Unfortunately it’s not possible to see the buds clearly in the bottom two pictures. But if you leave them for a few weeks it should become obvious if they're alive or dead.

Do these photos help?

Those look like perfectly normal buds for a forsythia, but they may be leaf buds. Since th plants are very small, my guess is that one shrub flowered and the others have leaf buds and no flowers. Forsythias leaf out later than they flower.

My take is you have 3 healthy shrubs which are all likely to flower next year.

They certainly aren’t hurting anything or in the way. I will wait them out

Did you scratch any twigs to see if they are green (says the optimist)?

I’ve scratched several twigs and there is some green. They just don’t look too promising and was wondering if I should replace.

Forsythia are hearty shrubs. It takes a lot to kill them. My poor little Forsythia at camp never gets a chance to grow. The bucks use it as a rub in fall and breaks its branches The little thing wouldn't give up.

I’ve always heard they are very hardy. They are just looking a bit sad. I’d hoped to have better looking shrubs this year.

They do look ok. If you pull a bud apart is it green and soft or does it crumble? Crumbly = dead. Anyhow, it is always sensible to be patient in Spring. Resist the urge to get rid of things until well into the season,

forsythia roots in about 20 minutes ....

find a bush that needs a little trimming .. and root up 12 8 inch sticks.. all in one pot.. in fuol shade all summer ...

and in fall.. break the pot apart.. and plant however you wish ...

or just jam the cuttings into mother earth.. and remember to water them in july and august ...

i had 3 inches of snow a few days ago ... and 80 yesterday.. lol .. its a bit early to be giving up in our z5 ... dont get anxious based on our friends here in warmer zones... having plants much ahead of yours ..

btw.. my forsythia bloomed last monday .. i just happened to notice such ...

ken