The Forsytes Recap: Dance, My Puppets

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My dad asked if the show I was reviewing was based on The Forsyte Saga, a book he remembered finding quite depressing – and that’s saying something, since he’s not easily brought down! Despite his warning, I’m still hoping for a happy ending for all the complicated people in this story.

I fully expect this show to suddenly turn heartbreaking each week, but I still find myself laughing and cheering from the next room whenever a dramatic event unfolds – often in a gazebo! I keep comparing it to The Gilded Age, and honestly, this is exactly what I wanted from that other show: compelling characters, over-the-top drama, and those wonderfully tense moments. We’ve spent so much time in stuffy living rooms on The Gilded Age, and it’s strange that The Forsytes is technically less polished, yet so much more enjoyable. The reason? It allows you to connect with the characters, and the actors don’t sound like they’re all reciting lines from a speech class.

Let’s talk about Louisa and Jolyon, characters I’m not particularly invested in. Jolyon is like the perpetually conflicted Stefan Salvatore – always trying to be good, but constantly looking miserable. It’s not very engaging. Louisa, meanwhile, owns a dress shop catering to wealthy customers in the same city as the Forsyte family. It seems incredibly naive to think none of them would ever wander in! Couldn’t she have opened her shop anywhere else? I sympathize with Frances, but honestly, maybe it would be best for everyone if Jolyon and Louisa simply moved back to Venice with their children, leaving the rest of the family to continue with business as usual and, apparently, ruining the lives of those less fortunate.

I suspected James knew about Jol’s family, and it seems he plans to use that information to get Jol fired. Soames, meanwhile, is caught up in a strange romance – he’s in love with a woman who resembles a delicate porcelain doll and a painting from the Pre-Raphaelite era. Irene is filmed so beautifully that it’s hard not to be captivated by her, and Soames’s expressions when he looks at her are priceless. Soames, please don’t revert to your darker side – you’re making great progress!

Bill and Frances are still handling Jol’s career for him. They know what James is planning and want to pay Louisa off, but Jol thinks it’s not necessary – and he’s probably right. Still, he wants to fulfill his financial responsibility to her. Louisa refuses, claiming she raised her twins alone and doesn’t need his help. While that might be true, she just admitted to her kids she wishes she could afford to take them on vacation for their health. Plus, he’s wealthy and the father of her children, so he absolutely should contribute financially. She didn’t raise them single-handedly; she simply bore the physical and financial burden while also working.

Before leaving Jol’s story, let’s talk about June. Do the novels help clarify what’s going on with her? Honestly, she’s too mature to be behaving this way. While it’s understandable she cares about her stepdad, falling apart because he seems happy with his children is extreme. Then, she suddenly goes to a socialist meeting and starts spending time with a poor, young architect who lives in a tiny attic apartment? Perhaps a relationship with him will help her move on. That attic might seem charming now, but it’ll be freezing when winter comes. It’ll be interesting to see how June is doing when the weather gets colder. And a quick note: Ellen Parker Barrington, the Fabian lecturer, is a great character, clearly inspired by Sarah Parker Remond. She’s accomplished far more good in the world than anyone else we’ve seen on the show.

Soames officially proposes to Irene, leaving her without words. He tells her he finds her naturalness perfect. He then asks if he can introduce her to his family. Honestly, Soames, even though I adore him, I know this won’t end well – it’s a classic repeat of the Henry Crawford situation from Mansfield Park. It feels incredibly premature that they’re engaged before Irene has even met his family, especially since they all believe she’s someone else entirely. Soames isn’t giving her a fair chance.

It’s all part of the fun when you’re at the races! I enjoy how these events shake things up. Soames’s brother-in-law, Monty, owns a horse called Lady Peaches, and everyone goes wild when she’s running. Everyone’s rooting for Lady Peaches, but then she loses! We even get a dramatic, slow-motion ‘No!’ from Monty – it’s more exciting than anything happening on The Gilded Age. After the race, Monty is understandably upset about his horse’s loss. He’s so angry that when Harriet trips after being pulled through a doorway, he simply says, “They need to fix that.” It’s honestly hilarious, and I can’t quite put it into words. Is Monty secretly the most interesting character? I’m starting to think we’ve underestimated him – he’s currently my second favorite. That slow-motion ‘no’ really sealed the deal. He’s wonderfully clueless, and I have a weakness for confidently foolish fictional men.

Following the race, Soames introduced Irene to his family, and the meeting was awkward for everyone. Even James seemed completely confused when Bill – or rather, Jolyon Forsyte Sr., though that’s a complicated name to use – asked about Irene’s background. Irene simply replied that she didn’t come from anyone important, which visibly shocked James. The initial encounter was thankfully short, and Soames announced they would be married in two weeks. He was powerfully taking control of the situation, carrying Irene along with him as she desperately tried to find some stability, but he was undeniably handsome.

At the Soames household, James announces that Soames’s mother is very upset. However, she doesn’t seem to realize why, and Soames doesn’t offer any apologies – surprisingly, his mother is actually pleased with him. This infuriates James, as he sees it as a setback for his ambition to become chairman, but he continues to pursue his plan. He conspires with his family while his wife, Emily, occupies herself with their small dog. Soames’s sister, Winifred, suggests nominating the ineffective Monty to the board, giving James another vote to try and remove Jolyon.

Monty is easily elected, and immediately thanks his supporters while weakly warning those who didn’t vote for him – he’s a bit clueless, but endearing. Meanwhile, James tries to fire Jolyon for inappropriate behavior with a maid, which seems certain to happen until Monty’s grandmother, Ann, unexpectedly arrives! This causes a stir, with someone pointing out that women aren’t allowed in their private meetings. Ann quickly reminds them the room exists only because of her money. She then gives everyone a stern look, implying their own family has plenty of secrets if they start digging. The scene ends on a dramatic note, as Irene needs to meet with Ann before her wedding.

Ann realized Soames wasn’t likely to marry Miss Carteret. When Irene inquired about him, Ann explained that Soames had never been in love before, and his current feelings were a big deal. Ann then asked Irene if she was in love. Irene admitted she thought she was starting to feel something more profound. Ann wished her well, and the conversation felt full of hints about what was to come – a development the narrator clearly enjoys. It’s a lot of suggestive talk, and it’s working!

The wedding was lovely, and Soames looked genuinely happy. I’m annoyed at myself for finding him so attractive, but I really do. There was a brief moment where it seemed like Irene might not go through with it, but she appeared, and everything was perfect. Later, the newlyweds shared a passionate kiss surrounded by candles.

Okay, so Jolyon learns the board voted his way, which immediately felt fishy to me. He asks how, and here’s where I started yelling at the screen – Frances doesn’t answer, and he doesn’t press her! Seriously? The deck was stacked against him, and he just… lets it go? It’s that kind of frustrating passivity that makes him feel like a Stefan, letting things happen to him. Instead of digging into how this improbable win happened, he launches into a declaration of loyalty to Frances and June. Look, that’s nice, but forget the sweet talk! I needed to know what went down with that vote! What happened?

Later, Frances recalls Jol saying he would never contact Louisa or their children again, and that part of his life was over. Jol insists that’s not what he said, explaining he was in love with Louisa in the past. Frances is shocked again (seriously, what does she see in him?) and delivers a dramatic line: she demands he end any lingering feelings for Louisa, or else. Yes! It’s unclear what the consequences will be, but this show thrives on keeping viewers guessing. Everyone is driven by intense emotions, but also by money, which is a volatile mix. It makes for truly compelling television.

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2026-04-06 06:01