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The second episode of The Forsytes on PBS’s Masterpiece concludes with a dramatic confession of affection as Soames Forsyte, portrayed by Joshua Orpin, admits his feelings for the enchanting Irene Heron, played by Millie Gibson.
**Spoilers for The Forsytes Episode 2, available now on PBS Passport**
In a charming scene under the open sky, Soames showers Irene with attention, discovering her admiration for the Parisian ballet. As a token of his burgeoning affection, he presents her with an exquisite pair of ballet slippers. This gesture leaves Irene both touched and taken aback, as it reveals the depth of Soames’s interest in her. Her surprise is compounded by the assumption that the affluent businessman was courting her widowed stepmother instead.
“Honestly, she’s quite taken aback in that moment,” Millie Gibson shared during an interview with DECIDER, alongside her co-star Joshua Orpin.
“Initially, she perceives him as a wonderful new friend,” Gibson explained. “His interest in her passion, especially considering the era’s perception of ballet, makes a strong impression. Ballet was often viewed with suspicion, akin to being a lady of questionable reputation if you were fond of it.” This insight sheds light on the social intricacies and prejudices of the time, adding layers to Soames’s gesture and Irene’s reaction.
“So I think the fact that this very prestigious man has like taken an interest in it, it’s kind of like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve never had this kind of reciprocation before about this.’”
Of course, Soames isn’t just interested in Irene’s passions; he’s passionately interested in her. He soon makes it clear that he intends to marry her. He describes Irene as his “heart’s desire.” Soames is so determined to be with the free-spirited Irene that he makes a vow that he will do everything in his power to make her happy. If she’s not happy, he swears he will “release” her and she will be “free.”
“The promises that he’s making, it’s like I didn’t expect because she thinks that he fancies her stepmom,” Gibson said, giggling. “So there’s so many emotions in that scene that it was really fun to play.”
Fans of past iterations of The Forsyte Saga know what happens next, but even if you’re new to the story, it’s a universal truth that promises are made to be broken. There’s a good chance that something about this arrangement may change.
Joshua Orpin told DECIDER that he thought “in the moment,” Soames was “sincere.”
“In that moment, I think he does mean what he says,” Orpin said, before adding a caveat. “He is really just saying anything he has to say to get her to agree.”
“I think at that point, he’s really just so desperate that he’s just like, ‘Look, I’ll say whatever I’ve got to say here.’ But he does mean it.”
“Obviously, as we know that promise kind of takes us through their whole relationship,” Gibson said. “So it is a really prominent part of their relationship.”
The Forsytes Season 1 is now streaming on PBS Passport. New episodes of The Forsytes premiere on Sunday nights on Masterpiece on PBS.