‘The Forsytes’: Your Guide to All Couples & Romances in the Period Drama (So Far)
Every episode, The Forsytes ups the relationship drama, and we’re absolutely living for it. Though the PBS Masterpiece period drama is technically about a wealthy family’s stockbroking business and their complicated relationships with each other, it’s just as focused on the main characters’ romances. (Warning: Spoilers for The Forsytes Episode 3 ahead!)
The Forsytes sets the tone by opening with Jolyon Jr.’s (Danny Griffin) wedding. It’s not totally romantic, though, and by the end of the episode, we find out why. The Forsyte heir never got over his first love, Louisa (Eleanor Tomlinson). In case that name doesn’t ring a bell to those familiar with John Galsworthy’s Forsyte Saga books: She’s an entirely new character created for the show, which is a prequel to the well-known story.
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 other 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 — Jo has returned from his escapades in Europe to rejoin the family business. The status-obsessed 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.
From Episode 2 onward, a revelation about Jo’s past love, Louisa (more on that below), threatens his relationship with his wife and stepdaughter. After telling Louisa to stay away, Frances tries to keep the drama under wraps, lest it affect Jo’s inheritance prospects and her marriage. Regardless, everyone in the family finds out before long. June, for one, wonders if Jo actually loves her and her mother. But by the end of Episode 3, Jo says his he’s completely devoted to them both.
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 gotten over her, if his drawings of Venice — where they were happy and in love together — are any indication. Jo has 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 (which we later find out to be false).
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 (whose full name is Jolyon).
In Episode 2, it’s confirmed that the twins belong to Jo. He becomes aware of the fact, despite Frances’ machinations, but Louisa wants to keep everything to the status quo. She doesn’t want the twins to know their father or for Jo to be involved in their lives. Jo decides that he should support his kids financially and won’t publicly claim them, and he says as much to the board of his company. In Episode 3, during a conversation with Louisa, Jo says he would’ve married her if he’d known she was pregnant. Louisa rejects his offer of financial support.
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.
They take the next step in their relationship in Episode 3, with Soames offering her an engagement ring. At this point, Soames has fallen for Irene, but she’s not quite there yet. Soames’ family is shocked at the announcement, and his father especially objects to the match. He believed Soames was with Olivia Carteret (Tallulah Evans), whom is of much higher status than Irene. Soames wants to marry quick so they can head to Paris, where Irene can pursue ballet. After some hesitation on Irene’s part, they wed at the end of Episode 3.
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). The Forsytes consider Monty an imbecile, which is why they haven’t given him a job. When Jo’s children with Louisa come to light, Winifred tries to defend her cousin briefly before switching gears to use the situation to her advantage: Winifred gets Monty a spot on the board in exchange for a vote to get Jo out.
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, more accepting Emily (Naomi Frederick). Emily is supportive of Soames’ choice to marry for love, unlike her husband. She’s a bit jealous of her son, too, so it’s clear her own match wasn’t made out of love.
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.
