The Forsyte Saga, Series 2

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Granada Television's powerful adaptation of John Galsworthy's novels about the sprawling, fractious and aristocratic Forsyte family moves into the 1920s with Series Two, based on the author's To Let. The drama shifts to a new generation shouldering the burdensome legacies of an aging Soames (Damian Lewis) and his failed marriage to free-spirited Irene (Gina McKee). The lovely Fleur (Emma Griffiths Malin), Soames's daughter by second wife Annette (Beatriz Batarda), and strapping Jon (Lee Williams), son of Irene and Soames's bohemian cousin, Jolyon (Rupert Graves), develop a romance much to the dismay of their feuding parents. But the long reach of the elder Forsytes' sins--and the tenderness with which they seek redemption through their children--ultimately undercuts the young lovers' happiness.

Meanwhile, sundry characters move in and out of the Forsytes' orbit, including a French businessman (Michael Maloney) stirring more troubles for Soames and an art dealer (Oliver Milburn) with designs on Fleur. As with Series One, all this will feel familiar to anyone who has seen the 26-part, 1967 version of The Forsyte Saga (the program that arguably created public television as we know it). Yet this updated effort renews and redefines the Forsytes' overlapping tragedies, with a more interior feel and a first-rate contemporary cast. As with its legendary predecessor, this Forsyte Saga depends heavily on the seemingly soulless Soames's slow evolution to humanity; Damian Lewis carries the load brilliantly. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful 2!.......2007-07-09

The saga of the Forsythes continues in part 2 of the saga, uninterrupted in it's production and dramatic presentation. The story only gets more complicated, as do the lives of all involved. Both 1 and 2 are a must for anyone's period piece collection. And even for those who are not collectors, it's still a beautiful series to have as rare and wonderful literature on DVD.

The Forsyte Saga, Series 2.......2007-05-18

Excellent, thought provoking series. Relevant to the emotional effects on the human character for the past, as well as the present. Series deals with love, hate, jealousy, bitterness, revenge and all the effects of deception within the triangle of acquaintences, friends, and family. Elaborates on the forces of good and evil in relationships.

great show.......2007-04-03

I could (and probably will) watch this again and again. Well done! Never a dull moment in this classic saga.

The Forsyte Saga, Series 2 .......2005-10-25

I found the whole series, series one and series two to be wonderful, my teenage daughter and I sat for many hours together watching them, I was amazed with how much she couldn't wait to watch the next episode, The only dissapointment was when there was no more to watch

ITS A TV SERIES.......2005-04-28

Having watched both Parts of the 2002 FORSYTE SAGA I must take umbrage with many of the reviewers here that have chastised the writers for either not being faithful to Galsworthy or the original series. The current creators are under no obligation to include or exclude anything. They are creating "their" story based on a previous work and are free to adapt as they see fit. We should judge the material on its own merits.

Galsworthy wrote a book. The reader creates in his mind the movie and no two readers are likely to ever come up with the same images. Most readers will take issue with most adaptations of books. Its never going to be as they imagined it because it will be as the adaptor imagined it.

I found it interesting that so many of the reviewers pointed out that the first meeting between Jon and Fluer as children NEVER took place as though we were taking about historical events. It isn't history, its fiction. It may not have taken place in Glasworthy's novel because the idea never occurred him. I feel that scene made perfect sense in the scheme of things.

The other two scenes that many of the writers here had issue with were the sex scene which I somewhat agree didn't feel right under the circumstances of Young Jolyn's passing. Still we all handle the stress of a parent dying in our own way and I would defy any man to withstand the charms of woman like Fluer when it was being put forth in such an appealing manner.

I will take issue with the dragging out of the wedding. I longed for a more positive resolution between the lovers who seemed so suited to each other. I kept expecting young Jon to burst into the wedding and smash on window to stop it like some Jazz age Benjamin. Other wise why show so much detail of an inevitable wedding between Fluer ad Michael Mont. A man she clearly did not love. To me that was a tease and a filler.

The final scene between Soames and Irene really did not feel right either as many have said. It seemed a forced conclusion to try and give some kind of an upbeat ending to the Saga. We long for them to reach some kind of forgiveness and understanding but it just didn't seem right to me in the manner that it was portrayed.

I also questioned Irene giving Robin Hill up in the first place. This house had been built by the love of her life and had been the home that she so happily shared with Young Joylen. It seems to me that Irene giving up Robin Hill would be like Scarlet giving up Tara. But THAT I am sure she did do in the novel thus the title "To Let." What I am saying here is Galsworthy was wrong and the screenwriters were true to his material.

All in all I was very moved by the series. I though the look of the sets and costumes was magnificent. Gina McKee stole my heart in the film NOTTING HILL and was the chief reason for my interest in the FS. She was absolutely fabulous beginning to end.

Part one would be five stars because of Mckee. Part two four stars because she wasn't in it as much.

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