War and Peace [CAUTION: SPOILERS]

[QuizteamBleakley]

Anyone watching? All British actors appearing here...

I felt in the second episode they didn't explain the sheer magnitude of Nikolai's card game loss (in the book Dolokhov chose 43 as his and Sonya's ages combined together).

I couldn't find the salaries for early 1800s, and don't know how much they changed but found that in 1850 average salary was 23 roubles a month. A really good horse cost 200 roubles. And he lost 43000! I don't know whether an 'average' salary is in any way relevant to the life of landed gentry, but still it gives you an idea. Potentially Dolokhov, his mother and his sister at least could live on this for the rest of their lives not denying themselves anything and not ever thinking about money again.

The mother did mention that he basically had put a nail in the coffin for them with his card loss in the last episode when they insisted he considered Julie Karagina, a rich heiress. But I'm still not sure whether it's clear to the viewer how much money it was.

I quite like Prince Andrei in this one, I actually don't know this actor and have never seen him in anything before (but I barely watched anything in the last five years just because had no time, and War and Peace is the only thing I watch on telly/iplayer now, actually I don't know ANY actors in W&P except Jim Broadbent and Gillian whathername, Countess Scherer).

By the way, again they changed a lot in characters/looks, Count Vasily is languid in the book(like his daughter), in the film he is far more weasel-like, like his children(in the film). Also he has another son in the book, which is quite funny (funny to read about, not funny by himself).

Anyway, Andrei is less hot in the book, because even though he is described as quite good looking, Tolstoy constantly emphasised that he was short. He often used phrases like Andrei 'was rubbing his small hands' etc

Anatole yeah, as I said, is supposed to be far more handsome in the conventional sense, but I agree that there is something sexy about the actor, though also agree that he smirks too much and lacks magnetism compared to what he should have been.

I do think Lily James was believable enough as a girl who fell for him madly(and I liked the way she told Maria that she was ending the engagement), I also really like the actress and the portrayal of Sonya.

Oh, by the way, in Russian Rostov is pronounced with emphasis on second -o-, RostOv, why on earth do they insist on saying ROstov?
Natasha is RostOva, because adding the 'a' on the end turns the surname grammatically feminine. In most Russian in origin surnames the woman's version of the family name would have an 'a' or 'ya' on the end.

I've started to read the book as a way of getting more background information.

Re Anatole again, I certainly don't find him handsome in the conventional sense. I would have like to see someone like Eddie Redmaybe play him who also

Who also played Tuppence Middleton's brother in Jupiter ascending.

Nearly caught up, loving the folk singing at uncle's house. I do like natasha, she is busy a young girl and she is quite simply chucked into society and abandoned, her parents don't take adequate care of her. It is a bit of a Lydia Bennett situation but natasha being somewhat less horrible than lydia does realise her mistake and matures a lot as the story goes on.

I agree with everything you say iama Natasha is like Lydia Bennett! You really get the impression her parents for all their indulgence are just rubbish They haven't protected Natasha at all from her various boy obsessions. I disagree about Natasha maturing by the end but won't say why because we haven't got to that bit yet 😊

I don't like Eddie Redmayne. I have no idea why! Hes pretty, seems like a nice guy and I've only seen him in one thing.

I think Eddie R. lacks testosterone for the role of Anatole, plus he is in everything! Would be too distracting, too recognisable with the baggage of his former roles.

Yes maybe that's it! I can imagine him playing sensitive types, but it needs someone with some raw badboy animal magnetism for Anatoly. I can't think of anyone who could play him better!

Maybe Aiden Turner for Anatoly? - he's got that bad boy sex thing going on - maybe too handsome and to physical though - Anatoly seems quite louche and idle.

I quite like the guy who is playing him- I find him creepy and a bit menacing - the scene where he had Natasha trapped was very nerve wracking.

Not Aidan Tuerner, he does absolutely nothing for me, I stopped watching Poldark halfway through the third episode because I was soooo bored.
I can't think of anyone else though who would be suitable

I think Eddie Redmayne seems like a very nice chap but he is almost the least sexy person I can think of.

Agree with Kurri I think that scene was supposed to feel menacing and uncomfortable. There's lots of linking can be done between Anatole and the wolf Natasha encounters earlier on the episode that implies he is threatening and predatory.

I find Eddie Redmayne so hot. He has that wholesome, posh boy vibe and would be a considerate lover.

I just think that Eddie R is beautiful in an ethereal sort of way which would fit the description of his appearance in the book. I guess he's not sleazy enough. I guess you need someone who you could imagine in thence Vicomte de Valmont role.

Oh not Eddie redmayne! Hot he is not!

He was terrific in theory of everything, mind.

This is the problem with casting Anatole, though. There just isn't a type of man every woman would fancy but this is how Tolstoi kind of wrote Anatole, with universal appeal.
For me it would be Redmayne rather than Turner but obviously not for many others.

Anatole. Yes, he's very Sinister isn't he, and so sex obsessed he gives the impression of being slightly unbalanced.

I actually thought he was going to rape Natasha, behind the curtains at the Opera.

Love Aiden Turner but he's too old for this role. See him more as Prince Andre.

I honestly cannot understand how anyone finds Eddie Redmayne attractive. He looks like a scrawny Sixth Former. Now Aidan Turner is just delicious...

I think that's the problem with Eddie Redmayne. Anatoly is not a considerate lover. He is voracious. I would imagine after Eddie had finished apologising for his impending ravaging, you'd be turned right off

Eddie Redmayne is soo not hot. Bleurgh.

Aidan Turner is too obvious. Tom Hiddleston would be prefect. Aidan Turner wouldn't convey the level of slyness and cunning needed, Tom would.

I must be the only mner who sees nothing in Tom Hiddleston. What about Tom Weston Jones who plays Compeyson in Dickensian? Utterly convincing with charm and menace.

No, I find Tom Hiddlestone a bit meh as well. As with Redmayne, a good actor, but just not sexy. I keep meaning to watch Dickensian, but not getting round to it.

All these suggestions just make me think they have cast Anatoly well. I didnt find him creepy. Just predatory and menacing and just the sort that a naive girl would mistake for the love of her life (again!) I need to google the actors name. I cant remember it i think its Callum someone.

Callum Turner.

Thanks i dont remember seeing him in anything else.

I think the actor playing Anatole is badly cast and playing it badly -unless the book actually makes him a creepy, obvious sex-pest with wandering hands you'd run a mile from (disclaimer have not read book)