War and Peace [CAUTION: SPOILERS]

[QuizteamBleakley]

Anyone watching? All British actors appearing here...

How many deaths can you pack into 80 minutes?!

Loads. Plus mourning.

Excellent work Sonya.

Maria just got more and more beautiful didn't she. A bit of a whistle stop tour of the second half of the book there but still satisfying. I'd much preferred it if they'd made it longer so we saw more of the character nuances and development.

I'd cast Paul Dano in everything too! That was great. A real emotional rollercoaster! Even though they missed out most of the epilogue, I enjoyed it more. Maybe because it was all lovely. They ignored the bit where Natasha is an utter bitch to Sonya, which really clouded my opinion of her, and Sonya's fate, which is much more miserable. It's much more feel good. Well done everyone involved!

I think I need to re-read certain bits!!

Of the book I mean.
Coz certain bits seemed a bit odd.

I haven't read the book, but am going to after watching this.

It was so good, I did shed a tear or two.

There is much more to the book ( obvs!!!) and the character development is much stronger. This was a lovely bit of telly and fab drama but you need to read the book to really get the story.

Loved it - thought it was just beautifully done.

Too busy running around to sit down and watch it tonight so I need to do some sneaky catching up thus week while "working at home"....

Gutted it's over, such a shame they didn't do 8 episodes instead of 6!

I didn't think that I was going to like it when I saw th first episode, but I loved it by the end.

Twas good but felt a bit compressed.

I still don't like Natasha.

I can post here at last! Haven't read the book so had to avoid spoilers while the series was on. Loved this, it's been beautifully put together, i don't think there was a single actor mis-cast (as I've not read the book I've nowt to compare). So many memorable scenes, wonderful series. I'm seriously going to seek out the book now, I've never wanted to before but do now.

Ahhhh.

Those actors sure know how to die in style.

And Napoleon was too cute to be the enemy.

Good effort all round.

Well I thought it was great . Still maintain it needed to be longer but my feelings are positive rather than negative.

Andrei's scenes were very touching, as were the scenes between Nikolai and Marya. Pierre remembering to savour his life after his encounter with the other prisoner made me cry. I even felt sorry for Helene.

I felt sorry for Helene too, Anna Scherer is a cow.

Well I thought it was dreadful. So much of Tolstoy, especially Pierre, is internalised, so the actor playing him just stood around looking dopey most of the time. And the end - Nickolai and Marya, then Pierre and Natasha, telegraphed down into a minute of 'can you love me?', significant look, then full on snog - Mills and Boon do Tolstoy. Clumsy, not accurate to the book (in the book, Vassily is last seen perfectly happy with life, having gained a new appointment), and with no feeling for the time it was set. I'm positive that Pierre would never have held Maria's arms like that (or the couples launched into kissing quite so enthusiastically so quickly). I would say a missed oppurtunity, but why try and do WandP in only 6 hours anyway?

Haven't read the book,definitely will now,but I'm glad I watched this first because it was a joy.Sunday nights won't be the same from now on.

Agree with Carlajean , that the way the Marya v Nikolai and the Pierre v Natasha relationships were handled near the end, was criminal.

Pierre's musings and thoughts about life were barely mentioned and when it was it was trivialised by silly Natasha giggling, saying , go on Pierre tell us.

Pierre, for Me, is Tolstoy's main character. His 'search for the meaning of life' IS what Tolstoy is all about. Every single thing that Tolstoy did in his life, every single one of his works prior to this, is the foundations foreground for his main topic, THIS book, which is the meaning of life, good and bad, god and non belief, selfishness and selflessness, - @War And Peace'.

It's as if they missed the whole FUCKING POINT.

Perhaps ... But a mainstream, popular TV show is surely not required to do the same job as the written word?

Anyone who wants to invest the time (rather more than 6 and a half hours) and mental energy on reading the book is entirely free to do so.

Was wondering what the time frame last nights episode was?
I mean how long were the French in Moscow before they left?
How long was Pierre forced to walk as a prisoner?
The picnic at the end-how many years had passed?(andrei's son looked about 16/17 by my guess so about 10 years had passed?)

In the earlier episodes it gave you a year & season so was just wondering of those of you who have read the book if it tells you in there?
(Not sure why I'm asking as it makes no difference but as pp have said they cramed so much into the last episode it would help put it in context)

I still loved it though.
I thought it was FUCKING ACE.
The whole thing.
Even though they made a few mahoosive blunders, generally, it so incredibly beautifully done. the shots, the emotions. When Andrei dies and his memories, when Nikolai met Marya. Oh god, I was a bit tearful.
I studied it and studied it, 20 years ago (yes, my BA really was that long ago - I am incredibly old!!) and THIS bought it all back to life.

I have REALLY enjoyed the last few sunday nights.
Hopefully its not too long till Poldark and THE MUSKETEERS back on Sunday nights, to fill my current void.

I loved it too.
Does anyone know if the book is available in Volumes, rather than one huge tome ?

Also for those who want to dig deeper into Tolstoy and his philosophy on life, watch The Last Station, a film starring Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren, about his last days.