The Forsyte Saga

British television has a knack for doing more with less, and The Forsyte Saga is a prime example. It is currently available in the US on Netflix and PBS, and in the UK on Sky Go and ITVX Premium, so there is no reason to keep putting it off. An 8/10 rating means the audience agrees — and those who disagree tend to be in a clear minority. The production does not waste your time: every episode earns its place in the run, and the pacing is calibrated to keep you watching rather than checking how much time is left. The run length is exactly right for the story being told. Damian Lewis is the anchor, but the depth of the supporting cast is what elevates it. Start it tonight and see for yourself why the ratings are where they are.

Originally commissioned by ITV1, The Forsyte Saga quickly became exactly the kind of show that viewers rearrange their evenings for. The Forsyte Saga is a British-American drama television serial based on John Galsworthy's novel series of the same name. Taking place from the 1870s to the 1920s, three generations of the upper-middle-class Forsyte family are explored. The series ran for 2 seasons (2002–2003), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping every episode in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. The consistency across the run is what elevates it — not every episode is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

If you are looking for television that takes its characters seriously and rewards patient viewing, The Forsyte Saga is exactly that. One of the more rewarding dramas of its era. The structure gives the show room to develop relationships over time in a way that episodic television rarely manages, and the writers take full advantage of that space. Fans of Pride and Prejudice will find the same commitment to character here, with its own distinct sensibility and setting. Worth starting sooner rather than later — the earlier you get to it, the longer you will have to think about it.