While fans eagerly await the return of HBO's The Gilded Age, PBS has delivered a sumptuous new historical series that's more than ready to fill the opulent void. The Forsytes, a fresh prequel to John Galsworthy's celebrated The Forsyte Saga, isn't just arriving with critical acclaim—it's landing with the confidence of a show that's already secured its future, having been renewed for two additional seasons before its North American premiere.
A Prequel Full of Passion and Power Struggles
Set in the 1880s, the drama reimagines the early days of the formidable Forsyte clan, a wealthy British family whose gilded exterior hides turbulent passions and fierce rivalries. At its heart are cousins Jolyon (Danny Griffin) and Soames (Joshua Orpin), whose battle for control of the family business becomes dangerously entangled with matters of the heart. Jolyon, a reluctant heir with an artist's soul, finds his dutiful life upended by the return of a lost love. Soames, driven by acquisition and status, becomes obsessed with Irene (Millie Gibson), a ballerina whose free spirit challenges his rigid worldview.
Duty Versus Desire in a Gilded Cage
The central conflict of The Forsytes is the timeless clash between obligation and passion. Jolyon is torn between his prescribed role in the family brokerage and the artistic fulfillment he once knew, a tension that erupts when his past romance resurfaces. Soames believes every valuable thing in life, including love, can be bought and controlled—a philosophy Irene's independence threatens to dismantle. Their stories unfold in a world where reputation is everything, and the pressure to maintain social standing forces heartbreaking choices.
Series creator Debbie Horsfield (Poldark) makes a crucial departure from previous adaptations by giving the women richly developed narratives. Frances (Tuppence Middleton), Jolyon's wife, is a master of societal navigation, often steering her husband to uphold the family name. Irene's journey into the Forsyte fold feels like the slow clipping of a bird's wings, as her dreams of a dance career in Paris fade. These characters are not mere accessories; they are complex figures navigating a man's world with grit and grace, adding profound depth to the familial power dynamics.
Why This Adaptation Stands Out
This isn't your grandmother's Forsyte Saga. The series leans fully into the juicy, behind-closed-doors drama that defines the genre, from simmering love triangles to explosive family secrets. The rivalry between the cousins echoes a bitter feud between their fathers, two brothers forever divided by a past romance. The show excels at depicting the stark contrast between the family's impeccable public facade and the private turmoil that threatens to tear them apart. Even the most seemingly perfect union, like Soames and Irene's, is tested when the weight of the Forsyte legacy descends.
For viewers seeking a new historical obsession after the latest season of Bridgerton and before The Gilded Age returns, this series is a perfect match. It offers all the hallmarks of a great period piece: lavish costumes, intricate social maneuvering, and romance intertwined with high stakes. It’s a testament to the show's strength that, much like hits such as Dark Winds, it earned such faith from its network so quickly.
The Forsytes is now airing weekly on PBS, presenting the ideal opportunity to dive into a sprawling, character-driven saga. It's a bold and accessible entry point into Galsworthy's world, likely to captivate modern audiences and perhaps inspire a revisit of the classic source material. In a landscape crowded with historical dramas, this one has already proven it has the substance and popularity to last.
