I confess to not having read John Galsworthy's novel so cannot comment as to accuracy, but I thoroughly enjoyed this mini series. I do appreciate comments made that the cat fight between June & Irene (who stole June's fiancé) are not faithful to the spirit of propriety and self restraint in the novel. Unfortunately I missed an episode or two early in this first series, so had a little difficulty keeping some of the minor characters straight, of course my own fault.
The series chronicles the family saga of the wealthy, aristocratic Soames Forsyte who marries an impoverished girl named Irene Herron. She does not love her husband, having married him for money on her stepmother's advice. Although he showers her with finery and jewels, Soames treats her as a possession. He builds Irene a beautiful country mansion, Robin Hill, which she views as a prison, seeking instead freedom. During construction of the house, Irene engages in an affair with architect Phillip Bosinney, fiancé of Soames's cousin June, and the pair plan to run off together. Soames discovers his wife's infidelity and a scandal ensues. One night Soames takes advantage of his wife and Phillip dies during the unfolding confrontation that results.
Nevertheless, Irene leaves her unhappy marriage with Soames to make a new, if not prosperous, life for herself as a music teacher. She disappears for a time but a few years later his Uncle Jolyon (also known as Old Jolyon) notices Irene at the opera, resumes acquaintance, and gradually befriends her, leaving her a substantial sum of money when he dies. Soames remains obsessed with his wife, has Irene followed even to Paris where she has moved in an effort to escape him, and endeavours to win her back, partly because he seeks an heir to the family name. However, when he fails to persuade Irene, he eventually marries a French girl, Annette (daughter of a restaurant proprietress), who gives birth to a daughter. Meanwhile, Irene has turned to Young Jolyon (Old Jolyon's son) for protection from her estranged, obsessive husband. These two fall in love, eventually marry, and have a son.
Of course it's all something of a classy Victorian soap opera, this tale of a scandal ridden upper crust English family. More scandalous than Pride and Prejudice, less engrossing than the long running masterpiece, Upstairs Downstairs, this is a genre I invariably love. This mini series features the predictable luxuriously furnished manors, exquisite period costumes, and lovely scenery of the English countryside. The series has complexity since all the main characters are obviously flawed individuals, with no clear cut heroes or villains. Any one character will elicit different viewer responses.
While I am aware that this was not an uncommon practice in Victorian society, personally I consider Irene rather despicable for marrying for money a man she does not love. She then expends little effort to make the marriage work, indulges in self pity over her lack of freedom, and embarks upon an affair with her friend June's fiancé. Men seem to find her irresistible but this woman is no heroine, even a flawed one. However, I do sympathize with her regarding the rape.
Thus I had little interest in the romance between her and the now widowed Young Jolyon, at least on Irene's part. Jolyon is June's father, having left her mother for the governess, Helene, with whom he had two children, Holly & Jolly. While Jolyon is likable, he seems more sympathetic in the subsequent series than here, having earlier abandoned his daughter June for a life and family with Helene. Despite disapproval, Holly chooses marriage with her cousin Val, while her brother, Jolly, is killed during the war.
Despite his obsessive behaviour, my main sympathy actually lay with Soames, although he is cast as the twisted villain of the piece. While Soames is certainly a very flawed character and I do not justify rape, Irene has treated her husband unfairly from the outset. Of course Soames realizes when he marries Irene that she doesn't love him, and he should certainly have granted her a divorce when asked, setting her free. However, Soames's possessiveness is simply to elicit the unrequited love and loyalty she should have offered him from their wedding day. Instead he feels compelled, however unjustly, overbearingly, and futilely, to extract it from her by force. Soames appears cold and calculating, but actually simply craves love. Furthermore, June unjustly blames him for all her strife regarding Phillip. I agree with another's comment that it is indeed a powerful scene when Soames holds his baby daughter for the first time.
Damian Lewis gives a masterful portrayal of the arrogant, controlling, and abusive but actually quite complex Soames. Gina McGee plays the elegant, reserved, aloof Irene and Rupert Graves the handsome Young Jolyon. I also love the character of Old Jolyon, portrayed by Colin Redgrave, and like his scene with Irene at the opera. Later he invites her to give piano lessons to Holly, whose father is abroad. I found the old gentleman's death the most moving scene in the entire series, as he has just recognized his own newfound love for the much younger Irene.
This seems a superbly crafted saga and for those fond of the genre, it makes compelling viewing. It has prompted my own resolution to read Galsworthy's novel for myself. The story continues on with The Forsyte Saga: To Let, which revolves around Soames's daughter, Fleur, and Irene's son, Jon.
The series chronicles the family saga of the wealthy, aristocratic Soames Forsyte who marries an impoverished girl named Irene Herron. She does not love her husband, having married him for money on her stepmother's advice. Although he showers her with finery and jewels, Soames treats her as a possession. He builds Irene a beautiful country mansion, Robin Hill, which she views as a prison, seeking instead freedom. During construction of the house, Irene engages in an affair with architect Phillip Bosinney, fiancé of Soames's cousin June, and the pair plan to run off together. Soames discovers his wife's infidelity and a scandal ensues. One night Soames takes advantage of his wife and Phillip dies during the unfolding confrontation that results.
Nevertheless, Irene leaves her unhappy marriage with Soames to make a new, if not prosperous, life for herself as a music teacher. She disappears for a time but a few years later his Uncle Jolyon (also known as Old Jolyon) notices Irene at the opera, resumes acquaintance, and gradually befriends her, leaving her a substantial sum of money when he dies. Soames remains obsessed with his wife, has Irene followed even to Paris where she has moved in an effort to escape him, and endeavours to win her back, partly because he seeks an heir to the family name. However, when he fails to persuade Irene, he eventually marries a French girl, Annette (daughter of a restaurant proprietress), who gives birth to a daughter. Meanwhile, Irene has turned to Young Jolyon (Old Jolyon's son) for protection from her estranged, obsessive husband. These two fall in love, eventually marry, and have a son.
Of course it's all something of a classy Victorian soap opera, this tale of a scandal ridden upper crust English family. More scandalous than Pride and Prejudice, less engrossing than the long running masterpiece, Upstairs Downstairs, this is a genre I invariably love. This mini series features the predictable luxuriously furnished manors, exquisite period costumes, and lovely scenery of the English countryside. The series has complexity since all the main characters are obviously flawed individuals, with no clear cut heroes or villains. Any one character will elicit different viewer responses.
While I am aware that this was not an uncommon practice in Victorian society, personally I consider Irene rather despicable for marrying for money a man she does not love. She then expends little effort to make the marriage work, indulges in self pity over her lack of freedom, and embarks upon an affair with her friend June's fiancé. Men seem to find her irresistible but this woman is no heroine, even a flawed one. However, I do sympathize with her regarding the rape.
Thus I had little interest in the romance between her and the now widowed Young Jolyon, at least on Irene's part. Jolyon is June's father, having left her mother for the governess, Helene, with whom he had two children, Holly & Jolly. While Jolyon is likable, he seems more sympathetic in the subsequent series than here, having earlier abandoned his daughter June for a life and family with Helene. Despite disapproval, Holly chooses marriage with her cousin Val, while her brother, Jolly, is killed during the war.
Despite his obsessive behaviour, my main sympathy actually lay with Soames, although he is cast as the twisted villain of the piece. While Soames is certainly a very flawed character and I do not justify rape, Irene has treated her husband unfairly from the outset. Of course Soames realizes when he marries Irene that she doesn't love him, and he should certainly have granted her a divorce when asked, setting her free. However, Soames's possessiveness is simply to elicit the unrequited love and loyalty she should have offered him from their wedding day. Instead he feels compelled, however unjustly, overbearingly, and futilely, to extract it from her by force. Soames appears cold and calculating, but actually simply craves love. Furthermore, June unjustly blames him for all her strife regarding Phillip. I agree with another's comment that it is indeed a powerful scene when Soames holds his baby daughter for the first time.
Damian Lewis gives a masterful portrayal of the arrogant, controlling, and abusive but actually quite complex Soames. Gina McGee plays the elegant, reserved, aloof Irene and Rupert Graves the handsome Young Jolyon. I also love the character of Old Jolyon, portrayed by Colin Redgrave, and like his scene with Irene at the opera. Later he invites her to give piano lessons to Holly, whose father is abroad. I found the old gentleman's death the most moving scene in the entire series, as he has just recognized his own newfound love for the much younger Irene.
This seems a superbly crafted saga and for those fond of the genre, it makes compelling viewing. It has prompted my own resolution to read Galsworthy's novel for myself. The story continues on with The Forsyte Saga: To Let, which revolves around Soames's daughter, Fleur, and Irene's son, Jon.