As Russia prepares for war with France, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky is excited for life on the front line. Meanwhile his friend Pierre Bezukhov is called to his dying father's bedside.

Andrei and Nikolai prepare for battle with the French, but are they stepping into a trap? In Russia, Pierre struggles to settle into married life with Helene.

Pierre fights a duel that sends his life in a surprising new direction. At the Rostov house, Natasha and Sonya receive unexpected proposals, and Nikolai makes a disastrous mistake.

Andrei is in love, but his father is set against him marrying Natasha, and insists on a long engagement to keep them apart.

Napoleon outrages the Russian emperor by crossing the border, and marching his army towards Moscow. In his path stands Prince Bolkonsky's country estate.

Chaos takes hold as Napoleon marches into Moscow, and the Rostovs rush to leave the city. As they hurry away, Natasha is astonished to learn the identity of one of her traveling companions.