The Forsytes arrives as PBS’s six‑part alternative to The Gilded Age, already renewed for two additional seasons. The project reimagines John Galsworthy’s Victorian saga as a prequel, tracing the Forsyte family’s public pursuits and private loyalties in a richly drawn late‑19th‑century world.
A fresh take on a Victorian epic
Created by Debbie Horsfield, the series centers on Jolyon and Soames as rival branches within a family brokerage, testing duty against desire. Irene, a dancer with ambitions beyond the drawing rooms, challenges the social rules that anchor the Forsytes. Frances, and other family members, gain room to breathe, giving female perspectives more prominence than in some adaptations.
Renewal, cast, and what to expect
The ensemble includes Jolyon (Stephen Moyer) and Soames (Danny Griffin), with Millie Gibson as Irene and Justine Moore as June. Francesca Annis appears as Ann Forsyte, while Tuppence Middleton plays Frances, a role that broadens the series’ focus beyond the men at the helm. The six episodes promise the same lush production and sharp social commentary fans expect from this world.
Notably, The Forsytes premiered in the UK on Channel 5 and was renewed for two extra seasons. The second season was already filmed before the period drama reached North American screens at the end of last month, signaling a confident rollout strategy for the show on PBS.
This reimagined saga leans into romance, duty, and family secrets, delivering a more expansive look at its female characters while keeping the core tensions that propel Victorian drama. If the renewal holds, viewers can anticipate a multi‑season voyage through the Forsyte dynasty.
Source: Original article
