The Forsytes Review: Is PBS's Romantic New Period Drama Worth Watching?

The Forsytes Period Drama Review

The Forsytes Review featured image showing key art with the main cast — *The Forsytes on PBS. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

Debbie Horsfield (Poldark) returns to the world of romantic period drama with her extravagant new adaptation of John Galsworthy’s The Forsyte Saga, a family epic full of betrayal, romance, and impossible choices.

What sets this PBS production apart is its bold reimagining as both a prequel and a fresh take on the novels, with greater emphasis on female characters. Horsfield’s signature romantic, epic style creates an addictive drama that fans of The Gilded Age and Poldark will gladly immerse themselves in, thanks to exquisite costumes, striking hair and makeup, a talented cast, and authentic period writing.

And if you’ve seen the previous adaptations (most notably the 1967 and 2002 versions) or read the books, you know where the story is heading, which gives the TV series a nice amount of tension.

THE FORSYTES TV SERIES: OFFICIAL PLOT & PREMISE

The Forsytes publicity still showing a Victorian couple dancing — *Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

Inspired by John Galsworthy’s celebrated Forsyte Saga novels, Debbie Horsfield’s reimagining chronicles the lives of four generations of an upper-class family of stockbrokers, against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving late-Victorian world.

Sticklers for tradition and status, the older Forsytes prize duty and reputation, whilst the younger members rail against the rigidity of family expectations. The question of who will succeed in the family firm, Forsyte & Co., looms large, with rival brothers Jolyon Snr and James battling for their respective sons, Jolyon and Soames, to succeed as chairman. But as each berate their offspring for being torn between duty and love, both harbour a scandalous secret of their own which threatens to undermine them.

Artistic and at odds with the world of business, Jolyon’s life is thrown into disarray when he encounters former lover Louisa, a self-made woman who – until now – has meticulously avoided the Forsytes at all costs. Matters are further complicated when Jolyon discovers he has twins, the result of their passionate affair prior to his marriage to high society queen Frances. Torn between wife and lover, Jolyon must decide whether to prioritise duty or heart. Frances, having worked tirelessly to become the wife of a chairman, must fight to retain her supremacy, whilst contending with renegade daughter, June, who defies her mother by falling in love with a penniless architect, Philip.

Meanwhile, ambitious Soames’ well-ordered life is overturned when he falls for the free-spirited dancer Irene. He is determined to win her heart and a whirlwind courtship ensues. Expecting her to fit into her expected role in the Forsyte family, he soon discovers that Irene has dreams of her own, and her natural exuberance and creative yearnings will not be so easily subdued.

Ultimately, every member of the Forsyte family faces the eternal dilemma – to be ruled by the head or the heart.

THE FORSYTES 2025 CAST

THE VETERANS

*Jack Davenport and Stephen Moyer in The Forsytes. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

With acting legends such as Francesca Annis and Susan Hampshire, alongside talents like Jack Davenport, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Stephen Moyer, The Forsytes features a perfectly balanced cast of established and rising stars.

In a lovely nod to the 1967 adaptation, Susan Hampshire shines in her scenes as Lady Carteret with witty asides. Meanwhile, Francesca Annis brings strength to her powerful, memorable performance as the Forsyte matriarch Ann. She is the anchor that brings all the characters and cast together.

Stephen Moyer is the eldest son, Jolyon Senior, while Jack Davenport plays the scheming, ambitious younger brother, James. Together, Moyer and Davenport play off each other’s sibling rivalry naturally with just the right amount of wit, vulnerability, and ambition.

THE RISING STARS AND ROMANTIC LEADS

*Danny Griffin as Jolyon Jr. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

Among the younger cast, Danny Griffin (Jolyon’s artistic son, Jolyon Jr. – Jo) is a revelation. He is sure to make women swoon. While he’s playing older than the actor is, his acting makes us believe his age and experience. He knows how to play a romantic lead, and I’m interested to see how his career unfolds.

*Joshua Orpin as Soames. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

Joshua Orpin also excels as Soames, the manipulative, controlling son of James, skillfully portraying his character’s manipulation of Irene.

*Millie Gibson as Irene. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

Millie Gibson (Doctor Who) brings Irene to life as a wild, artistic soul, trapped by loneliness as she begins to realize her dreams are slowly fading. Horsfield adds depth to Gibson’s character, making her more relatable in this new interpretation.

Meanwhile, Jamie Flatters plays the romantic architect Philip Bosinney wonderfully, and Justine Moore plays June, the young, naïve stepdaughter of Jo, with likeability and believability in her inexperience.

*Tuppence Middleton as Frances. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

Other seasoned and fabulous actors include Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey: A New Era) as Jo’s ambitious wife, Frances, Josette Simon as Ellen Parker Barrington, Tom Durant Pritchard (Miss Scarlet) as the comedic cad and son-in-law, and Eleanor Tomlinson as Jo’s first love, Louisa.

*Eleanor Tomlinson as Louisa. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

As usual, Tomlinson is a standout and plays romantic period drama leads seamlessly. You will root for her happiness as a single mother who worked hard in the Victorian Era to provide for her children.

ROMANCE & HEARTBREAK

*Frances and Jo in The Forsytes. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

The Forsytes is a gorgeous romantic period drama. However, as a prequel, we know where the romances are headed. Betrayals, an emotionally abusive marriage, and affairs. While the story unfolds brilliantly, it’s difficult to root for some of the love stories, particularly when infidelity is involved.

In The Forsytes, the marriage between Jo and Frances is rocky once she discovers his past romance with Louisa. And while Louisa and Jo clearly have a stronger connection, do we root for the end of a marriage when he raised his stepdaughter, who adores him? You empathize with Frances’ situation.

Jo and Louisa in Venice — *Jo and Louisa are in Venice in a flashback. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

That being said, the chemistry between Jo and Louisa is effortless. We believe in their past and their future potential.

Then there is Soames and Irene. There is nothing romantic about his jealousy and obsession as he stifles a once-free dancer with ambitions of her own. However, it’s impossible not to be transfixed by the slow unfolding of an emotionally abusive marriage.

Even the sweet love story between the young June and modern architect Philip is doomed. But still, we root for many of these characters and hope for happy endings.

And for those of us who appreciate tragic and doomed romances, The Forsytes is a sweeping spectacle that is sure to capture and break your hearts. Just be prepared for morally complex relationships.

**IS THE FORSYTES WORTH WATCHING? WHY THIS REIMAGINING WORKS**

Jolyon Jr wearing a cream Victorian outfit in The Forsytes TV Series — *Jolyon Jr (Danny Griffin) in The Forsytes. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

Overall, if you’re a purist who only wants a faithful adaptation of The Forsyte Saga, then this period drama may not be for you. However, fans of addictive period dramas from the late 90s to early 2000s and later dramas like Poldark and Downton Abbey will likely appreciate a storytelling style (with a heavier emphasis on female characters) that feels more like period dramas of the past than the new trend of modernized period dramas like Apple TV’s The Buccaneers or Netflix’s Persuasion.

The production takes great care to give us a beautiful Victorian world thanks to an amazing crew, including Costume Designer Nic Ede (The White Queen, Indian Summers, and the 1998 Far From the Madding Crowd), Hair and Makeup Designer Magi Vaughan, and Production Designer Dafydd Shurmer. Together, the presentation on screen is immersive and believable with strong directing from Meenu Gaur and Annetta Laufer.

*Irene in The Forsytes. Photo Courtesy of WGBH/PBS.*

Meanwhile, Debbie Horsfield knows how to weave a story with beautiful words and elegant scripts, creating intrigue while writing characters worth rooting for. In the original Forsyte Saga, some of the characters were somewhat unlikable or enigmatic. Here, she dives into their backgrounds to craft compelling characters that serve as an excellent lead into the novels.

In season two, it will be fascinating to see how she further merges this new reimagining into the eventual events and tragedies of The Forsyte Saga.

THE VERDICT

Overall, this is another PBS Masterpiece period drama you won’t want to miss. With fabulous acting, writing, costumes, and characters to care about, The Forsytes is a sweeping romantic drama that will hopefully be on our screens for years to come.

Content Note: The series is pretty TV-PG/TV-14 overall with some mild sensuality and adult themes.

When, Where, and How to Watch (The Forsytes Release Date):

The Forsytes premieres on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 9/8c on MASTERPIECE on PBS and will also be available on the PBS app through PBS Passport and on the PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel. There are six episodes in season one.

The TV series has already aired in the UK.

For more about The Forsytes, see our exclusive interview with Debbie Horsfield: Exclusive Interview: Debbie Horsfield on The Forsytes and Giving Women a Voice

Disclosure: I received screeners of The Forsytes for review purposes. I was not paid for this review, and all opinions are my own.