How Is ‘The Forsytes’ Different From ‘The Forsyte Saga’?
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Don’t call The Forsytes a remake of The Forsyte Saga.
Showrunner Debbie Horsfield, who penned Masterpiece’s lavish new adaptation of John Galsworthy’s novels, prefers the term “reimagining.” She was a fan of the books and the two previous TV versions, which begin in the Victorian era and revolve around the loves and sorrows of a wealthy English family trying to uphold tradition while coping with change. So Horsfield sought to explore what was missing from them, especially where the female characters are concerned.
“In the books, the male characters are drawn in quite a lot of detail,” says the writer and executive producer, who was also behind PBS’ beloved Poldark TV reboot starring Aidan Turner. “But the women are drawn with less detail, and one of the key things that attracted me was looking at some of the female characters in an era where, historically, women were beginning to see the possibility of having more agency over their lives.”
Horsfield also explored new avenues with the opposite sex, tempering the two central male characters, Forsyte cousins Jolyon (Danny Griffin) and Soames (Joshua Orpin), who work for the family stockbrokerage. Here, Jo gives up a footloose life as an artist in Italy to return to London, marry widow Frances (Tuppence Middleton), and become a stepfather to her daughter June (Justine Moore). In the premiere, June is about to celebrate her 18th birthday — and entrance into society — in 1887, when a woman from the past (played by Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson) rocks Jo’s world.
Eleanor Tomlinson and Danny Griffin (Sean Gleason/Mammoth Screen & MASTERPIECE)
In Galsworthy’s version, June is Jo’s biological daughter, and he leaves his family after falling in love with the governess, a plotline that Horsfield thought made the character less sympathetic. “I wanted to suggest that they are decent, honorable people who find themselves in a painfully difficult situation,” she explains.
The rigid, ambitious Soames, meanwhile, falls instantly for beautiful aspiring dancer Irene (Doctor Who’s Millie Gibson), a woman not high enough on the social ladder to be considered a suitable partner for a Forsyte. This mismatched relationship, which takes a dark turn, was something Horsfield wanted to put her own spin on as well.
“There seemed to be no explanation for why Irene, who in some ways is repulsed by Soames, agrees to marry him in the books,” she says. So Horsfield decided to create a relationship for them that didn’t look like it was doomed from the start. “There’s something in her — a spark, a sense of wildness — that he sees and doesn’t have, but that speaks to a part of him that’s probably very repressed.”
Millie Gibson and Joshua Orpin (Sean Gleason/Mammoth Screen & MASTERPIECE)
Among the ensemble, Stephen Moyer and Jack Davenport lend parental support and pressure as the respective fathers of Jo and Soames, each of whom is pushing for his son to control the family business. Miss Scarlet leading man Tom Durant-Pritchard transforms into a heel to play Montague Dartie, the social-climbing husband of Soames’ sister Winifred (Eleanor Jackson). And lording over them all is Francesca Annis as grande dame Ann Forsyte, a woman with her share of secrets.
Another elder stateswoman in the cast is Susan Hampshire, who plays a newly-created character, Lady Carteret. Her connection to The Forsyte Saga dates back to 1967, when she appeared in a 26-part BBC adaptation of the novels, which aired in the United States on PBS. Some 35 years later, a remake starring Rupert Graves as Jolyon and Damian Lewis as Soames aired as part of the Masterpiece lineup. Although The Forsytes’ first season is only six episodes, a second has already been shot, and a third will follow.
The main cast is as vast as another Masterpiece series about a large, wealthy family whose members didn’t always fall for socially correct people, Downton Abbey. (Even the way the actors’ names flash on the screen in alphabetical order during the intro harkens back to that mega-popular show’s opening sequence.) “Like Downton Abbey, we have multiple storylines, hopefully high production values, and we definitely have an all-star cast,” Horsfield says, “but in terms of what we set out to achieve, I don’t think we had an eye on any other show.”
The Forsytes, Series Premiere, Sunday, March 22, 9/8c, PBS (check local listings at pbs.org)
Conversation27 Comments
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T
So the only connection between Galsworthy's classic and this new series is the use of the characters' names. So disappointing. Calling it "The Forsytes" is false advertising since it's not at all Galsworthy's story.
25
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A
Having seen the original I was keenly looking forward to this. Apart from the amazing Francesca Annis, the casting is poor and the plot line weak making the whole series very disappointing, particularly after the wonderful first dramatisation
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B
I agree! After seeing the 1967 version and the later one with Rupert Graves, I found this first episode very disappointing. PBS doesn’t need to cater to the Bridgerton set.
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B
I agree. What is this obsession with looks and with changing things in order to “give female characters agency.” I say this as a female who liked the original Forsyte Saga, Poldark and All Creatures Great and Small. Of course I realized women had less agency in those days - it made their stories more interesting. We don’t need the housekeeper in All Creatures to become the main genius character while Siegfried is reduced to a neurotic who’s always behaving badly towards women then blubbering, “Was I wrong? I’m such fool! I do apologize!” Then he does exactly the same thing in the next episode.
Enough with actors who look like they just stepped out of a 21st century hair salon, with perfectly unblemished skin and straight white teeth giving lifeless performances. Get some real looking actors. You wouldn’t mistake Margaret Tyzack or Eric Porter for models in a toothpaste ad. They weren’t stunningly beautiful but they could act.
5
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R
Thank you! I thought it was just me. I was going to binge watch on Passport but after three episodes and not being able to figure out who was who I put on the Forsyte Saga with Damian Lewis. A much better way to spend my day.
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T
Yet another "re-imagining". What Galsworthy would have written if he hadn't been part of the patriarchal conspiracy that keeps every female downtrodden and silent, just as this woman had the arrogance to "re-imagine" what Winston Graham should really have written about 18th century Cornwall in the Poldark series. Just as "Wuthering Heights" has been "re-imagined" for our woke, immature little brains in 2026 because Emily Bronte's savage and enigmatic classic cannot be accepted and appreciated for what it is. Just as "Bridgerton" serves up fantasy for those who cannot stomach the harsh truths of history. What breathtaking hubris. What rot for the adult mind.
21
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P
For anyone familiar with the Galsworthy storyline: don't fall for the title of the series. They should not have poached the Forsyte clan story for this series, but just used entirely different names. It's so distracting to watch this while having the Galsworthy storyline firmly entrenched in memory that this project lost a lot of potential viewers by trying to ride on the Forstye Saga coattails. Probably a net-negative in terms of potential viewership.
19
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M
After looking forward to this premiere I was so disappointed. June as Jolyon's stepdaughter??!!! Then a made up seamstress just to add more drama to an already great story. I've read the books and loved the 2002 version, even though I still think Gina McKee was completely miscast as Irene, so it was hard to watch episode 1. I just might finally watch the 1967 version instead of continuing with this garbage.
18
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K
Having read the books and watched both series I find the re-imagned Forsytes very confusing. "June" a step-daughter? I don't see a Victorian man in Jolyon's position caring that much about her or her future. Irene as a free spirited girlish dancer rather than a classy, sophisticated woman who would "fit" into any society-nope don't see it either. Don't know if I can watch the remaining episodes of season one. Guess I'm a stodgy old " victorian".
13
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B
I can’t tell the actors apart. I can’t even tell the male characters from the female characters because all of them have shiny faces and even shinier hair. Why is shiny hair so important in these recent remakes? Couldn’t sit through Poldark because it seemed like an extended shampoo commercial. Everyone was always running along a cliff tossing their hair.
13
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J
I did not watch any of the prior versions. So for me this is quite enjoyable? I'm looking forward to season two!!
10
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C
It is very lavish, beautiful people. But nothing like the books or any of the prior versions. You're lucky in a way not to have read the books or seen prior versions because I think you would be terribly disappointed in this new version, or I should say some series having very little to do with the real story.
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C
I too loved the original two series. This series is awful. It is serving us eye-candy instead of substance. The actual characters are quite complex. Soames is a narcissist who treats Irene as a trophy. Irene succumbs to his promises of a privileged life. She never loved him, but loved his money and position. In this series everyone is one-dimensional. UGH!!!
6
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L
I only saw the 2003 version. (I haven't read the books. It seems too daunting a prospect to read them all - I'm 83!) I can't forget the scene where Irene's mum slams the door in her face, locking her out of the house in the pouring down rain after making their impoverished situation clear to her - with marriage to the rich suitor the only option.. With husband/father dead the mother pushes and pushes her daughter into marriage with a man she loathed. Irene marries him on the condition that if it doesn't work he will release her. It's not like she's a gold digger!
All of these comments prompt me to watch the original - thanks to all on that score. I also am underwhelmed by this current version. I think the scriptwriter flatters herself.
4
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L
Funny how they had Soames saying that line about the marriage not working out, not Irene in this "reimagined" mess. Just write something totally new.
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C
After reading the books, seeing Masterpiece Theater's The Forsyte Saga, and seeing other British versions, this new Forstye is awful. The characters are mismatched to the characters in the books, and even mismatched to each other. Irene looks like a child compared to Soames. The parents, Jolyon Sr and Soames father do not look old enough to be parents of grown men who've been in business for a while. I'm sorely disappointed.
4
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C
Am rereading the books, and watched the first episode. I couldn't tell WHAT was going on!! Unlike Downton Abbey, the script doesn't make me care about the characters. Also, the younger male characters look as if they came straight out of a Harlequin Romance novel. Too fakey for me. I'll just read the book again. Some of Galsworthy's writing is sumptuously, sensually beautiful.
3
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J
"...the loves and sorrows of a wealthy English family trying to uphold tradition while coping with change."
Hmm, maybe the concept for Downton Abbey came from these books and/or adaptations.
3
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P
The concept for DA came from Julian Fellowes' pilfering the work of Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins in Upstairs, Downstairs - with poorer character development all around, but much better production values.
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M
I wish this screenwriter would stop reimagining classic books. She did it with Poldark and missed the mark by changing the characters' personalities too much. She is doing the same with The Forsyte Saga. Galsworthy's female characters were written in such a way to be mirrors of the repressive times they lived in. Their voices became more active as the books moved into the 20th Century and women gained more agency. The Forsyte Saga was written as a biting satire and this series unfortunately captures none of that
2
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M
Very disappointing compared to ‘67. Very.
2
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M
Correction. The Damian Lewis 2002. Marvelous. Plus just finished the first three volumes. Must read.
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D
Do not like the 2026 version. It doesn’t portray as real
2
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S
I LOVE the show can’t wait for next week!
2
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L
I agree. I also cannot wait for next week. It will be hard to decide which I like more. The Forsyths or Downton Abbey.
3
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L
finally something positive. I am just going to watch the show for what it is...something to entertain. And I won't try to analyze and compare and sound "well-read"...even though I am.
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R
I think it’s wonderful magnificent beautiful sets.
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