PBS Masterpiece brings a reimagined version of John Galsworthy’s ‘Forsyte’ novels from the U.K. to U.S. viewers. This costume drama about the complicated lives of an upper-class family, The Forsytes (2025-), features costumes designed by Nic Ede. Check out our recaps of season one on Mondays after new episodes drop on PBS each Sunday.
Everything’s still soft-focus and happy with Irene and Soames as they honeymoon in Paris. Don’t worry, this won’t last.
Back in London, Frances, June, and Jolyon are out riding and talking of putting “all that” in the past. Sure …
And since folks have been asking about the men’s hair, I think we addressed it already in Snark Week, and there’s not much to say except this is NOT a 19th-century man’s hairstyle.
Moving on. Jolyon Sr. gives his son a business pep talk, but Jo Jr. can’t be as heartless as the family wants, so he pouts and realizes he has four different paintings of Venice (by his own hand, presumably), including a shadowy woman, on his office walls. We’ve previously seen at least three in his bedroom at home, so the family must be pretty clueless or willfully obtuse to not see that Jo had a serious hangup about Venice all along.
Speaking of which, Mrs. Barrington visits Louisa, who she’d helped out in the past and now asks for a favor in return.
In the press pack, Josette Simon, who plays Mrs. Ellen Parker Barrington, described how the costumes and hair help her work as an actor:
“At the beginning of the process, you do quite a lot of work trying to get to the heart of your character and bring them to life with detail and truth. The final piece of the jigsaw falls into place when you get to wear the beautiful costumes that Nic has designed for, that really helped bring Ellen to life. It’s very specific to your character and it really elevates how you play your part. The same goes for Magi Vaughan’s hair and make-up designs — they were created with a nod to contemporary designs which just gives each character an edge that helps you find the voice and persona of who you are playing. It’s magical.”
June meets Philip in the park for another date, where he gives her a book of Keats and they quote poetry at each other.
Seriously, WTFrock, is he cosplaying Benjamin Franklin or Davy Crockett?!?
The raccoon cap is never explained or referred to by Philip or June, and there’s only an appropriately derisive mention later by the Forsytes. Is it supposed to make him look completely amazingly wildly ridiculously inappropriate for June? Because, dude, that’s an over-the-top way to get the message across. And storywise, he’s not that wrong for June — they’re both young, idealistic, and naïve. That’s conveyed already without an obnoxious hat.
In the press pack, Jamie Flatters, who plays Philip Bosinney, talks about his character meeting the Forsytes:
“He certainly seems a bit nervous being introduced. Philip, given his more radical ideas and different class status, is sceptical and conspiratorial against the ideals that the Forsyte family uphold. But there is, through the love of June, a respect there, a common courtesy, which Philip knows that he should follow in order to make June’s life easy and loving.”
Which seems in contrast to him wearing that dumb hat again. shrug
Anyway getting ahead of myself, because June decides to play nice that night at a dinner party with the Carterets, which is just an excuse for me to show Susan Hampshire again. Her hair’s a little beehive-y here, but the yellow and black ensemble is lovely. She’s included in a number of scenes as part of the society ladies, and while she doesn’t have many lines, her presence is noticeable.
Btw, that’s a gorgeous fan carried by Frances — maybe vintage? Compare with this extant fan:
Likewise Francesca Annis adds so much to this production. Her voiceover introduces each episode, and she has so many little knowing glances that hint at family goings-on. She also gets excellent costumes!
Mrs. Barrington asks Frances to get involved in her charity work on Ann Forsyte’s recommendation. This doesn’t seem like Frances’ gig. The shot opens with a focus on their dress backsides, and once again, I need to point out that these are decently bustled gown shapes. Not wildly exaggerated but reasonable.
Back in Paris, Irene introduces her new hubby to her crazy, fun, artsy ballet friends at a cafe, where everyone kicks back absinthe like it’s water! Soames is starting to get uncomfortable…
June complains to Phil that her parents are going to make her marry the Carterets boy (DUH), and she ends up proposing herself to marry Phil instead. At least she’s finally wearing more “grown-up” dresses and not just the schoolgirl looks (even if her hair is almost always down).
The look on Frances’ face when June announces she’s engaged to Phil at the dinner table:
On the other side of the channel, Soames ignores his father’s telegram to come back to the family biz. Look at everybody going against their parents’ wishes! Seriously, there’s some great dialog and reaction shots in this episode.
Mrs. Barrington is running a charity event with society ladies, and she brings Louisa forward as an example of “fallen women” she’s helped. Of course, Frances walks up in time to hear.
I don’t love that so many of the hats are the same exact shape, but Mrs. Barrington’s hat is well-trimmed and the whole outfit looks great on her. This fashion plate is more of a dinner dress, but it has a similar color/trim combo of the period:
See, Frances’ hat is the same shape, again. Well, the trimming is good, and the whole outfit is nicely done.
Compare with this slightly earlier fashion plate:
Costume designer Nic Ede mentioned they used a lot of printed Indian cottons for Louisa, and here’s a better look at one of them. I think it’s a good choice, providing visual interest that’s appropriate to the period but also not too flashy or upscale for her character. And OMG HER HAIR IS UP. It can be done.
In the press pack, Eleanor Tomlinson said of her character’s wardrobe:
“I’ve got a really beautiful dress which had an acorn block pattern which was one of my favourites. The women in the series had beautiful silks and taffeta dresses which were extremely fancy but Louisa wore practical linens with paisley patterns and I loved that about Nic’s designs. It was befitting to her place in society. She wears something that makes her look presentable and lovely, she isn’t the star of the show but her designs for the ladies are.”
Jolyon meets Phil and is cool with the engagement, but says the kids can’t marry until Phil gets a real job. Sounds legit.
Frances goes shopping with Mrs. Barrington and Mrs. Cole. Mrs. Barrington thanks Frances for supporting the charity but keeps talking about Louisa and her sick kids, which Frances can’t take so she walks out. Yup, everyone is just going to continue throwing her husband’s past in her face!
In Paris, Irene is excited to finally take Soames to the ballet — which I guess he’s never seen before? Because all he can think about as he watches is “my wife, nearly naked, being groped by nearly naked men, on stage!” This is made literal onscreen. Now he uses his dad’s telegram as an excuse to take Irene back to London, ruining her chance to audition for the ballet.
Frances and Jo hold a reluctant little engagement party for June and Phillip. So reluctant, that Frances seems to be wearing a gown from The Buccaneers (2023-), episode two, worn by Conchitta (it was one of the few costumes I complimented then, though I said it needed proper petticoats, which it may have here).
The fabric and neckline trim are very distinctive. Who wore it better? (Trick question!)
The only other new costume I could get pix of from this party is a bit of Winifred, who continues to have lovely and accurate gowns, often in velvet which adds an extra level of difficulty.
At the party, Jolyon finds out that Louisa’s kids are sick, so he runs of to her. Clearly he’s not putting “all that” in the past!
OK, who’s the best-dressed in The Forsytes so far?
Find this frock flick at:
Philip, Phil Bossiney, king of the wild West End…
Seriously, this show sounds like a fever (or absinthe) dream written by someone with no understanding of the English class system. Only in the worst fanfic would Soames Forsyte give a second glance to, let alone marry, a woman with theatrical aspirations – and ballet was at the bottom of the heirarchy of performing arts. It’s sad to see Susan Hampshire involved in such a travesty.
I’m enjoying reading the recaps because I absolutely refuse to watch this garbage. The 2005 version is available on Netflix so I think I’ll re-watch that instead.
The 1967 version can be found on YouTube.
If Irene thinks she can be married to Soames AND be a ballet dancer, she is so beyond touching reality she’s in the next solar system. Seriously? Really?
At that time of history, being a ballerina was considered next to prostitution. (sadly!).
Susan Hampshire’s dress is a great replica of a dress from the portrait of Mrs James Leigh Coleman (1886) by Raimundo de Madrazo. One of my favourite dresses of all time, I would recognize it anywhere!
I’m trying to like this series, really I am, But the lack of bobby-pins is wearing thin, for me at least!
Come to that, aren’t the ballerinas totally the wrong body type for dancers of the period? Balanchine type rather than 1870s. Just compare Moira Shearer in THE RED SHOES to today’s dancers to see how much they’ve changed since the 1940s.
Hairpins? What are these hairpins of which you speak?
The wife of a respected businessman in the 1880s inspiring for a position in the ballet? Who wrote this?
Ha, the absinthe scene is exactly where I hit stop and went to the kitchen to top off my tea (I could have used some absinthe myself by that point, I might have started getting a bit blustery when the Davy Crockett hat showed up).
I do intend to keep watching it though, and just imagine them as a different family, because I do really like some of the costumes and set designs. I love the scenes with Ann and June, I think having the oldest and younger members of the family share scenes was a good choice, even if June should really share more scenes with her grandfather. Or step-grandfather, I should say, because that had to be changed for no reason; I miss the lonely old Jolyon of the books and previous adaptations.
I wonder how old Jolyon’s death scene will be handled – it’s so heart-rending in the book and previous TV adaptations.
I can’t imagine, but apparently it’s been approved for 2 more seasons, so I guess we’ll have to just wait and see!
NOOOOOOO! That might well take us all the way up to Soames’ death. It wouldn’t surprise me if the writers have both he and Fleur die in the fire. Actually I wouldn’t be surprised if Fleur somehow ends up marrying Jon instead of Michael Mont…
I just can’t get past trying to imagine them aging up the actors who play Soames and Irene and young Jolyon. And I don’t think I’ll be shedding any tears, this time, when young Jo passes away (tears of laughter, maybe. I have been entertained, although not in the way the show creators probably imagined)
This was exactly my problem with the hats, they are essentially all wearing the same hat with different trims. It is period appropriate and a decent shape, and they are all wearing hats, but some variety would have been nice.
Been watching the 2002 series … on US Netflix. So much better than this travesty.
The 1967 version was the best
The actress who plays Winifred is lovely and looks right at home in late Victorian costume. Jo, not so much. Someone in the Reddit period drama group pointed out that he looks like George Michael in the Careless Whisper era, and I can’t unsee it.
I can imagine the bathroom shelves at Jo’s house groaning under the weight of hair products.
Speaking of Winnifred, isn’t she supposed to have a son? A son who’s pretty important to the later plot? Have they mentioned, “So-and-so is enjoying Eton,” or did they just forget about him?
There’s so much invented nonsense in this adaptation it’s possible there’s no room for the Val/Holly sub-plot!
Idk if it’s just how the 80s were or if filmmakers have a gripe with this era, but my goodness why does every modern production set in this period look like they are forbidden from using fabrics with a body and some good lining to give it a life of it’s own, some of the fitted jackets almost look like made of tissue paper. Fitted =\= thin fabric historically