Episode 1In 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.
Episode 2
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Episode 2Ross 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.
Episode 3
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Episode 3Demelza 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.
Episode 4
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Episode 4After another infidelity from Francis, Elizabeth decides to leave Francis for Ross after his father's death — but Demelza's pregnancy complicates everything.
Episode 5
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Episode 5Ross 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.
Episode 6
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Episode 6When Jim Carter becomes seriously ill in prison, Ross worries that he'll die before completing his sentence.
Episode 7
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Episode 7Young Geoffrey Charles is stricken with a serious illness; when Francis also falls ill, Demelza assists Elizabeth in caring for him.
Episode 8
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Episode 8Mark Daniel learns of Keren's affair with Dwight Enys; Ross helps Mark avoid capture by the authorities.
Episode 9
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Episode 9After Ross is released on bail on charges of looting a wrecked ship, the Warleggans stubborn witnesses in order to have him legally executed.
Episode 10
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Episode 10Francis' botched suicide attempt leaves him in deep melancholia as the Warleggans' parade of suborned witnesses darkens Ross' prospects for acquittal.
Episode 11
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Episode 11Ross rehires Jud, reestablishes his friendship with Francis, and becomes involved with smugglers in the hope of raising money to exploit a new vein.
Episode 12
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Episode 12Warleggan's minions beat Jud to death in revenge for his changing his testimony. Francis and Ross plan to open Wheal Grace using Warleggan money.
Episode 13
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Episode 13After the birth of Ross and Demelza's son, Francis accidentally drowns in Wheal Grace after supposedly discovering a new vein of precious copper.
Episode 14
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Episode 14Ross tries to locate Mark Daniel in hopes that he will remember the location of the copper vein he found while hiding in Wheal Grace.
Episode 15
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Episode 15Ross'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.
Episode 16
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Episode 16Warleggan 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.