The five-season British period drama Poldark is now streaming in full on Netflix, drawing renewed attention from viewers looking for their next sweeping historical fix. Based on Winston Graham's novel series and adapted for television by Debbie Horsfield, the show has been championed as a worthy alternative to hit series like Bridgerton and Downton Abbey.
What Is Poldark About?
Set between 1781 and 1801, Poldark follows Ross Poldark, a British Army veteran returning from the American Revolutionary War to his home in Cornwall. He finds his father dead and his once-grand estate fallen into ruin, and the series chronicles his efforts to rebuild his life and fortune while navigating love, family and society.
The show originally aired on BBC One from March 2015 to August 2019. Across its five series and 43 episodes, it adapts the first seven of Winston Graham's twelve novels.
Cast, Filming and Awards
Aidan Turner leads the cast in the title role, alongside Eleanor Tomlinson, Heida Reed, Ruby Bentall, Jack Farthing and Luke Norris. Filming took place in iconic parts of Cornwall, with additional scenes shot in Corsham, Wiltshire, and in Frome, Bath and Wells in Somerset. Sets were built at The Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol.
Poldark won the Audience Award at the 2016 BAFTA TV Awards. It also received multiple nominations at the 21st and 22nd National Television Awards, including Best New Drama, Best Period Drama, and Best Drama Performance, with Aidan Turner winning the Impact Award.
Critical and Fan Reception
The series holds an average 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes across all five seasons. Critics have praised its scenery, romance and performances.
“Thankfully...the series delivers immediately on the panoramic scenery and romance that this genre demands: plunging cliffs, green fields, galloping horses and burning glances aplenty.”
“I came to it fresh, never having seen the apparently much-loved 1970s version, and was suitably enchanted by Aidan Turner.”
“Poldark is juicy, romantic, melodramatic storytelling at its most enjoyable.”
“Beneath the ruffles and wigs (Turner's glue-stained curls in this season have been abominable) are stories with real heart, and characters we can fall in love with again and again.”
Audiences have been just as enthusiastic. One Rotten Tomatoes user wrote: “Poldark has everything I look for in a TV series: great characters, adventure, drama, joy, romance, inspiration, and feel good moments. The acting and the story are not exaggerated like in a soap opera.”
An IMDB review reads: “This is a superb series. It recaptures the golden age of UK television, for those of us old enough to remember it. For those who do not, you are in for a real treat. 10 out of 10 from me.”
Another IMDB review declares: “Absolute Masterpiece! Where to start?! This is one of those shows that are unrepeatable, unmatched! The visuals are breathtaking, the atmosphere dense, the music is superb (the intro alone deserves to be played non-stop) costumes, actors, colour palette, everything about this series is extremely well made. This is an instant classic. I thought the same thing back in 2015 when I first saw it. Now that I'm 32, I enjoy it and understand it even more, it's just beautiful in every possible way. 10/10!”
A further viewer added: “Fantastic series, definitively one to watch! Absolutely love it.”
Poldark is available to stream on Netflix.
