The Forsyte Saga (2002)
A lavish British-American period drama charting fifty years of passion, property, and pride within one unforgettable Victorian dynasty.
The Forsyte Saga - Series Information
- Original Title: The Forsyte Saga
- First Air Year: 2002
- Last Air Year: 2003
- Created by: John Galsworthy, Stephen Mallatratt
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (75 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 10
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: April 7, 2002 (United Kingdom - 12)
- Networks: ITV1
- Alternative Titles: The Forsyte Saga: To Let (UK)
- Production Companies: Granada Television, GBH
- Production Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America
The Forsyte Saga - Plot
The Forsyte Saga is a British-American drama television serial based on John Galsworthy's novel series of the same name. Taking place from the 1870s to the 1920s, three generations of the upper-middle-class Forsyte family are explored.
The Forsyte Saga - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a sense of the drama, grandeur, and heartbreak at the heart of the series.
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The Forsyte Saga - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- John Galsworthy
- Stephen Mallatratt
Main Cast
- Damian Lewis
- Rupert Graves
- Gina McKee
- Alistair Petrie
- Gillian Kearney
- Amanda Root
- Ben Miles
- Ann Bell
- Malcolm Raeburn
- Julian Ovenden
Writers
- Kate Brooke
- Jan McVerry
- Phil Woods
- Stephen Mallatratt
Executive Producers
- Rebecca Eaton
- Andy Harries
The Forsyte Saga - FAQs
Is The Forsyte Saga based on a true story?
The Forsyte Saga is not based on a true story, but it draws on the social realities of Victorian and Edwardian England. It adapts John Galsworthy's celebrated novel series, which he wrote partly as a critique of the propertied upper-middle class he observed firsthand. The characters feel real precisely because Galsworthy based their world on his own milieu.
Who plays Soames Forsyte in The Forsyte Saga?
Damian Lewis plays Soames Forsyte, the series' brooding, possessive central figure. Lewis delivers a nuanced performance that makes Soames simultaneously repellent and pitiable — a man who treats love as a form of ownership. The role became a career-defining turn for Lewis long before his international breakthrough in Homeland.
Where can you stream The Forsyte Saga?
The Forsyte Saga is available to stream on Netflix and PBS. It can also be accessed through PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads, Thirteen, and WETA+. If you prefer to own it, episodes are available to buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. KQED offers free ad-supported viewing.
What is The Forsyte Saga about?
Set between the 1870s and 1920s, the series follows three generations of the wealthy Forsyte family through love, rivalry, and social upheaval. At its heart is the tortured marriage between the cold, controlling Soames and the free-spirited Irene, whose unhappiness ripples across decades and reshapes the entire family's destiny.
How many episodes does The Forsyte Saga have?
The series runs for 10 episodes across two seasons. Season 1, titled Series 1, comprises six episodes, while Season 2, titled Series 2, contains four. Each episode runs approximately 75 minutes, giving the adaptation a cinematic, unhurried quality that allows the story's emotional complexity to breathe and develop fully.
How was The Forsyte Saga received by critics?
The 2002 adaptation was warmly received, praised for its lush production values, faithful handling of Galsworthy's source material, and outstanding performances — particularly Damian Lewis's commanding portrayal of Soames. Critics highlighted the series as a strong example of quality British period drama, and it attracted substantial audiences on both ITV1 and PBS in the United States.
Who wrote the screenplay for The Forsyte Saga?
The screenplay was written by Kate Brooke, Jan McVerry, Phil Woods, and Stephen Mallatratt, adapting John Galsworthy's original novels. Stephen Mallatratt, who also shares a creator credit, was a prolific British dramatist known for his stage and television adaptations of classic literary works before his death in 2004.
What are similar shows to The Forsyte Saga?
Fans of The Forsyte Saga tend to love Downton Abbey for its portrait of a grand English household across the same era, and Pride and Prejudice (1995) for its sharp depiction of class and marriage. Upstairs, Downstairs offers a similarly layered look at Edwardian society, while The Forsytes (2025) revisits Galsworthy's world in a modern Russian adaptation.
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