‘The Forsytes’: Your Guide to All Couples & Romances in the Period Drama (So Far)
The Forsytes has finally arrived! Even just one episode in, the PBS Masterpiece series is giving us plenty of romantic drama to sort through — and we’re absolutely living for it. (Warning: Spoilers for The Forsytes premiere ahead!)
The Forsytes opens with Jolyon Jr.’s (Danny Griffin) wedding, setting the tone for how relationship-focused this period drama is. And by the end of the episode, we find out that the heir to the family’s stockbroking business never got over his first love (Eleanor Tomlinson). She’s an entirely new character created for the show, which is a prequel to John Galsworthy’s famous Forsyte Saga books.
We’ve barely scratched the surface, and those are just Jo’s romantic entanglements. The Forsyte family tree is sprawling, each member with their own husband or wife. Some relationships are just beginning in The Forsytes, while others characters have long been widowed when we first meet them. Regardless of their status, Swooon is breaking down everything you need to know about the couples in the prequel’s universe.
The Forsytes, Sundays, 9/8c, PBS
Jolyon Jr. & Frances Forsyte
Frances (Tuppence Middleton), a widowed mother and member of high society, marries Jo in the opening scene of the show. It’s a practical match rather than a romantic one — Jo has returned from his escapades in Europe to rejoin the family business. The status-obsessed, scheming Frances, as we discover in Episode 1, is more interested in her husband taking over the business than he is. Jo and Frances seem content in their marriage before Louisa comes along, especially because Jo loves her daughter, June (Justine Moore), as if she were his own.
Jolyon Forsyte Jr. & Louisa Byrne
Louisa Byrne is Jo’s aforementioned first love, whom he had a relationship with a decade prior. Jo’s never got over her, if his drawings of Venice — where they were happy and in love together — are any indication. Jo had no idea that Louisa was in Soho, working as a dressmaker, until she comes to Jo’s home to fix his daughter’s dress in Episode 1. During their conversation, she reveals that she’s been widowed for many years.
Jo also reminds Louisa that she promised to write after he left Venice, but Louisa shuts down that line of conversation. She was a lady’s maid when they were together, so she wouldn’t have been able to have a future with Jo, who’s of much higher status. Frances catches them talking and follows Louisa to her dress shop, where she meets Louisa’s 10-year-old twins, Holly and Jos. The latter’s full name is Jolyon. It isn’t said outright, but it all but confirms Louisa gave birth to Jo’s kids in secret.
Soames Forsyte & Irene Heron
Ruthless as he is when it comes to the family business, Jo’s cousin, Soames (Joshua Orpin), develops a soft spot for ballerina Irene (Millie Gibson) as soon as he lays eyes on her. Soames helps her father (Tristan Sturrock) when he has a heart attack in the park. Upon her father’s death, Soames goes to the church to pay his respects. Irene takes him up on his offer to help with her father’s stocks, which are depleted due to Soames’ earlier business machinations. (Irene doesn’t know that, though.) Irene can’t afford to study ballet in Paris anymore and is forced to stay put. By the end of Episode 1, Soames has offered to be Irene’s friend, giving her a shoulder to lean on.
Winifred Forsyte & Montague "Monty" Dartie
In Episode 1, we only briefly meet Winifred (Eleanor Jackson), Soames’ feisty sister, and her social-climbing husband, Monty (Tom Durant Pritchard).
James & Emily Forsyte
James (Jack Davenport) is Soames’ competitive, business-minded father, and the younger brother of the elder Jolyon (Stephen Moyer). He’s married to the level-headed Emily (Naomi Frederick).
Isaac & Alicia Cole
Lawyer Isaac Cole (Owen Igiehon) runs in the Forsytes’ business circle and is a close friend to Jo Jr. Isaac brings his wife, Alicia (Sharon Rose), to June’s birthday ball in Episode 1. There, he tells his friend that they’re expecting their first child. Isaac asks for parenting advice, but Jo jokes that he isn’t the best person to ask.
Jolyon Sr. & Edith Forsyte
Jolyon Sr. acted as the head of the family business before passing it down to Jo in Episode 1. He was married to Jo’s mother, Edith, but little else is known about her other than that she died in the past.
Old Jolyon & Ann Forsyte
At the top of the Forsyte family tree is Ann (Francesca Annis), who married into the Forsyte family but subscribes to all its values. We know that immediately when she informs June that a Forsyte is someone who knows the value of stock and family, and its women never ask questions or contradict. Ann’s husband, Old Jolyon, has been long dead.
