With last night’s episode of BBC One‘s epic WAR & PEACE bringing us to the half way point of the Tolstoy adaptation, director Tom Harper slowed things down a little and began to introduce the conflict that will no doubt surge the rest of the series’ narrative.
Last week’s episode left us on a daring cliff hanger, with the promise of a duel between Pierre (Paul Dano) and Dolokhov (Tom Burke) hanging in the air. Sunday night’s episode didn’t keep us waiting and immediately planted us in the middle of their desperate fight. On a stunning blanket of snow, Pierre draws and fires, shooting Dolokhov and knocking him to the ground; his impossibly bright red blood tainting the stark white floor beneath them.
Pierre’s naivety and cowardice begins to show as he flees the scene in utter shock of his own actions. Making a desperate escape to his betraying wife Helene (Tuppence Middleton), Pierre’s relief is short lived as anger explodes out of him as Helene berates him, flaunting her infidelity in an outrageous manner. The temper does not suit Pierre and we’re yet again pulled towards sympathy for our dear Count.
Seeking answers and renewal, Pierre finds himself in the company of the Freemason’s, with aspects of God and religion filling his mind. His despair towards his life and duty leads him into joining their cause. Helene is less than concerned, quickly setting her sights on Boris Drubetskoy (Aneurin Barnard) and easily seducing him.
The relationship between Pierre and Helene is desperately entertaining, with Dano’s sweet nature and Middleton’s joyous skills as a seductress making the perfect clashing match. Middleton plays her part so well and it’s difficult to find the balance between a baddie and a character we love to hate. Middleton has taken on this challenge with real gusto and has completely nailed it.
Meanwhile in Moscow, Natasha (Lily James) is clearly struggling with the expectations of life for women during that time, waiting to choose or be chosen; her passion for love placing much higher than her duty for tradition. Natasha’s hopeful nature could, at first, feel mildly annoying but she truly becomes more endearing as time goes on, her reluctance to settle for a loveless marriage fueling our sympathies.
Alongside her a injured Dolokhov continues to disrupt the peace of family life as he infiltrates his way into the Rostov house, proposing to Sonya (Aisling Loftus), only to be met with refusal. Feeling jaded, Dolokhov sets his sights on punishing Sonya’s true love, Nikolai (Jack Lowden), encouraging his hedonistic lifestyle and his desperate urge to prove himself a man, ensuring he racks up some serious card debts.
A peace treaty breaks out between the Russian army and Napoleon’s and before we know it we find ourselves in Spring 1809. Pierre visits Andrei (James Norton) while touring his estates only to find him perhaps unimpressed with his apparent changing. Andrei now lives an isolated life, desperate to escape the remorse he feels towards the loss of his wife, looking after his sister and son; there will be no return to the Army, a death of glory no longer appeals.
Pierre is visibly different, no longer associating with high society life. His clothes more modest, his outlook brighter, encouraging the peace between France; a proud idealist. Pierre and Andrei travel to visit the Rostov’s in the country. Immediately we can recognise the impending relationship between Andrei and Natasha, their fates bound to collide in this new setting of peaceful country nights, sweet birdsong and light nights.
Winter breaks and we’re back with Pierre and the Freemason’s, anxiety still plaguing him, his guilt pushing him back to Helene, despite her continuing affair with Boris. Her heartlessness continues to grow as she clearly couldn’t care less about his feelings.
Still, they arrive together at the formal ball together, a glistening, outrageous affair; gloriously dripping with luxury and finesse; the set design team utterly outdoing themselves. Natasha is radiant, desperately waiting for Andrei’s question of a dance. They do and the chemistry between them is wonderful, the hope of happiness for them both lingering in the air.
We end with Andrei’s declaration of love for sweet Natasha, desperate for Pierre’s approval. It’s here that we experience some conflict from Pierre, despite his encouragement, a longing perhaps for such genuine love. No doubt a confliction to be explored throughout the series of further episodes and hints towards his real love for Natasha subtly plaguing the series’ previous episodes. While this episode perhaps felt slightly slower than the others, the promise of that famous love triangle hangs in the air with such brilliant suspense!
WAR AND PEACE will continue on BBC One on Sunday’s at 9pm.
