Everyone in this topic has offered insights that I agree with, quite rare for a forum!
I also would like to add that Natasha was not only a hormonally charged teenager but that she felt rejected by Andrei and his family. Andrei's father cold, dismissive treatment of her and Andrei's absence made her think this whole happy, married life with Andrei is not going to happen. She must have felt a huge void that was easily filled by Anatole's advances.
Like many have stated already, Anatole evoked her sexual desires like no man has. Natasha, like so many young women of the time, could only contemplate having any sexual relations in the marital chamber, and Anatole unleashed the floodgates, so to speak.
All these aristocrats may have known each other or have been aware of each other's existence their whole lives, so there is already enough familiarity yet not everyone is close to each other... yet.
I thought Callum Turner was well-casted. He does the bad boy routine well and looks menacing. I also agree that it's impossible to cast an actor that will please all audiences.
For example, I found it hard to believe that the actress Tuppence Middleton who played Helene Kuragin to be the most beautiful, jaw-dropping woman in St. Petersburg. While she is attractive, is she as stunning as the average Miss Universe? In the 1956 version Anita Ekberg, known to be one of the most beautiful actresses to walk the earth, played Helene.
While I found Callum Turner as Anatole convincing, I didn't find Tuppence Middleton as Helene convincing. Anatole's "charms" are not based on looks alone, they are based on his cad qualities, a promise of a dangerous, thrilling adventure. Helene's "charms" are solely based on looks and outward pleasantness. A larger number of actors can play Anatole, while a very few select actresses can play the most beautiful woman in St Petersburg.
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memingi
8 years ago
I never read the book, but I watched the series and the film, and I agree about Tuppence Middleton being miscast. For instance, I never thought that she suppose to be the most beautiful woman in St petersburg, maybe it was said on the series and I don't remember, but only by her looks, I would never guessed.
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LeofricsBeloved
8 years ago
It was not mentioned in the series; in one of the marketing materials, she was mentioned as the most beautiful woman in St Petersburg. I can't find it, sorry.
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Bolchevik (369)
5 years ago
@Schupple and @LeofricsBeloved : great analysis
There is also an interesting parallel to draw between episode4 Hunting scene and the seduction process of Anatole. During the hunt scene, Natacha is lost in the wood and gets trapped by a desperate hunted wolf. Despite the danger, the wolf takes the time to gaze at Natacha and litteraly mesmerize her. The charm is only broken when hunters are getting closer and the wolf flees.
That wolf was obviously an alter ego of Anatole. Later on, we found the actor who played Anatole was not only a good one (in my opionon) but he was physically very close to the wolf and shared many physical attributes (gaze, eyes, slender, etc.). So he was a perfect much according to me.
However, I Don't believe Anatole had any good intention toward Natacha. Anatole was morally flawed as demonstrated numerous times during the series (having intercourses with his sister, seducing a girl while he was trying to proposed to the princess). I think it's fair to say he just wanted to sleep with Natacha or, worst, to "lost her" as a game. As a irrefutable proof, if he had genuine sentiments, he would have revealed to Natacha he was already married. He was just that a wolf after all.
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