Poldark (Old & New) and Penny Dreadful

It didn't come as a big surprise that the BBC is remaking the series Poldark, based on the books by Winston Graham.   I began watching Masterpiece Theater on PBS so that I could have my weekly dose of Robin Ellis and Cornwall when I was in high school.  My English Springer Spaniel was named Zachy Martin, after a favorite character...   And the transformation of Demelza from a nasty, dirty street urchin to the wife of a landed gentleman was amazing.  In the original filming, Robin Ellis portrayed Ross Poldark - a soldier for King George, who went missing and was declared dead during the American Revolution.  He returns home to find his father dead and the family estate in ruins.  His pledged lady has married his ne'er-do-well cousin, Francis.  Ross works hard, borrows money, and makes the estate pay as a farm and tin-mining operation.  It was a fantastic series with multiple major characters.   In the new version, Aidan Turner will play Ross Poldark.
     Photos from the original, 1970s version:

Ross Poldark returns with a scar

Ross takes a street urchin (Demelza) home

                          

Ross and Demelza Poldark after their marriage

 In the new Poldark, Aidan Turner plays Ross...

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Last night the first episode of Penny Dreadful was shown.  The ads for the show call it a " frightening psychological thriller that weaves together ... classic horror origin stories into a new adult drama."  The characters include Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, Vanessa Ives, Brona Croft, Frankenstein's creation, American adventurer Ethan Chandler, and Sir Malcolm Murray, who is seeking is missing daughter Mina.  They venture into the depths of Victorian London and have encounters with vampires and monsters of all sorts.  It is a little bit bloody for my taste, but I've seen worse on DaVinci's Demons.  Not recommended for small children, but if you like scary things with really odd twists, you'll like Penny Dreadful on Showtime.