'The Forsytes' Women Continue to Hold the Family Together

Jo's big secret is out as The Forsytes reaches its midpoint, and, if anything, it only serves as a reminder that in this particular adaptation of John Galsworthy's epic, it's the women who are holding this entire production together.

This isn't necessarily a complaint, by the way. It's unfortunate that so much of this story revolves around Jo as the family's designated golden child, when he's also the show's least interesting character. But, if he's also the reason that so many female characters are such meaty emotional narratives, how much of a loss is it, really?

That said, the fact that The Forstyes doesn't seem to know what to do with Jo is deeply frustrating. Are we meant to be judging him? Feeling sorry for him? Hoping he finds a way to embrace his new family without losing the one he already had?

While it is nice that Jo is so determined to take responsibility for the children he never knew he had, and that he refuses to be ashamed or embarrassed about their existence, his determination to ignore the very real pain his behavior is causing others is incredibly frustrating, particularly because it seems as though The Forstyes itself is almost completely unaware of this often contradictory tension.