Now Airing on BBCOne: War & Peace

An up-to-date version of Tolstoy's classic novel, the first episode of the six-part TV-miniseries aired the 3rd of January. While receiving some mixed reviews, it sure is a luscious and grand undertaking. 

Paul Dano (Pierre Bezukhov), Lily James (Natasha Rostova) and James Norton (Andrei Bolkonsky) are set at the center of the story of love and war.

Main Characters

Lavish ballroom scenes are a part of every War & Peace-adaptation

Jack Lowden as Nikolai Rostov seems to be a viewer's favourite

As often, in these lavish period dramas, the costumes are the subject of discussion. The costume design so far has been criticised for its lack of historical correctness, and even, some viewers suggest, not being pretty enough to justify this as, for example, was the case in the most recent adaptation of Anna Karenina. War & Peace's costume designer, Edward K. Gibbon, whose only experience with these kind of productions is as assistant costume designer for The Virgin Queen (2005) may yet prove his skills in the remaining episodes. This blogpost is a good example of a "costume rant" on the series.

Costumes by Jacqueline Durran in Anna Karenina (2012)

Aisling Loftus, known for her role in Mr. Selfridge,  as Sonya Rostova in War & Peace

Music by Martin Phipps, who wrote the memorable score for 2005's North and South, is responsible for the brooding and atmospheric soundtrack. 

                                                    

An older adaption of War and Peace, dating back to 2007, is one of my personal favourite period dramas, and also featured some especially remarkably beautiful music. I have to confess, I've never seen the Audrey Hepburn-version. But Martin Phipps, I hope you can top this!

   

Clémence Poésy and Alessio Boni as Natasha Rostov and Andrej Bolkonsky made for compelling performances in the 2007-adaptation.

I sure am looking forward to the next episodes and hold my judgement until I've seen the entirety of the series. For now, the trailer is full of promises of what's to come.

                                             

Source: Section of Randomness IMDB