Forsyte Saga TV series (2002)

[R00tat00tt00t]

I realise I’m very late to the party here but I’ve just finished watching this on Netflix. I love historical fiction and TV drama’s so not sure how I missed it at the time. I’m guessing it was because I was still quite young and it looked a bit dull. I’ve really enjoyed it and would love to discuss the characters with any other fans. I’ve also noticed that they are filming a remake of the series and think it will be released later this year. I wonder if the new cast will live up to expectations after “getting to know” the previous cast so well.

@cantthinkofaname1991I’ve not read the books so can’t comment on the original characterisation but I totally agree with not understanding her allure. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that and I also understand that standards of perceived beauty were very different in those times but personally I don’t find the actress particularly attractive. Character or personality wise she just seems a bit meh and not particularly gregarious. I suppose they do allude to her appreciation of art and musical skills so that may have made her more interesting company than some of her peers but I don’t remember us seeing her leading any particularly rivetting chat 😂

Are you referring to the version with Gina McKee? If you are I’m not surprised.

Watch the original. Nyree Dawn Porter was the real thing.

Love the Forsyte Saga. Read the books, old enough to remember the 1960's version and recently watched 2002 again. So for me Nyree Dawn Porter will always be Irene (have a look on YouTube). Damien Lewis was a good Soames. Poor June constantly let down by everyone. I always thought it a pity that the TV series didn't go on to explore the other books. I guess two series was enough. I also don't remember the 2002 series being that popular (but could be wrong).

Yes. But she was not at all likeable.

I rewatched this again this year. I love it. I watched it when I was a lot younger and I think Damian Lewis set off my thing for red heads…

I absolutely love the books, I put off reading them for ages because I thought that they’d be hard going but I loved them although I couldn’t stand Fleur. If you love a particular book the then Television adaptations will never really live up to expectations but I must say that I preferred the 60s series to the later one.

I loved this version, I’ve read all the books and I watched the 60s version, I think it’s a shame the Damian Lewis one didn’t go on to make the later books too. If you’re anywhere near Stratford upon Avon the RSC are doing 2 plays of the Forsyte Saga later this year.

Gina McKee was miscast to me. Irene is supposed to be a ravishing beauty that men fall helplessly in love with. No offence to McKee, who is perfectly OK looking, but she is not a traffic stopping beauty. Nor did she have the kind of indefinable allure or charm that men might find intriguing. She was just a bit meh and I really couldn't see why all these men were so in love with her, which meant that so much of the story really didn't ring true.

I’ve just started reading the books and agree the 2002 series didn’t do them justice, although even in the book Irene is a bit of a strange and difficult character.

If she’s so unbelievably gorgeous she must have had several choices of husband, even without any dowry. Why choose one she finds so utterly repellent?

She also betrays her best friend by having an affair with her fiancé, which isn’t a great look.

Im enjoying the books, but am not sure how accurate a modern tv adaptation could be bearing in mind today’s preoccupations and sensibilities.

I started the 2002 series but did find both Soames and Irene miscast.
Going to search out the older one-has anyone found it?

Currently listening to the BBC adaptation on audible-there are a few-some very dusty sounding versions-am listening to the one that Jessica Raine narrates/voices Fleur and am enjoying but obviously an adaptation not the full text.

She also betrays her best friend by having an affair with her fiancé, which isn’t a great look.

Yes, what a bitch.
Then she eventually marries the best friend's dad, who had abandoned her when she was a child, to go and shack up with her governess.

Then (unbelievably) the best friend forgives her and forgives her father.

Going to search out the older one-has anyone found it?

It's only available on DVD nowadays.

Very expensive on Amazon but reasonable on Ebay. This listing says 2004 but it's the 1967 version.

https://ebay.us/m/JS42T7

Or this one

https://ebay.us/m/PRnyYR

Gina McKee was a bit miscast as Irene

A bit?

Horribly horribly miscast... criminally miscast...
I actually thought i hated her as an actress when I watched this as a child... but subsequently got older 😅 /saw her in other things and realised she was just shouldnt have been cast in that role.

She's such a terminally cold fish whi can barely raise a smile and everyone is chuntering on about how "enchanting" and "delightful" she is.... 😵‍💫

I also think Soames is miscast. Damien lewis isnt cold enough he has a kind of likability so you feel vague empathy for the dreadful soames..

Agree. Her Irene was cold and vaguely unpleasant. Not at all the beguiling beauty who could enrapture men with her charms. It was impossible to imagine why all these men were so utterly enchanted with her. She was tall and striking but that's it.

I LOVE this series and have watched it many times. Oh, it makes me cry and think and feel such strong emotions.
I do agree with everyone else about Irene being miscast - it’s not her look per se, it’s the lack of personality… I just didn’t understand it. Soames, oh my goodness. I think the actor is phenomenal - absolutely phenomenal. You cannot help but feel sorry for him, despite all his ill doings. At least that’s my opinion.
This series really, really gets to me. Thank you for telling me it’s on Netflix.

Agree Damien lewis is a phenominal actor but part of the reason i think he was miscast is I repulsed myself slightly as he made me feel sympathy for him when he raped Irene.. 🤯

You'll feel even more sympathy for him if you watch the 1967 series right to the end.

The Irene of that series was also cold and unattractive. And, she married Soames to get away from her abusive stepfather. That wasn't made obvious in the later version.

I've just watched it on netflix too. It was good but I would have liked to see the story continue. Yes to Fleur being rather annoying and spoilt. Soames is not a nice person but you do end up almost feeling sorry for him. Damian Lewis is good at baddies though, he was scary as Henry VIII.

Omg @DrCoconut not to derail but he was amazing as Henry VIII.

Mesmerising!

Millie Gibson as Irene. Gawdhelpus. I hated her in Doctor Who. Plus it's adapted by Debbie Horsfield who butchered Poldark.

John Galsworthy was a very interesting person. He was a strong supporter or women’s rights, animal welfare and prison reform.

A Man of Property, which is the book that ends with rape of Irene, was published in 1906. It’s made absolutely clear that this an absolutely appalling thing to do, and Soames himself is horrified at what he has done.

Me too, i finished watching it a few weeks ago and immediately started back at the beginning!!!

Im so glad you posted this. I just finished watching it again. I found it amazing how it affected me differently as a 37 year old than it did when i was a teenager even though I loved it then too!
When younger I was wild for the Fleur and Jon story, I was obsessed with Jon.and watched 'their' episodes over and over.

This time around I've been struck by a lot of the other characters. I love Gina Mckees Irenie. I feel she's the perfect mix of human fragility and also resilience. Jolyon is a beautiful soul who I grew to love so much. and I really enjoyed Junes journey of forgiveness.

I don't think there's been another drama I've felt so invested in!

It’s a classic, I loved it too. Have read the book. I enjoyed watching the characters come to life. Love, love, love Damian Lewis, ever since Homeland. Thought him amazing as Soames. Irene wasn’t as I imagined, but that’s fine, thought actress was good and got better and better.