[HBO] Chernobyl

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue May 07, 2019 5:25 pm

Trailer:

The first of five episodes of this miniseries premiered last night. I didn't see it, but I plan to watch it tonight in rerun.

The reviews I've seen are very strong. Apparently it gets the story exactly right scientifically and politically, and the human drama is very affecting without falling into melodrama. It's being touted today as a must-see.

Incidentally, for those wondering, it's not an anti-nuclear-power story. The creator in interviews has said that he is pro-nuke and that he believes nuclear power will be crucial in the fight to curb climate change. This is a story about science and truth and politics.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue May 07, 2019 9:14 pm

OK, wow.

That was some powerful television. Tough and slow-burn horrifying. The worst part is knowing it's true.

Xmann · Post by **Xmann** » Tue May 07, 2019 9:18 pm

Been looking forward to this. Glad to hear the positive feedback.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue May 07, 2019 9:29 pm

If this were Game of Thrones, we'd be yelling "How does cutting the phone lines stop the radiation??"

But it's true and appalling because 1986 and Soviet.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Tue May 07, 2019 9:56 pm

This is on my radar but I think I want to wait until the series is finished so I can watch the whole thing at once. For a show like this, that works better for me.

Drazzil · Post by **Drazzil** » Wed May 08, 2019 12:46 am

Yeah I just watched the first ep... Brutal how people were deceived about the horrible tragedy that unfolded.

GungHo · Post by **GungHo** » Wed May 08, 2019 10:51 am

Grifman wrote: Tue May 07, 2019 9:56 pm This is on my radar but I think I want to wait until the series is finished so I can watch the whole thing at once. For a show like this, that works better for me.

This is me as well. I'm so spoiled with whole seasons being available online for various shows that I'm no longer willing to watch one episode per week and (gasp) wait to watch another one a week later. But definitely on my want to watch list.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Wed May 08, 2019 10:01 pm

Watched the first episode and was really impressed. Holy cow, it was like watching the Titanic all over again. Can't believe how careless they were given they were facing this for the first time. This is gripping television.

I've been following this guy's blog for awhile now. He's made at least 3 different trips to the zone, documenting it all, releasing a book and video, and also been to Fukushima. It makes for some fascinating reading: https://www.podniesinski.pl/portal/chernobyl/ Make sure to check out the other expeditions too.

AWS260 · Post by **AWS260** » Wed May 08, 2019 11:34 pm

Thanks for the link. That's a great read!

Toe · Post by **Toe** » Thu May 09, 2019 9:04 am

Rumpy wrote: Wed May 08, 2019 10:01 pm Watched the first episode and was really impressed. Holy cow, it was like watching the Titanic all over again. Can't believe how careless they were given they were facing this for the first time. This is gripping television.

Agree 100%, very gripping and ominous first episode. I was a bit shocked at how radiation detection was so marginalized.

I am also a bit curious as to how accurate the series is. I initialed heard something along that lines of practically nothing was embellished for entertainment value, so is very close to what actually happened. But then I started reading a review (of a reviewer that watched all 4 parts already) that was pointing various inaccuracies in the series.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu May 09, 2019 11:54 am

Toe wrote: Thu May 09, 2019 9:04 am
Rumpy wrote: Wed May 08, 2019 10:01 pm Watched the first episode and was really impressed. Holy cow, it was like watching the Titanic all over again. Can't believe how careless they were given they were facing this for the first time. This is gripping television.
Agree 100%, very gripping and ominous first episode. I was a bit shocked at how radiation detection was so marginalized.

I am also a bit curious as to how accurate the series is. I initialed heard something along that lines of practically nothing was embellished for entertainment value, so is very close to what actually happened. But then I started reading a review (of a reviewer that watched all 4 parts already) that was pointing various inaccuracies in the series.

Can you point me to that review? I'd be interested.

The only points of unreality I've seen discussed are that the female scientist character (who is major) is actually a composite and that of course we're putting imagined dialogue into the mouths of historical people. I haven't heard any criticism of the science.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Thu May 09, 2019 1:16 pm

Toe wrote: Thu May 09, 2019 9:04 am I am also a bit curious as to how accurate the series is. I initialed heard something along that lines of practically nothing was embellished for entertainment value, so is very close to what actually happened. But then I started reading a review (of a reviewer that watched all 4 parts already) that was pointing various inaccuracies in the series.

Well, from reading the above link, it seems to be quite accurate. This isn't a guy who visits for fun, but a guy who'd done a lot of research, not only in the plant but in the surrounding areas. And apparently, he'd found fragments from the core still buried. Guess we'll see how accurate the other parts are, but I guess it'd be hard to know for sure. This miniseries does seem to be painting an evenhanded picture of the events and those involved.

But yeah, it is amazing how much it was marginalized. I think part of it was due to the fact they were all facing something new and didn't know how they should be reacting. But the outright denial... wow. Who to believe, the ones actually working in there having seen things or the brass who give the orders? That was half the battle.

Holman wrote: Thu May 09, 2019 11:54 am The only points of unreality I've seen discussed are that the female scientist character (who is major) is actually a composite and that of course we're putting imagined dialogue into the mouths of historical people. I haven't heard any criticism of the science.

That seems to be pretty standard practice and I'd hardly criticize it for that, especially when there were so many people involved. Critics can be odd.

Drazzil · Post by **Drazzil** » Mon May 13, 2019 7:03 pm

I thought it was awful how that firefighter was handling part of the graphite core and how his body started to shut down minutes later.

Or the part where the guy was asked to go into the core to eyeball it from the roof, and started to die almost immediately.

Sepiche · Post by **Sepiche** » Tue May 14, 2019 10:35 am

Watched the first episode last night greatly enjoyed it. It has the feel of a horror movie where all the workers are slowly being hunted by something, and you are screaming at people "Don't go through that door!".

There's also a podcast companion where the creator is interviewed by Peter Sagal of NPR fame. The creator does a great job during it of talking through some of the inaccuracies and why they made the changes they did, in addition to lots of background info and anecdotes that didn't make it into the show:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t ... 1459712981

Also makes me want to dig up the last Stalker game and play through it again.

Edit: Also, Jared Harris is an amazing actor. First time I saw him was on Madmen and he was great, and he's also excellent in The Terror which everyone should watch.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Tue May 14, 2019 10:38 am

Well, if you want to visit the reactor, you'll need the first STALKER game.

Or check out the Lost Alpha mod... which pretty much lets you go everywhere. It's a bit buggy, but still pretty cool.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue May 14, 2019 10:42 am

The second episode is as strong as the first. This presentation is gripping.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue May 14, 2019 10:43 am

Sepiche wrote: Tue May 14, 2019 10:35 am Edit: Also, Jared Harris is an amazing actor. First time I saw him was on Madmen and he was great, and he's also excellent in The Terror which everyone should watch.

And he plays an utterly and unexpectedly different character in THE EXPANSE.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Tue May 14, 2019 1:19 pm

Oh yep, second episode was great as well! Amazing how much of a 180 that one man had made after witnessing those horrors at the plant via helicopter.

And oh yes, Jared Harris is an amazing character actor.

tjg_marantz · Post by **tjg_marantz** » Thu May 16, 2019 12:11 am

So tense. Episode two delivered in spades.

Hamlet3145 · Post by **Hamlet3145** » Thu May 16, 2019 2:00 am

That ending fade to black.

Also, every country within 1000 miles of Chernobyl should have a national holiday for those guys who volunteered to go in.

Drazzil · Post by **Drazzil** » Fri May 17, 2019 12:45 am

Holman wrote: Tue May 14, 2019 10:43 am
Sepiche wrote: Tue May 14, 2019 10:35 am Edit: Also, Jared Harris is an amazing actor. First time I saw him was on Madmen and he was great, and he's also excellent in The Terror which everyone should watch.
And he plays an utterly and unexpectedly different character in THE EXPANSE.

An opening scene spoiler for Chernobyl and a major spoiler for Mad Men follows:

Spoiler:

Trent Steel · Post by **Trent Steel** » Tue May 21, 2019 9:55 am

The victims in the hospital... HOLY CRAP!

This show is so horrifying, but you can’t look away. I don’t even know how to describe it so far other than

.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue May 21, 2019 10:15 am

They're three for three strong episodes so far.

Sepiche · Post by **Sepiche** » Tue May 21, 2019 10:43 am

Yeah, seeing the effect after a few days on the reactor workers and firefighters was horrifying. Seeing them get exposed to that radiation in the first episode and thinking "Holy shit, they're dead" and later seeing the effects of looking into a burning nuclear reactor on their bodies is stunning.

According to the creator in the companion podcast Akimov, the second engineer Ulana interviewed as he was dying, was even worse off than Toptunov, but they thought it would start bordering on exploitative if they showed his condition as well. Supposedly before he died Akimov's skin had turned black as charcoal.

The scene with the miners working naked would have been funny if not for the fact they were slowly killing themselves with the work they were doing.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue May 21, 2019 10:48 am

Sepiche wrote: Tue May 21, 2019 10:43 am According to the creator in the companion podcast Akimov, the second engineer Ulana interviewed as he was dying, was even worse off than Toptunov, but they thought it would start bordering on exploitative if they showed his condition as well. Supposedly before he died Akimov's skin had turned black as charcoal.

Yeah. They show the first engineer she's interviewing as well as other patients, but when she's talking to the second the camera never leaves her face.

Drazzil · Post by **Drazzil** » Wed May 22, 2019 1:15 am

Holman wrote: Tue May 21, 2019 10:48 am
Sepiche wrote: Tue May 21, 2019 10:43 am According to the creator in the companion podcast Akimov, the second engineer Ulana interviewed as he was dying, was even worse off than Toptunov, but they thought it would start bordering on exploitative if they showed his condition as well. Supposedly before he died Akimov's skin had turned black as charcoal.
Yeah. They show the first engineer she's interviewing as well as other patients, but when she's talking to the second the camera never leaves her face.

I think they actually did show the second guy briefly (I think) Unless the first guy is who I'm thinking of.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Wed May 22, 2019 1:25 am

This miniseries is so full of atmosphere. And I don't mean nuclear particles. I hope it ends up winning some emmies because it's been stellar so far! Really glad they're sticking with accuracy. I've heard that they really did have to dig the soil. I've seen reference to that on the blog I linked earlier. Surprised they already were thinking about the tomb around the plant as I figured that would happen much further along, but I guess that was in the planning stages. Latest news I've heard, as of a few years ago, they had to build yet another one around the old one as the old one was already showing signs of decay.

What's shocking about seeing all this play out is that you know they're doing their best despite lack of experience and knowledge and that it's never going to be enough. And then there's the complete arrogance from the higher-ups in the beginning.

Toe · Post by **Toe** » Wed May 22, 2019 2:35 pm

Rumpy wrote: Wed May 22, 2019 1:25 am This miniseries is so full of atmosphere. And I don't mean nuclear particles. I hope it ends up winning some emmies because it's been stellar so far! Really glad they're sticking with accuracy.

Yeah, it seems to be destine for emmy wins. I will honestly be disappointed if GoT steals any of its thunder. I don't think I have ever be so pissed off at a characters on TV (including Joffery, lol) than the wife of the firefighter in the hospital. I know most of it is attributed to ignorance regarding radiation poisoning, but man it was tough to watch it play out like it did. It had all the trappings of a horror movie.

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Wed May 22, 2019 2:48 pm

Watching that wife break ALL of the protocols while pregnant was tough.

This miniseries has been incredible so far.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Wed May 22, 2019 3:17 pm

Oh and Jared Harris is an excellent actor. But we already knew that

I think I first became aware of him in Mad Men, and was surprised to later learn he was Richard Harris' younger brother. I feel like he never disappoints in anything I see him in.

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Wed May 22, 2019 3:30 pm

I didn't know he was Richard's brother. Cool.

Edit - Son. I thought he was too young to be his brother.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Wed May 22, 2019 5:22 pm

Yeah, I figured it was something like that. Good family genes in any case

tjg_marantz · Post by **tjg_marantz** » Sun May 26, 2019 11:13 pm

Slava Malamud is better known as a Russian hockey writer but he's watching the series and grew up in that era.

His threads on the show are just fascinating. He even gets a few replies from showrunner Mazin.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Mon May 27, 2019 10:21 pm

Episode 4 aired tonight.

I was prepared to deal with human suffering. I was not prepared for the animals.

Another powerful and almost unwatchable episode. This is some of the strongest television I've ever seen.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Mon May 27, 2019 10:59 pm

Yeah, that was a great read. Could this miniseries be the most accurate historical drama? Usually when there are historical depictions, a lot of corners are cut for the sake of TV.

Regarding tonight's episode, man those scenes with the dogs was hard to watch. I feel like they dwelled on that a little too long. I think the most interesting thing about this episode for me was seeing the rovers in action, something which I had read about in that blog I linked earlier.
https://www.podniesinski.pl/portal/the-zone-in-4k-ii/

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue May 28, 2019 2:19 am

Man, I had no idea how close we were to Armageddon. And relying on the Ruskies to avoid it

naednek · Post by **naednek** » Tue May 28, 2019 12:23 pm

so next week is the series finale (boo) I saw no indication that they are going to tell how they build the cement wall around it, and went straight to the trial. I feel like this show could use another two episodes.

Great series. It's amazing what they went through, and how their government is. Can't imagine living like that.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Tue May 28, 2019 1:12 pm

Oh, it's over next week? I thought I had seen there were 6 episodes. Maybe the the A & B plots will be the Trial and the building of the Covering. I've heard it both referred to as a Tomb and Sarcophagus, but that may just be a translation error.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Tue May 28, 2019 3:27 pm

I am impressed with how they found so many British actors that look like my preconceived notions of how Russians look.

This mini-series is great, though. Apparently it has become the highest rated program off all time on IMBD.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue May 28, 2019 4:31 pm

Lil' bit of history:

At first glance, it’s hard to know what’s happening in this picture. A giant mushroom seems to have sprouted in a factory floor, where ghostly men in hardhats seem to be working.

But there’s something undeniably eerie about the scene, for good reason. You’re looking at the largest agglomeration of one of the most toxic substances ever created: corium.