The Forsyte Series 1: John Galsworthy’s book brought to life.

Series one of the Forsyte series covers from The Man of Property to In Chancery of John Galsworthy’s famous novel. Although the writers did take some creative liberty when bringing this book to the small screen, they did an excellent job of remaining true to John Galsworthy’s novel.

Episode 1: Setting the Stage

Although they novel never really goes into details of the events that cause Young Jolyon to fall out of favor with his father, and the events that surrounded the beginning of Winifred’s marriage to Montague Dartie, and Galworthy’s only gives us a brief glimpse of the events that lead up to Soames’s marriage to Irene, the writers did a good job in setting the stage for the events that would surround the Forsyte saga.

Young Jolyon a man with non Forsyte ideas, who seem to rebel against the ideals of his family, a man who loves to paint and cares deeply about his daughter. A man who would never to have thought to have an affair until the one night his wife accuses him of having an affair with the governess. With that act young Jolyon ,realizes the true feelings that he has for Helene, and leaves his wife and June to be with her.

Winifred Forsyte was madly in love with Montague Dartie and nothing not even her family could dismay her from marrying him. Her family on the other hand knows that Monti is a gambler , and loves to drink, and loves Winifred’s money, and is suppized at the terms of his marriage to Winifred.

Irene Herron is a beautiful woman who upon the death of her father is left penny less, and in the care of her step mother. One night at the opera she catches the eye of Soames Forsyte and he peruses her relentlessly. It isn’t until Irene’s step mother gives her an ultimatum marry within a year or you will have to go out and work. It is then that Irene approaches Somes and give him her terms for marriage. “If the marriage is not a success that it will be like we have never been married at all”, willing to do anything to get Irene to marry him Somes agrees.

When Young Jolyon’s wife Francies dies he is finally free to marry Helene. At the time they are married he already has two children by Jolly and Holly. This is where the series picks up from the book, and pretty much follows the story line of the book, except for some slight deviations.

Damion Lewis did an outstanding job as Somes Forsyte, especially in the scenes where Somas gets very angry; he really brought the true nature of the character though. Gina McGee did a fairly good job as Irene. Personally as a young Irene for some reason she did not seem to fit into the role. For some reason the scared, and shy Irene did not fit for her, towards the end of the series , she played the older, wiser and more confident Irene a lot better. Rupert Graves did an out standing job as Young Jolyon Forsyte.

I really enjoyed watching this series, and could not wait to see the next episode. I was so hooked at the end of this series I could not wait to watch season two. One of biggest advantages to watching this series on DVD vs. on TV is there is no commercials and each episode runs about an hour and a hafe. Because the writes to take some liberty in expanding on Irene’s affair with Bosinney and introduce a physical element to their affair I would not recommend this series to be viewed by children under the age of thirteen.