Richard Bailey Prior to Downton Abbey, this was the best drama series of the last twenty years. I appreciate that's a bold statement, but it really was that impressive. Many years since i'd seen the black and white TV series, that ran for so long it became a little tiresome. Damian Lewis was nothing but captivating as Soames, playing him in a way that at times you questioned whether he was the victim or the villain. The casting of Gina McKee at the time I wasn't crazy about, but seeing it over a few times I find her pretty good. Nyree Dawn Porter will never be bettered as Irene.Series one 10/10Series two 6/10

petapugh An astonishing piece of television, over ten years on. I saw the 1967 series as a - very - small child and enjoyed this one when it was first broadcast in 2002/3(?), then again in recent months (2014). I am utterly blown away by its brilliance and skill. To précis the books (which I adore) and leave no gaping holes or subtlety out is an extraordinary achievement by the writer, director and their team.The cast is pushed way beyond the usual costume drama pomp or 'let's make it contemporary' tricks to convey the era without sacrificing realism.I have to mention the Jolyons - Old &Young - played with exquisite accuracy by Rupert Graves and Corin Redgrave:you won't see more moving or natural portrayals in anything else on TV. Almost every performance - however minor - is worthy of note, whether for its accuracy, its ageing, its humour or its ability to move me to tears (I was so drawn in by these people, I blubbed & laughed a lot in every episode).The make-up, costumes and interiors were painstaking & sumptuous; funerals, jazz & garden parties, Robin Hill, billiard rooms, boating lakes and London parks all so heart-breakingly beautifully realised, you badly want to be there!My only - picky - criticism is that the reverse side of some characters doesn't emerge until series 2... heroes and villains remain strong stereotypes throughout series one and part of Galsworthy's brilliance is his ability to dissect personality so it wrong-foots you just as you've established an opinion. But blimey! Honestly, this is phenomenal television and without question in my Top 3 series ever &, like Superman and the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, I actually believe the Forsytes exist somewhere out there. In fact, like some weird soap opera fan who can't tell fact from fiction, I want to meet the Forsyte freak-show and be their friend! I love it, recommend it and will repeatedly re-visit it.

bikerhiker46 At 65 years of age I have seen my share of movies and plays and I would have to say that this series is simply one of the, if not THE best productions I have ever had the pleasure of viewing. From camera work, through scripting, through character development it was simply beyond compare. The acting was of a level seldom encountered these days, or for that matter, any other days. Against this drama the threadbare nature of much of what today passes as entertainment is painfully evident.I can't for the life of me understand why Damien Lewis and others were not immediately catapulted into the highest regions of recognition. If it gets any better than this I've yet to experience it and I'm not holding my breath.BRAVO!

Flower_of_the_Lily I recall watching this when it was first aired (on ITV, I think) and recently re-watched some of it when round at a friend's - and found it very thought-provoking. Read on ...Whilst we can always rely on the good old BBC to produce a great costume drama whilst blindfolded and handcuffed, I've always thought ITV's efforts to be hit-and-miss affairs. So which is The Forsythe Saga? Predictably, both.Visually, there's no problem - it's a gorgeous production, the script is nicely paced, and a generous amount of time is allocated to each of the main characters so we can watch the most interesting developments without getting bored or losing sight of the big picture. This is truly a family saga, spanning several generations and their friends and enemies, their acts and consequences. It's also a cracking story - I've never read the original novel, so can't vouch for it's accuracy, but the script is very well done.But I'm afraid the largest stumbling-block comes in the form of casting. This, ostensibly, ought to be Irene Forsythe's story - pressured into a loveless marriage by a guardian who ought to be taking care of her, the victim of a cold, and often brutal man who violently rapes her, she dares to risk it all for a chance at true love with a young businessman. Tragedy and eventual bittersweet joy result. The majority of our sympathy ought to be with Irene.But unfortunately it doesn't work out like this. Gina McKee looks beautiful, but whether through the script she was given or a decision to play Irene as a sad, reserved woman, she comes across as unfeeling, unresponsive, and totally indifferent to those around her. Indeed, it's hard to see why one man would become obsessed with her, let alone three or four. It was difficult to relate to her, with the only moments I genuinely felt bad for her being Soames's violent attack and when she is told of Bossiney's death. Ioan Gruffudd by the way, does his not inconsiderable best, but his character is really just a means to an end - a common-or-garden bold young man who loves the central female character and prompts her escape.I spent the majority of the viewing time, meanwhile, cursing Damian Lewis - he is simply superb. He takes the vile Soames - a bully, a cruel, violent rapist, a jealous and possessive husband - and at times threatens to win sympathy totally from Irene. His repressed passions and darkness glimmer beneath his surface, and his spurned adoration of Irene prompts genuine pity. Damn you Lewis, we're not supposed to like Soames! But he is by far the most complex character of the series, and Lewis emerges as a star-in-waiting.Every other actor and actress does themselves credit, but Rupert Graves deserves a mention as a an excellent contrast to the cruel Soames. But it's the above love triangle that drives the story. Make up your own mind where your sympathies lie, but definitely worth a viewing.