'Poldark' season 3 episode 9 recap and review: No turning back

Things took a new turn in “Poldark” season 3 episode 9, and there’s no turning back for any of the characters. The threat of a French invasion forced some major decisions, the consequences of which will be felt next season. The following article contains spoilers.

After French ships are spotted on the horizon, the whole town prepares to fight. Sir Francis Bassett (John Hopkins), George Warleggan (Jack Farthing) and the others come up with a strategy. Ross (Aidan Turner) is put in charge of training the men in town, organising them into a militia.

George continues to be suspicious of his wife, and he continues to find ways to oppose Ross. Poor Drake (Harry Richardson) suffers the consequences of Warleggan anger. The newly elected MP orders his men to harass the blacksmith. The customers of the young man are threatened, and later his workshop is set on fire.

Unable to take the harassment anymore, Drake goes to meet Elizabeth (Heida Reed) and complain. On his way back home, the young man is beaten up by George’s men. Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) and Sam (Tom York) find their brother on the verge of death.

The attack stirs things up in the town. The people are already angry because of the famine, high interest rates and high price of grain. All these problems are a result of George’s greed. The attack on Drake acts as a trigger that compels the people to take action. They gather arms and supplies and loot the MP’s grain.

Since Ross is in charge of the militia, he is ordered to stop the “looting.” Tholly (Sean Gilder) is leading the mob. The two friends come face to face. The encounter forces the miner to think hard about the choices he has made, and where it has led him. Ross tells his pirate friend that he has decided to run for MP and oppose George. That statement is enough to end the standoff.

While Ross is busy fighting his friends, Demelza meets with Hugh Armitage (Josh Whitehouse). He tells her that he will go blind in six months. She gets emotional, and they make love. She could have stayed with him, but in the end she decides to go back to her husband.

Meanwhile, Roswella (Esme Coy) is pregnant. She uses this as an excuse to extort money from Reverend Osborne Whitworth (Christian Brassington). Morwenna finds out about it, and she forbids her husband from touching her ever again.

There is also an intense exchange between George and Elizabth. She forcefully denies her one night stand with Ross, and threatens to leave. A visibly shaken George asks for her forgiveness and accepts her lies.