Many on Poldark would have sent up the cheeriest of panto cheers to see George Warleggan dunked into icy water. Tee-hee-hoo-hoo, they would say, it was coming from the devil, give him my leech! One for each hanging a pauper, slicing a paycheck, or selling a governess to a well-connected rapist. 

But, Jack Farthing being an uncomfortable type, he must insist on having such talent that it is impossible to enjoy the mistreatment of his character.

Farthing is always careful to leave an ounce of humanity in the man, however cruel the actions of George Warleggan, enough to make you want to meet him at the clifftop instead of booting him over the side.

On the subject of people who deserve to be booted off a cliff, Ralph Hanson nailed shut his own redemption door with Kitty’s revelation that he’s not just a smarmy, racist slave trader, but also an unrepentant child rapist. It’s almost enough to make you miss Monk Adderley - at least he was just a sentient stiffie who’d read too many copies of Louche Monthly. Hanson is pure, pure evil. No amount of leeches, emetics and ice baths would be too good for him.

Ned Despard might want to try a tincture for his humours, if there’s any going spare. As Dwight diagnosed this episode, Ned’s blood could do with cooling. Like the ghost of Christmas future, Despard’s character is here as an object lesson to Ross in this final series. Change your impetuous ways Captain Poldark, before it’s too late and you too are just a walking speech bubble containing the words ‘C’mon, what are you, man? Some kind of pussy?!’ and squaring up to milk churns and passing squirrels for a fight.

Ross isn’t ready to hear that Ned is a bit of a nobber, even if he’s getting the news in stereo. Dwight, Demelza … even Bannantine took the trouble to write from beyond the grave and warn Ross to steer clear of his future self. Before this show is put to bed, Ross will surely have learned his lesson and chosen the path less foolhardy.

The episode found the gang in a reflective mood. Tess had Demelza considering her lowborn roots, while she and Ross replayed their greatest hits (literally in the case of Demelza singing I’d Pluck A Fair Rose - the song that made Ross realise he first loved her) and reminisced over their first night together. Dwight and Morwenna too, when they weren’t finding urchins hiding in their breadbin and crouching under their bed, went starry eyed at the thought of the Holy Well.