Why You Should Watch Poldark Immediately

Fellow Outlander fans, take heart: though #droughtlander is three months old with no sign of ending any time soon (though filming for Season 3 is currently underway!), there are plenty of ways for you to get your 18th-century-romance fix. For example, look no further than PBS’s sexy Poldark, which is currently in its sophomore season.

A British import, Poldark is a reboot of a BBC series of the same name from the 1970s… which in turn is based on novels by Winston Graham. The titular Ross Poldark fought for the British in the American Revolution and returns to his native Cornwall with scars on his face and in his soul. He’s looking forward to resuming the life he left and reuniting with his sweetheart Elizabeth. The only problem? Everyone thought he died in the war, and they’ve all moved on… including Elizabeth, who is now engaged to his cousin. Moreover, his father really has died, and Ross’s ancestral estate is in ruins. He thus sets out to retake the life that was once his.

Okay, this all sounds great. But how is this 18th-century drama a worthy stand-in for Outlander? We were hoping you’d ask:

Ross Poldark is an outsider.

Outsider, like “outlander”– get it?! But seriously: though Poldark is a gentleman, he manages to cause friction within society, often because he has his own moral code and a social conscience that guides him. You know who else are outsiders? Outlaws, like one James Fraser. Or “Sassenachs.” Furthermore, his brooding gaze and rich emotional world make him the quintessential romantic hero.

But he’s also a gentleman.

Like Jamie Fraser, Ross Poldark grew up in a genteel world– he is respectful and accommodating, but also tempestuous and passionate. Oh, and he takes his shirt off a lot– just like Jamie Fraser. (Both Outlander and Poldark, academics point out, celebrate the female gaze.) Thanks, PBS.

Ross rides along the Cornish coast on horseback a lot, and it’s breathtaking.

Outlander, Poldark sees your rugged landscapes and raises you a rocky coastline. Cornwall is not the Highlands– though the hearty, broad West Country brogue is as rich and resonant as the Highland accent– but Poldark‘s gorgeous scenery will have you googling “one-way ticket to Cornwall” in no time. The popularity of the show in the UK actually had a huge impact on Cornwall’s tourism, as fans flocked to Poldark country.

Those dresses.

We all know that part of the fun of watching period dramas is gawking at the gorgeous costumes, like Claire’s chunky knits and wedding dress. Poldark‘s costume designers seem to have a lot of fun, too, as they design consistently stunning frocks. (Oh, and they have just as much fun not dressing hunky star Aidan Turner as they do dressing him…)

There’s a lot to swoon over.

Granted, this is “PBS steamy.” But still: forbidden love? Check. Stolen glances? Check. Surprise elopements? Passionate embraces? Shocking duels? Check, check, and check. There is a lot to keep us entertained.

So, what are you waiting for?! Lose yourself in the world of Poldark immediately.

Photo Credit: Robert Viglasky/Mammoth Screen for MASTERPIECE/PBS