Chernobyl (2019)

[Ishan]

Anyone watching this show?

In April 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics becomes one of the world's worst man-made catastrophes.

The broad themes are: the disaster itself, people (firefighters, engineering staff) behind the disaster and the state apparatus that is refusing to come to terms with the disaster. Acting is very realistic and to the point. Cinematography is great and you can feel being in the 1980s Ukraine.

Overall amazing. Watching episode 2, the sense of dread and fear/confusion displayed is great.

[Common Soldier]

I will write the OP in detail later.

Anyone watching this show?
https://youtu.be/s9APLXM9Ei8

Show is amazing. Watching episode 2, the sense of dread and fear/confusion displayed is great.

Looks very good. Seems like HBO has all the best shows.

[tgoodenow]

I’ve watched both episodes and I’m really impressed by the acting.

[Kyriakos]

The main actor is very good (the one with the glasses). The Gorbachev actor looks very stupid though
And the story just isn't my thing.

[Ishan]

Only regret I have that I can't binge watch it.

[LaMuerte]

Only regret I have that I can't binge watch it.

Amen to that.

Chernobyl's story has been done so many times I was expecting 'just another' documentary/show on Chernobyl, not ... this. I really liked it.

Watching episode 2, the sense of dread and fear/confusion displayed is great.

Quite unnerving for the viewer too. So many horrific moments, so many walking dead.

[Ishan]

Such a painful experience it must have been. Wouldn't wish something like that on my enemies even. Last scene of episode 2 where the 3 volunteers go was intense. The "Oh " when their torches die and they're left in a maze without light. Awful.

[Knight of Heaven]

Such a painful experience it must have been. Wouldn't wish something like that on my enemies even. Last scene of episode 2 where the 3 volunteers go was intense. The "Oh " when their torches die and they're left in a maze without light. Awful.

Im more or less familiar with the story. The actual story. ( it was pretty horrific indeed).

Wait until they send the two diving volunteers under radiated water, assuming they cover that in the show. ( i would think so, as it really happened).

The main actor is very good (the one with the glasses).

Jared Harris, yep he is good. He is playing Valery Legasov, which is great casting i might add. In real life Legasov was also responsible for coming up with the plan to contain and fix the disaster which at the time, no one really knew for sure how, as it was unprecedented.

He didn't had an happy ending though, as it is showcased in the show. Mostly due to the cover up policies made by the soviet regime.

[Kyriakos]

Production value and some of the actors seem to be very good, yet the story isn't appealing to me. I vaguely recall adults being scared at the time (i was 5).
I think they made Gorbachev look stupid, though. I mean he wouldn't need Legasov to correct him on the population of Ukraine&Belarus
And the made-up characters seem to be trite.

[TheDarkKnight]

Episode 4 was one of the most haunting hours of television I have ever witnessed.

Next week is the finale. If they stick the landing this just might replace Band of Brothers as the best miniseries I have ever watched.

Though I cannot say it is my favorite...

[LaMuerte]

Great music and sound effects during the last scene and when the end credits roll. Watch until the last second.

[Knight of Heaven]

Finally watched episode 4. That was horrifying, and haunting. The music the tone, everything. Dam good episode.

[TheDarkKnight]

Skip to like...5 minutes or so for the good stuff

[Kyriakos]

Hm, i saw up to ep4.
The production value is great, but the writing is rather dumb (must be an HBO thing ).

Some examples:
1) they have Gorbachev be a bumbling idiot. Lol?
2) Russian high-ranking party member fawning over german robotic tech, in the mid 80s, within living memory of WW2. Highly not believable.
3) (a hybrid of 1 &2) Russian high-ranking party member yelling on the phone 'F Gorbachev'.
4) WTF cares about a fireman and his wife's baby being stillborn to the degree that death becomes the cause of some major (entirely fictional, i suspect) character like the female physicist pushing for an attack on the KGB?

'Merica

[Coughdrop addict]

I don't really mind the overt message of "people who don't/won't understand science shouldn't be in charge". From the start with the Politburo thinking this was something that could be swept under the rug to the government's first priority throughout being to avoid embarrassment, Chernobyl is a solid argument for mandatory scientific literacy tests for government officials in any country.

[TheDarkKnight]

I don't really mind the overt message of "people who don't/won't understand science shouldn't be in charge". From the start with the Politburo thinking this was something that could be swept under the rug to the government's first priority throughout being to avoid embarrassment, Chernobyl is a solid argument for mandatory scientific literacy tests for government officials in any country.

Yep.

And the sad thing is...30+ years later, things haven't changed. If anything scientific ignorance has become celebrated within the last few years, especially in certain areas of the US.

A real shame the world hasn't changed much.

[95thrifleman]

I liked all the period-correct touches, really felt 80's

[TheDarkKnight]

That final episode and the ending message/montage...

Jesus. This might just beat Band of Brothers for me.

[LaMuerte]

What an epic. This was really great.

[HannibalExMachina]

darn good drama. i recommended it to my parents, which in hindsight may have been a mistake. they are die-hard anti-nuclear. i was born in 86, and have all the right parts in all the right places. welp.