introspection. Nothing at all wrong with this. Season 1's love story between Poldark and Demelza-- Couldn't take your eyes off either of them.

But the actress playing Elizabeth is so...oh, she's just so ineffective. Her kind of beauty is the kind that wins beauty pageants, I suppose. But she's so inexpressive that I couldn't care less what happens to Elizabeth. All the characters except the two leads are vapid or stereotypes--including Francis--including Francis, that is, until the last two episodes. I'm very angry he was killed off, just when Kyle Soller was finally becoming memorable in the role.

Physically, no actor or actress in this series comes within a country mile of Aidan Quinn or Eleanor Tomlinson--and I don't mean just in terms of beauty. They all look alike. It took me a year to distinguish Francis from George. So the answer to your question: 1) either the direction or the script, or both, has the actors playing their characters "straight," with no hint of inner lives; 2) the casting of facially bland, however attractive, actors is boring; and 3) one dramatic event after another does not a dramatic series make. But I won't stop watching as long as Aidan Quinn and Eleanor Tomlinson are there at Sunday nights at 9 p.m. to watch.

Re: Frances! S2/E4

What role does Aidan Quinn play?

Re: Frances! S2/E4


Physically, no actor or actress in this series comes within a country mile of Aidan Quinn or Eleanor Tomlinson

I disagree. I find this part of Cornwall is full of extremely good looking people. ;-)


They all look alike. It took me a year to distinguish Francis from George.

Francis was close to George in season 1, so naturally he must have had the same tailor, the same hat maker, etc. They probably wore the same kind of clothes. But after Francis broke with George, he did look somewhat different. Even his top hat was shorter in season 2.


I agree that the actress playing Elizabeth could have emoted better. But Elizabeth is a sort of prim-and-proper character, who probably has been discouraged all her life from showing many emotions.

Re: Frances! S2/E4

I believe you mean Aidan Turner and not Aiden Quinn (who, yes, is an actor but much older and looks nothing like Aidan Turner).

Re: Frances! S2/E4 - Kyle Soller and Totally OT about Aiden Quinn

Kyle Soller has been a wonderful and powerful presence on the show from the beginning. Seeing his face for the first time, when Ross appears at one of the happiest moments of Francis' life, was a wonderful introduction. He managed to become immediately grateful that his favorite relative had returned, then had the OMG moment in realizing what it mean in Ross seeing Elizabeth and about the same time he was thrown into a spin as to whether he would lose her. On top of that it was clear, with no words of blame that he expected the worst to happen and then nearly fell down in wonder that she chose him.

His introduction had relatively few words, but was a wonder in acting: the tears coming in his eyes at her good news was achingly painful. He knew that one of the two people he loved the most would be hurt because of the situation.

Aiden Quinn is a wonderful American-Irish actor who has had his share of romantic passionate parts. He's been in large films and small ones, has played in some cult films like Desperately Seeking Susan with Madonna and Benny and Joon with Johnny Depp.

Since 2012, he has been portraying Captain Gregson, NYC PD, and working with S. Holmes and his partner, (the non-military, non-Doctor) Joan Watson. Her character has Dr. in front of the name; however, she has left medicine and not renewed her license in the show's first year.

Many of us who are very long-time Conan Doyle fans of Dr. John Watson and his partner, prefer to watch the Great Detective plying his brilliance on English soil and being found at 221 B Baker Street, London.

When he was Mr. Turner's age, Aiden had a similar look with dark curly hair, blue eyes, being intense and thoughtful, yet breaking into the ready laughter. Maybe it is an Irish culture thing. He's lovely.




A Checkered Life speaks of myriad diverse adventures being the rewards of endless curiosity.

Re: Frances! S2/E4

Yes, you're correct. I watch "Elementary" (on which Aidan Quinn appears) immediately after "Poldark" (on PBS here in the U.S.). I mixed up my Aidan's.

I must say that for slightly--no, actually, for very--"showbiz politics" reasons, I am so happy Kyle Soller got this role. Time for the an American invasion of the entertainment industry. Goose, gander, and all that.

Re: Frances! S2/E4

It was horrible. I'm glad I knew it was coming from reading spoilers last season. The way they filmed his death was excellent, with the flashbacks to Ross and Francis as young boys.

The funeral with Ross comforting a distraught Elizabeth choked me up.
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