Episode #1.4 

After proposing to Natasha, Andrei agrees to his father's proviso that he go abroad for a year, leaving Natasha emotionally vulnerable, while Nikolai declares his love for Sonya, much to his mother's regret.

Director:

Tom Harper

Writers:

Leo Tolstoy (based on the book by), Andrew Davies

Stars:

Lily James, Greta Scacchi, Jim Broadbent

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Lily James	...	Natasha Rostova
Greta Scacchi	...	Countess Natalya Rostova
Jim Broadbent	...	Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky
James Norton	...	Andrei Bolkonsky
Paul Dano	...	Pierre Bezukhov
Adrian Edmondson	...	Count Ilya Rostov
Aisling Loftus	...	Sonya Rostova
Jack Lowden	...	Nikolai Rostov
Kenneth Cranham	...	Uncle Mikhail
Otto Farrant	...	Petya Rostov
Kate Fleetwood	...	Anisya
Kamilija Tekle Cizaite	...	Peasant Girl (as Kamilja Tekle Cizaite)
Jessie Buckley	...	Marya Bolkonskaya
Matthew Stagg	...	Nikolushka
Olivia Ross	...	Mademoiselle Bourienne

Storyline

Andrei's curmudgeonly father orders him to travel for a year to test his feelings for Natasha, which she initially accepts. Six months later Nikolai shocks his parents by declaring his love for Sonya, whom he hopes to marry, rather than the heiress Julie Karagina, the parents' choice. Ironically, Boris, still having sex with Helene, shows an interest in Julie as a wife whilst his mother desires a financially advantageous marriage to Andrei's sister Marya. After an awkward meeting with Andrei's family Natasha feels that they do not like her and is thus vulnerable when Helene introduces her to the amorous Anatole, with whom she is about to elope until Pierre steps in and informs her that he already has a wife in Poland. Natasha is devastated but Andrei is on his way back to Moscow and still in love with her.

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Plot Keywords:

based on book | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode covers much of the same material as the musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812.

User Reviews

Still enjoyable series so far

Greetings from Lithuania.

While BBC's adaptation of "War & Peace" isn't (probably, as this is my first time with the story itself) the best one ever, this is a show that is worth watching if you like great stories, superb costumes, good acting, superb cinematography and some cheeze romance (which i think fits it's time and place in that time society). I highly enjoyed 3rd episode (9/10 in m opinion), while 4th was a bit slower and i would ranked it 8/10, good but this show has seen better.

Overall, i'm looking forward to watch remaining two episodes of this adaptation of "War & Peace". I like characters, writing and production values overall (though this story need more fascinating production to be honest, this one although looks good plays more like a room- come). And one think i absolutely loved during the series so far is the music. It constantly reminds me of amazing soundtrack of "Interstellar" - really, they are very similar, great stuff in music department.

Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 2016 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Lithuania

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Cymru Wales, Lookout Point Ltd., The Weinstein Company

Technical Specs

Color:

Color