Review of The Forsyte Saga

Yes, I enjoyed this version and have recently watched it again, but it is useless to compare it to the original TV series which was far closer to the book. We have both versions and think they both have merit but the first was the best, there is no doubt in my mind, and to anyone who hasn't seen it, I strongly suggest they do if humanly possible. I certainly didn't like the cop-out ending of the second series. The death of Soames is important!I did find it odd that Gina McKee, a brunette, was cast as Irene. Irene is not an easy character to portray admittedly, there is very little to get your teeth into but Gina can be expressionless at times. I did prefer some of the casting of the second series, notably Bossiney and Monty and young Joylon. I think Damien Lewis was fine in the role, but adored Eric Porter (I met him a couple of times in the flesh and though he had splendid stage and film work under his belt it was always difficult not to see him as Soames, even when wearing his habitual blue donkey jacket. It was his part. ) I re-read the book at 2 yearly intervals on average and never tire of it.