1783, and Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) returns home from the American Revolutionary War. Ross' beloved Cornwall is on its knees, and in his absence, his father has died, his mines have gone to ruin, and his childhood sweetheart Elizabeth (Heida Reed) is engaged to his cousin Francis (Kyle Soller). Feeling betrayed by everything he loves, Ross tries to rebuild his life whilst finding an unlikely love in Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson). Banker George Warleggan (Jack Farthing) does everything he can to bring Ross down and destroy all that he loves, fuelling the ongoing battle for Elizabeth's heart and testing Ross and Demelza's happy marriage. Meanwhile Dr Dwight Enys (Luke Norris) falls for spoilt heiress Caroline (Gabriella Wilde), war with France threatens everyone's security, and the arrival of Demelza's brothers exacerbates the feud between Ross and George.