23 Years Later, This Show With 8.1 on IMDb Is Still One of the Best Period Epic Dramas Ever Made
Even after more than two decades, it remains an exemplary historical drama based on brilliant source material.
The Forsyte Saga is a British period drama from the early 2000s based on John Galsworthy's acclaimed novel series.
The series transforms the extensive source material into a tragic yet hopeful drama about love, obsession, and the impact of parental choices on children's lives.
Here's why you should watch this legendary British series, even 23 years after its release.
'The Forsyte Saga' Is a Brilliant Adaptation of a Monumental Piece of Literature
The Forsyte Saga is based on a series of books by John Galsworthy, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature. He wrote six novels, four interludes, one novella, and a collection of nineteen short stories about the family of English aristocrats, as well as three spin-off novels.
This monumental saga chronicles the lives of one influential family, spanning decades from the Victorian era to the period between the two world wars.
Adapting such a massive text for the screen is no easy task. Many events in the books are not described directly by the author, but rather presented through short comments, gossip, and discussions.
The screenwriters were able to transform the complex, confusing, nonlinear text of the original into a coherent story spanning two seasons.
The 2002 Adaptation of 'The Forsyte Saga' Is No Worse Than the Iconic 1967 Version
The 2002 series had to live up to not only the legendary original, but also the earlier 1967 TV adaptation. It was the BBC's last black-and-white series and an extremely expensive project by the standards of its time.
All the more impressive is that the authors didn't fade into insignificance against their stellar predecessor. While the 1967 version set a new standard for TV series quality in its time, the 2002 Forsyte Saga showed what an exemplary historical drama of the 21st century should be.
Despite the melodramatic plot and the characters' numerous love affairs, one would not call the show a soap opera. It's a cinematic novel where the fates of individuals paint a large-scale portrait of an era.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Forsyte Saga'?
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The Forsyte Saga has 86% from critics and 88% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.1/10.
Where to Watch 'The Forsyte Saga'?
You can stream The Forsyte Saga on the PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel, or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV.
