The new adaptation of John Galsworthy’s famous novels has arrived on American television, and people are trying to figure out exactly what they are watching. Is it the next Downton Abbey? A return to Poldark-style drama? Or something completely different that asks you to leave your serious period drama expectations at the door?
The Forsytes made its U.S. debut on March 22, 2026, on PBS Masterpiece. The six-episode series comes from Debbie Horsfield, the writer behind the Poldark remake, and features a cast packed with familiar British talent.
Before you commit to watching, here is everything you need to know about whether this show will be your next Sunday night favorite or something you skip entirely.
What Is The Forsytes Actually About?
The story follows the Forsyte family, a wealthy stockbroking clan in 1880s London. They are what people called “new money”—rich but still trying to climb the social ladder. The family has worked hard to build their fortune, and now they are determined to keep it and improve their status.
At the center are two cousins who could not be more different. Jolyon Forsyte (played by Danny Griffin) is the artistic type who would rather draw than work in the family business. He is married to Frances (Tuppence Middleton), a social climber who helped raise the family’s standing. Meanwhile, Soames Forsyte (Joshua Orpin) is cold, ambitious, and determined to make money. He has no interest in love until he spots a beautiful ballerina named Irene Heron (Millie Gibson) in the park.
Things get messy quickly. Jolyon’s old flame Louisa (Eleanor Tomlinson) re-enters his life with a secret that could destroy his marriage. Soames becomes obsessed with Irene and uses his wealth to position himself in her life. Family loyalty, reputation, and personal happiness all start colliding in ways that threaten to tear everyone apart.
The Cast Brings Familiar Faces and Some Surprises
The show has assembled a strong group of actors who will look familiar to anyone who watches British television.
Eleanor Tomlinson (Demelza from Poldark) plays Louisa, the dressmaker with a complicated past. Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday from Doctor Who) takes on the role of Irene, the dancer caught in Soames’ obsession. Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton from True Blood) plays Jolyon Senior, the family patriarch. Jack Davenport (from Pirates of the Caribbean) appears as James Forsyte, Soames’ ambitious father.
There is also a fun connection to the original 1960s version of The Forsyte Saga. Susan Hampshire, who won an Emmy for playing Fleur Forsyte in that adaptation, appears here as a snobbish neighbor named Lady Carteret.
Why Some Viewers Love It and Others Are Unsure
Early reactions to the show have been mixed. The series first aired in the UK in October 2025 before coming to the US, so American viewers now have the benefit of knowing what critics and audiences thought.
Some critics are calling the show exactly what period drama fans need right now. Vulture described it as “escapist junk food” and “the period-drama equivalent of a Slurpee from 7-11”—meaning it is not trying to be serious art, but it is a lot of fun to watch. The same review praised the show for delivering pure melodrama, with lines like “Marry, Bang, Financially Ruin” perfectly capturing the over-the-top energy.
But not everyone is convinced. The i Paper called The Forsytes “as subtle as a migraine.” The review noted that the show introduces characters with a Desperate Housewives-style voiceover from family matriarch Ann (Francesca Annis), which feels more like a soap opera than a prestige drama. The same review also criticized the look of the show, saying everything has a “slightly unnatural glossy sheen” that makes it feel less authentic than other period pieces.
Audience reviews on IMDb reflect this divide. Some viewers praise the production values and costumes while criticizing the acting and pacing. One reviewer gave the show a 6.2 out of 10 rating, calling the lead performances “wooden” but admitting the story kept them watching until the fourth episode. Another viewer was much harsher, writing:
“Really awful, I cannot continue to watch after 1.5 episodes. The books are fantastic well written with a great captivating story. The plot has been changed beyond recognition, to a ridiculous unbelievable story line.”
Eleanor Tomlinson has received praise for trying to bring depth to her character, with some critics saying she is the one actor who manages to breathe life into the show.
The Production Style Has People Talking
One thing everyone agrees on is that The Forsytes looks expensive. The costumes, the sets, the locations—all of it screams high production value. But some people find the visual style a bit strange.
Multiple reviews have pointed out that the show has a “weird filter that smooths everyone out.” Characters look like they stepped out of a shampoo commercial, with hair that is almost too perfect for the Victorian era. Danny Griffin’s character Jolyon has been singled out for looking like a “handsome prince from a Disney animation” with hair that seems completely out of place for 1887.
The Associated Press review noted that the opening credits set the tone perfectly. The sequence looks “weirdly computer-generated, like perfect spun-sugar imitations of things, rather than the things themselves.” In other words, the show is gorgeous but also feels a bit artificial.
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What Makes This Different From Previous Versions
This is actually the third television adaptation of The Forsyte Saga. The BBC version from 1967 was a massive hit that played around the world. ITV did another version in 2002 that starred Damian Lewis as Soames.
Fans of the books and earlier adaptations have strong opinions about this new version. Some feel the characters have been changed too much. One IMDb reviewer who read the books explained:
“The whole point of the story is his love for Irene is doomed as in the story Soames is inept of showing an emotional connection. Irene was forced into the marriage through difficult circumstances and was desperately unhappy. In this tv series the couple seem to be sharing some idyllic romantic love.”
The 2002 version, in particular, set a high bar for performances. Damian Lewis played Soames with such complexity that viewers went from hating him to pitying him. Early reactions suggest Joshua Orpin has not yet reached that level of depth in this adaptation.
How to Watch and What to Expect
The Forsytes airs Sundays at 9/8c on PBS as part of the Masterpiece lineup. If you miss it on TV, you can stream episodes on the free PBS App or on pbs.org. The app is available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Samsung Smart TV.
The first season has six episodes. For those wondering about the show’s future, it has already been renewed for a second season. Production on season two was announced in June 2025, before the first season even aired in the US.
The Forsytes is not trying to be the next Downton Abbey. It is going for something more like a Victorian-era soap opera with big emotions, secret children, forbidden love, and family betrayals. If you go in expecting serious literary adaptation, you might be disappointed. But if you want a show with beautiful costumes, dramatic confrontations, and enough twists to keep you entertained, this might be exactly what you are looking for.
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