Yearning, burning and brooding for a new bodice-ripping romance to watch on Netflix?
If you’re in the mood for a swoon-worthy period drama, the Watch With Us team is happy to announce that Poldark, a BBC drama starring Aidan Turner, has been added to Netflix.
If you’re not familiar with the series, get excited — it’s a romantic, dramatic soap opera with a talented cast and a stunning setting. From its passionate love stories to its breathtaking landscapes, Poldark has everything you could want from a period drama.
Find out why it should be your next Netflix binge below.
It’s Based on Novels That Have Been Beloved for Decades
Poldark is based on the novels of the same name by Winston Graham, the first of which was published in 1945. There are 12 novels in the Poldark series, and the final book was released in 2002. It’s a mark of how well-loved the saga is that it continued for decades, following multiple generations of the Poldark family.
The 2015 TV series is actually the second BBC adaptation of the novels, proving what a huge mark they’ve left on historical fiction fans. The story follows Ross Poldark, played here by Aidan Turner, a British captain who returns to his home in Cornwall after his losses in the American Revolutionary War to find his life upended. The woman he loved, Elizabeth (Heida Reed), is now engaged to his cousin Francis (Kyle Soller), his father is dead and his estate is in disrepair.
Impulsive yet determined, Ross hires a headstrong local woman named Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) to be his housemaid and opens several mines in the hills of Cornwall, investing in his community — and discovering a romance with Demelza that forms the heart of the series.
It’s Sexier Than ‘Bridgerton,’ But More Grounded Than ‘Outlander’
Ross continues to be infatuated with Elizabeth for a while throughout the series, but his romance with Demelza isn’t just made up of longing looks. We won’t spoil specifics, but there’s plenty of sensuality in Poldark — if you like some actual bodice-ripping in your historical romance.
Unlike other sexy period dramas, like Outlander with its time travel storyline or Bridgerton with its alternate history that grows less tied to reality with each season, Poldark feels like a grounded story that could have actually happened. The show balances social politics and fantasy, maintaining realism without losing its harlequin charm.
The Scenery Is Its Own, Stunning Character
The sweeping seaside location of Cornwall makes Poldark far more visually dynamic than your typical British countryside drama. From sparkling waters to dramatic cliffs, every inch of Ross Poldark’s estate pulls the viewer in, transporting you to another time and place. With its cinematic scope and atmospheric beauty, Poldark offers a mix of realism and fantasy that’s impossible to resist — making it the perfect Netflix binge this fall.
Aidan Turner Was Born to Play a Romance Hero
Before Poldark, Turner was best known for playing Kíli in The Hobbit trilogy, but this series makes it obvious that the Irish actor should have been playing romantic heroes from the very beginning. His brooding good looks, sculpted physique and intense line deliveries allow him to steal every scene.
He’s captivating and complex, delivering escapism and emotional realism in equal measure as Ross Poldark. Turner’s performance ensures that the character’s passion and pain resonate long after each episode ends.
