Theseriesunfoldsasanepicdrama,chroniclingthreegenerationsoftheinfluentialForsytefamilyduringtheearly20thcentury.Beneaththeirimposingfacade,thefamilyharborsatumultuouscoreofunhappyandbrutalrelationships.SoamesForsyte,aformidableLondonsolicitorandakeyfigureintheinfluentialfamily,accustomedtosecuringhisdesires,becomesfixatedonmarryingthebeautifulbutindifferentIrene.Despiteherinitialresistanceandpassionforartandbeauty,IrenesuccumbstoalifeofaffluencewithSoamesbutremainsadamantaboutnotbecominghispossession.AstheabsenceoflovebecomesapparentandIrenefallsforayoungarchitect,Soames,determinedtoassertcontrol,resortstocoercivemeasureshecouldn’tbuywithwealthalone.