Since there were more books written in the series, does this TV series feel INCOMPLETE with just two series to it? Is there any loose ends that frustrates the viewer? I'm considering buying this set (in my country it's cheap - NZ$20 for both seasons), but I wouldn't want to if it feels 'incomplete'.
shareYes, the series feels complete. Series 1 and 2 cover more than just the first two books -- I believe that at the time the two series were produced, they pretty much covered the entire storyline that had been written up to that point (with modifications that I gather the author was not too happy about but which don't stand in the way of enjoyment). Many of the books weren't even written until long after the television series aired.
It's a terrific series. I saw it when it was first shown on Masterpiece Theater in the mid-70s and loved it then. Thirty-five years later I've gotten my whole family hooked on it.
Thanks heaps madelene-4! I just bought the set and am SO looking forward to watching the whole thing! I've never watched this before but I'm a fan of this type of thing and so many people have talked about it. Getting it while it was 30% off was a chance I couldn't miss! It took us (the person at the counter and I) AGES trying to figure out how to fit the 7 discs into the box but once I got it home, I figured it out properly!
shareEnjoy, rewi.
You'll love it!
If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
Rewi, please post back after you've finished watching it and let us know what you thought.
One thing though -- I have 8 DVDs combined for the two sets, not 7 (there are 16 episodes for series 1 and 13 for series 2). Please check to be sure that what you have is complete.
Enjoy!
Hey, the version I have bought is the exact one shown here on the Magna Pacific website:http://www.magnapacific.com.au/index.php?option=com_jmovies&Itemid =2&task=detail&id=2175. I'm pretty sure that this is complete - 29 episodes...unless you know otherwise? I'm not sure what country you are from but I know that the zone 4/PAL format DVDs (like the 'Poldark' above) run a bit faster and thus have a shorter running time. I had a look at the individual sets that were sold separately on the website and I see that they say 800 minutes each (though I think it must be an error since season 2 is much shorter than season 1). I'm very excited indeed! I really like period dramas like 'Pride & Prejudice' and during the last month, my landlady was taping from VHS to DVD a WHOLE lot of Catherine Cookson movies/series - got totally addicted to those!
Madelene-4 and Supergran, I will surely tell you what I think!...though I think it will be weeeeeeee while until I finish!
Definitely complete. Interesting that the US and the UK have 8 DVDs for the same series.
shareOh my goodness consider us addicted!!!!! I suggested to our landlady to watch an episode on Saturday night. I thought we could do one episode per night. Turns out that we have become SO riveted with it! My landlady, other boarder and I are just so into it! We've completed up to end of episode 12. We will watch the rest of the season by the end of tonight and at this rate, the whole series before the end of this week! So excited by this! I can't imagine the patience people had to endure having to watch just one episode a week!!!!!
shareIIRC, the UK DVDs are the ones that are incomplete. There are many scenes, or parts of scenes, missing.
shareI just finished re-watching and very much like how it ended. Everyone -- except George, of course -- was in a good place with their relationships.
I do sort of wish the series had ended with Ross and Demelza's conversation, instead of George yelling at Elizabeth's coffin and ignoring Valentine. That left a sour taste.
On the other hand, I'm pleased knowing that George will be an unhappy man to his grave. All his problems were his own fault.
The first time I watched series 2, I was so upset that there wasn't anymore! I wanted it to go on and on. I loved both series so much!
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I do sort of wish the series had ended with Ross and Demelza's conversation, instead of George yelling at Elizabeth's coffin and ignoring Valentine. That left a sour taste.
Well, it was due to come back for a third series, hence the lack of a proper wrap-up on series 2. Winston Graham wanted too much for the rights for more Poldark stories and the BBC wouldn't pay.
shareSorry, Sambda, but I watched the video of the original cast and production crew talking about the series and they had done all the books that were written. The production team approached Winston Graham about continuing without there being anymore books to adapt and he refused to let them do it. Series 2 adapts The Black Moon, The Four Swans and The Angry Tide, all the books that had been written at that time.
The next book is called The Man From The Sea and there's a ten year time jump and that book wasn't written until long after the second series ended.
It's been a month since I visited this board, and took a look this morning to see if there's a recent thread or post in this board. Haven't really read many of the old threads here, and this one is at the top of the page.
Thanks for that first reply to the OP, madelene.
The same question was on my mind when I first saw this series September of last year, but only on YouTube.
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Yes, the series feels complete. Series 1 and 2 cover more than just the first two books -- I believe that at the time the two series were produced, they pretty much covered the entire storyline that had been written up to that point (with modifications that I gather the author was not too happy about but which don't stand in the way of enjoyment). Many of the books weren't even written until long after the television series aired.
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I'll have my own copy of this series too, someway.
I felt slightly envious after reading this thread with people having acquired theirs.
In the meantime, I watched the series again last night, for the third time, on YouTube.
Thank God, nobody has yet bring up copyright issues on YT. I'm so grateful for the person who uploaded this wonderful show.
Wishing too, that WGraham's Poldark books will show up in my fav bookstore one of these days, even though our stores are dominated by American authors.
I've also seen the 1996 tv movie of Poldark, on the same source, with Ioan Gruffudd as Jeremy Poldark, and over-all I'd say it was quite engaging, though the ending felt open-ended to me.
Truth inexorably,inscrutably seeks and reveals Itself into the Light.
Knowing that there were additional books written after this series was made, I'd have to say that No, it doesn't feel complete.
I want to know if George ever accepted Valentine as his son and if he ever softened (or mended his ways) at least a little bit. I want to know if Caroline and Dwight ever had children.
In fact, had I know at the outset that this series wasn't based on ALL the books in the series, I probably never would have started watching it. I hate being left hanging. It's the same way I feel about any series - books or movies - when the author plans on continuing a series. Which is why I'm SO glad I hadn't heard about the Left Behind books by LaHaye until the series was complete. I would have been extremely frustrated having to wait for the next book in the series to be published. (Just like I'm pithed that the movie The Hobbit is going to be in three parts.... WHY? It wasn't *that* long of a book - not like LOTR.)
I don't have time to read all of the Poldark books. Anyone care to give me synopses of the remaining books?
The Stranger from the Sea (the next book after those filmed for the two original series), was filmed in the 1990s for tv. The film is quite inferior to the classic series, imo, and not only because the story isn't as good. Plus The filmmakers chose to leave out some of the best parts. But it does fill in more of the story, so you might want to take a look.
there are spoilers for the later books on the message board for the film, if you want to read about it after watching it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117353/
One of the reasons the original series doesn't include the entire Poldark story is that Winston Graham continued to write the books after the series was filmed. According to Wikipedia, the last Poldark book was written in 2002.
shareI refused to see this movie, precisely because so many of you warned me that it was in fact, a DOG (My apologies to Garrick[Laughs!!], Demelza's trusty hound!). But, after seeing Michael Attwell as Bill Sykes in a mid-'80's version of Oliver Twist, I thought, "Yeah, he could play a decent George."
shareI thought the 1990's movie, which I haven't seen, was based on "The Stranger from the Sea" that I was told was a weaker novel, which I haven't read yet.
I liked "The Angry Tide" at least the parts I've read so far. I skipped to the end when I first received it since the ending was spoiled (willingly). Just to be contrary I would have liked Elizabeth to have died in Ross' arms to really piss off George. So I'm sorry to hear the movie that every Poldark fan I have come across universally pans was based on a book that seems so good. I've also read about the duel with Monk Adderly. Now that I'm typing this I watched season 2 of the 1970's Poldark not too long ago wasn't "the Angry Tide" the end of that season? Did they botch a new adaptation of that book - then no wonder a lot of people were very resistant or wary of a new adaptation.
Oops! You're right! My mistake. (What was I thinking when I typed that?) I'll fix it right now! 😱
shareHmm, within the context of the 1975 Series, the facts presented therein, "NMadura", there is NO WAY, that anyone surnamed, "Poldark"/"Carne", could have easily gained access, to Penrice, if memory serves me correctly. And, bearing the surname, "Poldark", we shouldn't be surprised, that George would have additionally and permanently kicked Geoffrey Charles out of Penrice, even if Beth WAS HIS mother. And G.C. would have counted himself lucky, to be so evicted, with just the clothes on his back. G.C. would then have to move into Nampara, with Uncle Ross/Aunt Demelza, till he'd graduate school, or possibly move in with Drake and Morwenna. In a hypothetical synopsis of the Geoffrey Charles story (and his cousins, etc.), of mine up until 1870(!!), please stand by, for a new Thread/Topic, that I'll create soon.
shareIt felt complete to me because the main story through both seasons was the Demelza-Ross-Elizabeth-George situation. All of the other plots (Demelza's brothers, Caroline and Dwight, Ross in Parliment, etc) are interesting, but not the main course. With Elizabeth's death, everything gets resolved.
share