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If you’re craving a captivating costume drama, Netflix has just the thing for you.
Fans eagerly anticipating the fourth season of the hit romance series Bridgerton will have to wait until early 2026. Meanwhile, Netflix has added the entire BBC drama Poldark to its collection. It’s an ideal series for those who love shows like Outlander (which concludes next year), Downton Abbey, and Bridgerton itself.
Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson star in ‘Poldark’
Airing from 2015 to 2019, this romantic saga is set in the late 1700s. It follows Ross Poldark, played by Aidan Turner, a charming British soldier who returns to Cornwall after the American Revolution. Upon his return, he discovers his beloved (Heida Reed) is wed to another, and his family’s estate is in shambles. As he attempts to revive his struggling mining business, he finds love with his maid, Demelza, portrayed by Eleanor Tomlinson.
Originally broadcast on PBS in the U.S., Poldark is adapted from Winston Graham’s novel series, which also inspired a 1970s TV adaptation. The show offers a mix of romance, dastardly villains like Jack Farthing’s George Warleggan, unexpected plot twists, and thrilling adventures, all enhanced by the scenic Cornish coastline.
Aidan Turner’s portrayal of Ross is a cornerstone of the series. Executive producer Debbie Horsfield noted that Turner’s casting was the first step in the show’s creation, and his compelling performance was critical to its acclaim.
Turner’s performance as Ross anchors the show. The Irish actor was the first person cast, executive producer Debbie Horsfield said, and his performance was instrumental to the show’s success.
“I realized quite quickly that for the titular character of Ross, we were going to have to find somebody of the right caliber, with the right qualities,” she told TV Insider earlier this year. Turner sprang to mind immediately, and when she compared notes with fellow Poldark producer Damien Timmer, he shared he was also thinking of The Hobbit actor.
“We both kind of screamed, because we both thought exactly the same thing,” Horsfield said. “He was the first person we cast, and he was the only person we thought of for that role. It’s never normally that easy.”
‘Poldark’ is most than a ‘starry-eyed romance’
Ross and Demelza’s romance, in all its ups and downs, was central to Poldark. Horsfield said that the fact that the show went beyond the “happily ever after” moment appealed to viewers.
“It weathers all kinds of storms and sometimes it teeters on the verge of fracturing, but ultimately, these are two people who stay not just committed to each other, but who still love each other throughout everything,” she said. “I loved the realism of that. It wasn’t just a starry-eyed romance.”
Poldark is streaming on Netflix.
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