Telly fanatics have praised ‘the perfect period drama’ that has recently landed on Channel 5.
Viewers tuning into The Forsytes may be newcomers to its much-loved predecessor, The Forsyte Saga.
It’s been two decades since it aired, with fans of the genre continuing to praise the epic generational love story of a very affluent family.
The shiny new series serves as a prequel and ‘reimagining’ of the Nobel-prize winning books written by John Galsworthy.
Meanwhile, The Forsyte Saga was an ITV miniseries, which saw the scandal of three generations of an upwardly mobile family from the 1870s to the roaring 20s.
The saga unfolds with Soames – who is a wealthy solicitor obsessed with property and wealth – fixated on marrying Irene Heron (Gina McKee).
Telly fanatics have praised ‘the perfect period drama’ that has recently landed on Channel 5 (Eleanor Tomlinson as Louisa Byrne)
The shiny new series serves as a prequel and ‘reimagining’ of the Nobel-prize winning books written by John Galsworthy (Joshua Orpin as Soames Forsyte and Millie Gibson as Irene Forsyte)
Irene – who is a beautiful woman living in poverty – initially rejects his advances despite his fortune.
The couple eventually end up marrying, although it’s clear money can’t buy love.
Their unravelling love story forms the foundation of this generational tale of a family obsessed with wealth and status.
Despite it being 23 years after its release, one fan claimed: ‘It’s still one of my favorites. It’s such a perfect period drama for me. It made me love so many of these actors as it’s where I first saw them.’
Another penned: ‘It is testimony to Lewis’ extraordinary skill that his is the character we loathe at the outset of The Forsyte Saga and in whom we become most interested by the end.’
Dubbing the show ‘a family treasure’, People Magazine wrote: ‘Lewis’s performance, though, is a constant marvel. The actor makes Soames’s emotional repression so palpable that it’s hard to hate him even at his most heartless. When his humanity finally breaks through, you’ll feel a surge of hope.’
Ahead of the release of the new adaptation, one wrote: ‘The 2002/3 series was phenomenal. It has a lot to live up to. A good binge watch for you!’
A couple of months ago, somewhere shared: ‘I’ve just binged the Forsyte Saga for the first time. How had I never come across this before? Absolutely heartwrenching throughout.
Jolyon (Danny Griffin) and Isaac (Owen Igiehon) star in The Forsytes together
Their unravelling love story forms the foundation of this generational tale of a family obsessed with wealth and status
Meanwhile, The Forsyte Saga was an ITV miniseries, which saw the scandal of three generations of an upwardly mobile family from the 1870s to the roaring 20s
‘It would be odd to say I loved it, when the story is so tragic in parts. But I think it was a profound series, I was hooked from the very first episode.’
A synopsis for the drama reads: ‘The Forsytes chronicles the lives, loves, trials and triumphs of a wealthy Victorian era stockbroking family, whose generations find themselves torn between tradition and self-sacrifice versus personal happiness and the pursuit of love.
‘Inspired by John Galsworthy’s celebrated Forsyte Saga novels, The Forsytes portrays events that take place before those covered in Galsworthy’s books.’
The first episode of The Forsytes debuted on Channel 5 on October 20. The ensemble cast features Eleanor Tomlinson as Louisa Byrne, created for the show whose reappearance rocks the family.
Another period drama that fanatics have been loving is BBC’s Life After Life.
It has been hailed a ‘masterpiece’ with a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The miniseries – which first aired in 2022 – is currently streaming on BBC iPlayer.
Despite it being 23 years after its release, one fan claimed: ‘It’s still one of my favorites. It’s such a perfect period drama for me. It made me love so many of these actors as it’s where I first saw them.’
The first episode of The Forsytes debuted on Channel 5 on October 20. The ensemble cast features Eleanor Tomlinson as Louisa Byrne, created for the show whose reappearance rocks the family
The Forsytes follows the lives of the wealthy Forsyte family in 1880s London and their tale of love, loyalty, ambition and betrayal
Jolyon Snr (Stephen Moyer), Jolyon (Danny Griffin), Soames (Joshua Orpin), and James (Jack Davenport) in the period drama which has been hailed a ‘masterpiece’
Fans are so happy the series has returned after it debuted on ITV
It is an adaption of the 2013 novel Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, directed by John Crowley, with Bash Doran as the show’s writer.
The synopsis reads: ‘It follows the story of Ursula Todd, a woman in the first half of the 20th century who experiences an endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
‘The protagonist, Ursula Todd, dies one night in 1910 before she can draw her first breath. On that same night, she is reborn and survives. Living and dying in different circumstances, time and again, Ursula is reborn into new and alternative lives.
‘The story follows Ursula as she navigates each life through a critical era that spans two world wars.’
The Forsyte Saga is available to watch on ITVX. The Forsytes continues on Channel 5 with new episodes on Mondays at 9pm.
