Channel One will premiere Host of Moscow, a 12-episode historical drama about the Patriotic War of 1812, on August 31 in Russia.
The series will air from August 31 to September 3 at 22:00 each evening. The broadcast comes ahead of Moscow's 879th anniversary celebrations, which take place during the first weekend of September.
Channel One is Russia's main national television broadcaster. The Patriotic War of 1812 refers to the defense of the Russian Empire against Napoleon Bonaparte's invading French army, a pivotal conflict that saw much of Moscow destroyed by fire before the city was rebuilt in the nineteenth century.
Three families face wartime upheaval
The historical saga spans twelve years from 1811 to 1823, tracing human lives from peacetime before the invasion through the burning of Moscow and its subsequent recovery. The story follows three families from different social classes: the noble Lebedevs, the merchant Klykovs, and the serf Nikishins.
Seventeen-year-old Ivan Nikishin, played by Vadim Sosnin, arrives in Moscow with his father Terenty, played by Aleksei Shevchenkov, his elder brother Vasily, portrayed by Grigory Zdorov, and his younger sister Agasha, played by Viktoriya Razumovskaya. Terenty hopes to buy his family out of serfdom so they are no longer unfree peasants. However, their landlord sells the estate to the wealthy Count Lebedev, played by Aleksandr Lazarev Jr., and his wife, played by Nataliya Shvec, crushing their dreams of freedom.
Romance and resistance in occupied Moscow
Romantic obstacles quickly arise for the siblings. Ivan falls in love with merchant's daughter Masha Klykova, played by Irina Kryuchkova, but his status as a serf legally prevents him from marrying her. Meanwhile, Agasha becomes an actress in the Lebedev household theatre and is seduced by the owner's son Pavel, played by Egor Kiryachok, an aide-de-camp to Moscow's governor-general. Vasily takes a job as a clerk for the merchant Klykov, played by Sergei Belyaev, and also falls in love with Masha.
When French forces occupy Moscow in the autumn of 1812, Ivan forms an underground resistance group. He operates side-by-side with Pavel, who works secretly as an agent for Governor-General Rostopchin, played by Vitaly Kishchenko.
Rebuilding Moscow and production details
Following the war, Ivan assists in rebuilding Moscow as a helper to an architect. His architectural designs earn approval from Governor-General Tormasov, played by Igor Gordin, but Ivan is soon placed under arrest.
The drama was co-directed by Igor Zaytsev, whose credits include Tobol, Esenin, The Great, and High Security Vacation, alongside Valeriya Vegner. Channel One chief executive Konstantin Ernst is among the show's producers.
