The Forsytes

The Forsytes navigates the rigid social hierarchies of late Victorian England through the lens of a family built on stockbroker wealth. By anchoring the narrative in a changing world, the series explores the friction between old-guard expectations and the inevitable shifts of a new era. Francesca Annis anchors a sprawling cast that maps out the intricate relationships of a clan defined as much by their business dealings as their personal alliances.

The drama relies on the tension inherent in the English upper class as they struggle to maintain their status while time moves forward. Instead of offering a static costume piece, the show focuses on the mechanics of money and inheritance across four generations. It presents a look at a specific slice of history where the accumulation of capital and the preservation of a reputation are treated as equally volatile pursuits.