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The Forsyte Saga - Netflix

(28 Posts)
Jane43 Tue 24-Jun-25 14:06:51

I have just finished watching this. It was screened on ITV a few years ago but I didn’t watch it because I thought it wouldn’t match up to the series back in 1967 with Eric Porter, Nyree Dawn Porter, Susan Hampshire and Kenneth Moore. Was I wrong, this version is excellent in every way with a stand out performance by Damien Lewis as Soames. Now I am looking for something to watch to match it, there is so much that doesn’t appeal to me at all so any recommendations will be welcome, we have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple plus and we have just taken out a few months of Disney Plus at a low rate, I don’t think we will be extending it though.

Ziggy62 Tue 24-Jun-25 14:21:10

Yes, we finished watching it last night
Really enjoyed it

Devorgilla Tue 24-Jun-25 15:29:55

I've avoided it for the same reason as the OP but I will try it as looking for my next binge watch.

kircubbin2000 Tue 24-Jun-25 16:36:22

I suppose everyone has seen Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul?

grannydarkhair Tue 24-Jun-25 17:11:41

There’s a new six part series based on the Galsworthy books coming to Channel 5 sometime this year - The Forsytes.

Jane43 Tue 24-Jun-25 20:59:10

That is good news grannydarkhair
kircubbin2000 I have watched Breaking Bad, it took some getting in to, but not Better Call Saul.
I am about to start Department Q on Netflix which people are saying is good.
A friend of mine used to rave about Six Feet Under it is on my list to try. I can recommend the ITV series Crime based on Irvine Welsh’s book and starring the lovely Dougray Scott.
My son raves about Endeavour which is a prequel to Morse, I have watched one series, there are a lot more.

Chardy Wed 25-Jun-25 09:50:57

Francesca Annis as Aunt Ann, and a cameo from Susan Hampshire according to IMDB

petra Wed 25-Jun-25 09:57:16

Absolutely wonderful: I didn’t want it to end. Damian Lewis as Sommes was an Oscar winning performance. 👏👏👏👏👏

luluaugust Wed 25-Jun-25 10:01:42

Perhaps a little more in the same vein as The Forster Saga how about the Barchestet Chronicles, the acting is superb

luluaugust Wed 25-Jun-25 10:02:53

Or The Pallisers

Witzend Wed 25-Jun-25 10:19:35

luluaugust

Perhaps a little more in the same vein as The Forster Saga how about the Barchestet Chronicles, the acting is superb

Ditto to the Barchester series, and TBH all the Trollope TV adaptations. As per my pp, The Pallisers and The Way We Live Now.
Not sure I’d want to watch any new versions though, because of the tendency to ‘sex things up’ and modernise the language in a way that grates on me, when the appropriate language would be perfectly intelligible.

Pantglas2 Wed 25-Jun-25 10:39:56

Gosh am I the only one who thinks the newer version didn’t have the calibre of actors in the original?

It all felt a little lightweight after the magnificent Eric Porter as Soames, Kenneth More as Young Jolyon and Gina McKee (attractive as she is) couldn’t hold a candle to Nyree Dawn Porter in her absolute prime.

Purplelavender Wed 25-Jun-25 10:49:19

I watched this series some years ago and remember I really enjoyed it! If you're looking for another good watch I highly recommend 'Outrageous' on 'U drama'. It's about the notorious Mitford sisters during the 1930's leading up to the first world war. 2 of the sisters became involved with fascism, 1 with communism, and Nancy the eldest became a writer. The actors are all great and I so enjoy looking at the clothes, furniture etc of that period. Well worth a watch!

Witzend Wed 25-Jun-25 12:15:02

Pantglas2

Gosh am I the only one who thinks the newer version didn’t have the calibre of actors in the original?

It all felt a little lightweight after the magnificent Eric Porter as Soames, Kenneth More as Young Jolyon and Gina McKee (attractive as she is) couldn’t hold a candle to Nyree Dawn Porter in her absolute prime.

I agree, the original B&W version was excellent. I enjoyed the later version, but never quite felt it had the raw intensity of feeling between Soames and Irene.

I’ve read the novels more than once, too - cracking reads.

Glenfinnan Wed 25-Jun-25 14:40:58

I’ve started on series 3 of ‘The Gilded Age’ it’s on Sky Atlantic … a Julian Fellows production … it’s very good!

Allsaints55 Wed 25-Jun-25 15:09:35

1883 is good & I loved 1923 with Helen Mirren & Harrison Ford who were fabulous. Of course it’s all tied up to Yellowstone with Kevin Costner which I had watched but that’s a long haul . But it all ties in the dynasty . There’s more series to come I believe too . It’s Netflix & paramount + I believe

Fflaurie Wed 25-Jun-25 15:36:42

I watched it too, but Gina McKee ruined it, she is so wooden and expressionless, her eyes never smile.

Fflaurie Wed 25-Jun-25 15:37:48

I find Gina McKee totally wooden

Magenta8 Wed 25-Jun-25 15:51:56

Brideshead Revisited. The original 1981 TV adaptation with Claire Bloom, Jane Asher, Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Laurence Olivier and John Guelgud.

The Beiderbecke Tapes 1987 with James Bolam and Barbara Flynn.

grannydarkhair Wed 25-Jun-25 16:43:02

Jane43 what have you watched on Apple TV?
I’ve just binge watched Your Friends and Neighbours starring Jon Hamm (probably best known for the fabulous Mad Men). I loved it, and there’s definitely going to be a second series of it.
I’m also watching The Buccaneers which is based on the Edith Wharton novel. The cinematography and the costumes are wonderful, and there’s a couple of “well kent” faces in it including Christina Hendricks (also probably best known for Mad Men).

LondonMzFitz Wed 25-Jun-25 16:53:46

Purplelavender

I watched this series some years ago and remember I really enjoyed it! If you're looking for another good watch I highly recommend 'Outrageous' on 'U drama'. It's about the notorious Mitford sisters during the 1930's leading up to the first world war. 2 of the sisters became involved with fascism, 1 with communism, and Nancy the eldest became a writer. The actors are all great and I so enjoy looking at the clothes, furniture etc of that period. Well worth a watch!

Watched the last episode (6 in this series) last night, absolutely terrific, I thought. Bessie Carter, daughter of Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter, plays the main character, Nancy Mitford. I was very impressed. Hope there's another series.

Bluecat Wed 25-Jun-25 23:51:31

I thought Damian Lewis was excellent as Soames. All that repressed passion in the eyes.... Though it was hard to believe that everyone would adore Irene so much. She was as animated as a dead fish.

Oreo Thu 26-Jun-25 07:33:19

petra

Absolutely wonderful: I didn’t want it to end. Damian Lewis as Sommes was an Oscar winning performance. 👏👏👏👏👏

I’ve just watched the first episode, I love it already.I was too young to see the original series in the 60’s but surely it couldn’t be better than this.
Irene is so annoying tho! What does the woman want for heavens sake.
Soames is gorgeous 🤩

Devorgilla Thu 26-Jun-25 20:07:11

The original black and white one was excellent. It had a lot more atmosphere. I have to admit to feeling sorry for Soames. Not with the rape scene, but with Irene not being honest with him from the start. He'd obviously been brought up in a very rigid, hard 'school' and wanted to please his father by having a son. Irene should not have married him as she knew she would not meet the commitments of a wife in that era. On to season 2 now.

Jane43 Fri 27-Jun-25 06:24:41

grannydarkhair

Jane43 what have you watched on Apple TV?
I’ve just binge watched Your Friends and Neighbours starring Jon Hamm (probably best known for the fabulous Mad Men). I loved it, and there’s definitely going to be a second series of it.
I’m also watching The Buccaneers which is based on the Edith Wharton novel. The cinematography and the costumes are wonderful, and there’s a couple of “well kent” faces in it including Christina Hendricks (also probably best known for Mad Men).

I haven’t watched much on Apple recently but DH and I both loved For All Mankind. I loved Shrinking and Ted Lasso as well. I have watched Defending Jacob, The Last Days Of Ptolemy Grey and Blackbird. I will check out your suggestions, thank you. I have heard that Slow Horses is very good.