CHERNOBYL - Series Review (9/10)
HBO’s 2019 series, Chernobyl, was critically praised when it premiered, but buzz around it disappeared soon after. A fun metaphor for the incident that it covers. Chernobyl is a 5-episode story that covers the nuclear explosion at the city of Chernobyl and the search to find the truth about it. The show switches its perspective around many times, but we do find a main character in Valery, a nuclear scientist brought in to observe and help control the damage from the explosion. The first episode of the show is my favourite. It starts off with dialogue from Valery, but then quickly transports us to the time of the explosion to follow the plant workers and city residents. It manages to capture the confusion, the damage, the arrogance, and dread of the characters beautifully as we see them handle what has never happened before in human history. For all the dense information and exposition we find later in the show, this episode is all about the moment. Who sacrificed what? Who saved who? In the moment of chaos, who managed to step up? It shows plenty despite telling so little. The middle three episodes are great as well, the stand outs being the animal clean-up scenes and the story of the young couple. Episode five also delivers as a satisfying finale. It resolves the themes and plot of the show whilst returning to the initial question: In the moment of chaos, would you do the right thing? Even if it meant losing the rest of your life, would you stand for what you believed to be just? Themes aside, the show also excels in other departments. The direction is a quiet and meaningful, knowing when to hold just long enough. The haunting tracks still play in my mind. And the amazing acting, especially between Jared Harris (Valery) and Stellan Skarsgard (Boris, second main character), whose initial awkwardness naturally flows into their later respect for one another serves to bring the audience in emotionally. Overall, Chernobyl is a fantastic piece of media that manages to teach more than just historical fact. Its delicate human drama completely grounds the action, showcasing the damage dealt to all fronts.
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