About
The love story of young Countess Natasha Rostova and Count Pierre Bezukhov is interwoven with the Great Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon's invading army.
Episodes
Limited Series
Name Day
St. Natalia's Day, 1805. While the Count fusses over preparations for dinner, the Countess Rostov, her eldest daughter Vera and old friend Princess Drubetskoya receive callers. Madame Karagina brings news that Count Bezuhov, a relation of the Princess, is dying. They speculate whether his illegitimate son Pierre will inherit the family fortune. The Rostov children (Natasha, Nikolai and Petya), the Countess's niece Sonya and the Princess' son Boris enter. Boris has already joined the army and Nikolai is keen to join up as well. Meanwhile, at the Bezuhov household Pierre waits for news, while Vasili Kuragin tells the Count's niece, Katishe, about the existence of a letter written to the Tsar, which legitimises Pierre but has never been sent...
Sounds of War
At one of her soirees, Anna Scherer suggests Princess Maria Bolkonskya to Vasili Kuragin as a suitable match for his wayward son Anatole. Also bending Vasili's ear is Princes Drubetskoya, who is intent on securing a place in the Imperial Guard for her son Boris. The newly legitimized Pierre Bezuhov makes a poor impression at the reception, but is pleased to catch up with his old friend, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who is Maria's brother. Later that evening, Pierre learns that Andrei is unhappy in his marriage. Andrei's wife, Lisa, believes that his feelings for her have changed since they married. She also harbors fears about her unborn child and Andrei's determination to go to war. Andrei plans to leave for Austria after he has installed Lisa at Bald Hills - the country estate where both his father and sister live...
Skirmish at Schöngraben
Austrian General Mack is defending Ulm from Napoleon's army. When the Prince of Liechtenstein arrives at Napoleon's headquarters to negotiate terms on Mack's behalf, Napoleon considers it to be a conspiracy on the part of the rulers of Europe and is intent on Mack's total surrender. The Russian army, led by Marshall Kutuzov, are called on by an Austrian emissary to provide support for Mack, but Mack surrenders before it is offered. Among the Russian troops are Nikolai Rostov and his squadron commander Denisov; both are desperate to see some action, but news arrives that they are to withdraw from the area. The French take Vienna and the Russian rearguard, under Prince Bagration, is charged with taking the full weight of their impending attack until the main force can get into position....
A Letter and Two Proposals
The Russian army has fallen back to Austerlitz. A letter containing the news that Nikolai has both been wounded and made an officer reaches the Rostov household. Matchmaking again, Vasili Kuragin is considering Pierre Bezuhov as a suitable prospect for his beautiful, but brainless, daughter Helene. He is also still pursuing a possible match between Princess Maria Bolkonskya and his son Anatole, and to that end makes a trip to Bald Hills with him. Maria is keen to marry and becomes anxious about her appearance as her companion Mademoiselle Bourienne helps her to get ready. Meanwhile, Pierre senses that he will find himself married to Helene whether he likes it or not....
Austerlitz
Napoleon sends General Savary to the Tsar to tell him how much his support of Austria wounds him, but also to learn Marshal Kutuzov's next move. Nikolai is reunited with Boris at his lodging, where they discuss the types of military career they seek. Prince Andre Bolkonsky arrives while Nikolai is relating his experiences at Schongraben. Nikolai is offensive to him about the worth of staff officers as they see no fighting. Savary reports back to Napoleon about the atmosphere of excitement at the Russian camp over what they see as their duty to half French ambitions. Kutuzov's army is camped on the Pratzen Heights and Napoleon hopes they can be drawn down to avoid attacking them there....
Reunion
Twenty thousand men have died at Austerlitz and Marshal Kutuzov has written to Prince Bolkonsky to inform him that Andrei is among them. Maria is afraid to pass on this news to Andrei's wife, Lisa, as her pregnancy is at an advanced stage. There is a happier mood at the Rostovs when Nikolai arrives home bringing Denisov with him. While Natasha is no longer infatuated with Boris, Sonya is still in love with Nikolai, but wants him to be free if that is his wish. Pierre, now married to Helene, is just about the only man in Moscow who is unaware that his wife has taken a man called Dolohov as her lover. Dolohov is introduced to the Rostov family; he feels that it is high time he was married and immediately shows an interest in Sonya....
New Beginnings
Pierre learns that Dolohov is Helene's lover and, at a banquet hosted by Count Rostov in Kutuzov's honor, he is deliberately provoked by his rival. When Dolohov announces aloud that after the banquet he has a date with a rich pretty married woman, Pierre finally loses control and challenges him to a duel. The duel takes place the next day and Pierre seriously wounds Dolohov. After Helene learns what has happened she asks Pierre for a separation, telling him that being his wife has been an embarrassment to her. Denisov, who has had his eye on Natasha, proposes marriage. She like Denisov but does not wish to marry him. A chance meeting at a post-house leads a desolate Pierre to a new way of life. Meanwhile at Tilsit, Napoleon and the Tsar prepare to sign a truce....
A Beautiful Tale
Andrei is weary of life, but meeting Natasha at the Rostov family home prompts him to reappraise his feelings. Lieutenant Berg, who is set to marry Vera Rostov, discusses the question of her dowry with the Count. Maneuvered into offering a hundred thousand rubles, the Count becomes worried about the family's financial security. When he tells the Countess that he has decided to take up a government post at Petersburg, she suggests that they should all go there for a last fling before they begin to cut down on their spending. Once at Petersburg, the Rostovs attend a grand ball at which the Tsar is the guest of honor. Pierre and Helene are there, as is Andrei Bolkonsky who, at Pierre's suggestion, asks Natasha to dance with him....
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