A Beloved British Period Drama Just Returned to Netflix US Just in Time for Its PBS Reboot

Picture Credit: ITV

If you’re a period drama aficionado, you’re going to want to clear your streaming schedule. Netflix US has just dropped a true classic of the genre: the universally acclaimed 2000s adaptation of The Forsyte Saga, which is returning to Netflix after a decade being away from the streamer.

Both seasons of the beloved British drama have landed on Netflix in the United States, giving fans the perfect opportunity to revisit the scandalous lives of the elite family—or experience the sprawling Victorian epic for the very first time.

It has been a remarkably long time since this BAFTA-winning saga graced the US Netflix library. Long-time Netflix subscribers may remember it did stream before.  It was part of the early catalog and only on Netflix US for exactly one year, arriving in 2014 and departing in 2015. Since then, the show has bounced around other niche streaming platforms or required a digital purchase.

However, the wheels for this grand return have been in motion for a little while. Netflix international subscribers might already be ahead of the curve, as both seasons (comprising all 10 episodes) were quietly also re-added to Netflix UK back in June 2025. Now, stateside viewers are finally getting their turn to binge the drama in its entirety.

The re-addition isn’t entirely without issues, though, as Netflix incorrectly lists the title’s release date as 2025. They’re only off by about 23 years! 

We can confirm that Netflix has picked up the rights for a single year, meaning you have until February 2027 to watch through all 10 episodes. 

What is The Forsyte Saga About?

Based on the Nobel Prize-winning novels by John Galsworthy, the 2002-2003 ITV series is a lavish, multi-generational tale of wealth, obsession, and betrayal. Set against the backdrop of late 19th and early 20th-century London, the drama primarily follows a wealthy, upper-middle-class clan clinging to old-world ideals.

At the center of the story is the cold, calculating, and possessive Soames Forsyte, who views his beautiful but unhappy wife, Irene, as yet another piece of property to be managed. The family’s strict adherence to societal rules and status is eventually upended by forbidden affairs, artistic rebellion, and a bitter, decades-long rivalry with Soames’ empathetic, free-thinking cousin, Jolyon.

The series boasts a staggering ensemble cast of British heavyweights, including:

• Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers, Billions) as Soames Forsyte
• Gina McKee (Line of Duty, Notting Hill) as Irene Forsyte
• Rupert Graves (Sherlock) as Young Jolyon Forsyte
• Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four, Hornblower) as Philip Bosinney
• Amanda Root (Persuasion) as Winifred Dartie
• Ben Miles (The Crown, Andor) as Montague Dartie

Picture Credit: ITV

Perfect Timing: The PBS Masterpiece Reboot

Why bring it back now? The timing of Netflix’s licensing deal doesn’t seem entirely like a coincidence.

The return of the 2002 series perfectly synergizes with the highly anticipated premiere of The Forsytes, a brand-new, lavish reimagining of Galsworthy’s novels. Penned by Poldark writer Debbie Horsfield, the new adaptation, which began its run on PBS Masterpiece on March 22nd, has already been renewed for a second season. Starring Doctor Who‘s Millie Gibson as Irene and Titans actor Joshua Orpin as Soames, the reboot is poised to introduce a whole new generation to the story.

By bringing the 2000s iteration back to its library, Netflix is bringing new attention to the “franchise,” and PBS will no doubt hope that means a few more people will check out the new show. Whether you want to brush up on the lore before diving into the new PBS Masterpiece series, or you simply want to compare Damian Lewis’s iconic take on Soames to Joshua Orpin’s new portrayal, Netflix is making sure you have a front-row seat to the drama.

Will you be checking out both seasons of this classic period piece when it drops on Netflix US? Let us know in the comments below!