It may have boasted a most impressive cast (including Stephen Rea, Gillian Anderson, Paul Dano, Lily James and James Norton), but the real star of War and Peace's opening episode was a white horse.

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At least, that's what Twitter thought.

The beautiful beast made only a fleeting appearance in the sumptuous opening episode, but still managed to steal the show thanks to a dramatic death scene.

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As the young Nikolai Rostov (Jack Lowden) rode into battle, his mount was shot down by Napoleon's forces – much to the dismay of viewers following along online.

https://twitter.com/LauraSlattery/status/683768249272655872

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The young Russian picked himself up just in time to comfort the dying horse.

https://twitter.com/HuwieMcChewie/status/683969659700428800

Some even deemed its performance Bafta-worthy.

https://twitter.com/stevenperkins/status/683768118238404608

And lamented the fact that the creature wouldn't be returning.

https://twitter.com/SCFGallagher/status/683769593895202816
https://twitter.com/philjardine01/status/683805282904981505
https://twitter.com/LauraSlattery/status/683769851299688448

Perhaps a Bobby from Dallas shower scene is in order?

And before you ask, nope, that wasn't an animatronic head. RadioTimes.com can confirm that the horse was real. Sources on the show have even revealed that the four-legged stars were bigger divas than the actors.

Judging by the Twitter love, though, we think the neigh sayers had best trot on...

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War and Peace continues on BBC1 on Sunday at 9pm

Authors

Sarah Doran

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