1986 was marked by two significant events: the assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme in February, and the Chernobyl disaster in April. I recall a pervasive sense of unease. We were restricted from outdoor activities and confined indoors, amidst numerous reports cautioning against consuming fish, berries, and other forest products. As a nine-year-old, my understanding of nuclear power and meltdowns was rudimentary, yet the event sparked a fascination. I sought out information, which was often limited. Thirty-three years later, the HBO series Chernobyl premiered, directed by Johan Renck (Stakka Bo) and written by Craig Mazin, whose previous works included Scary Movie 3, 4, and The Hangover II and III. Initially, the project’s pedigree raised concerns that it might prove to be a misstep.
At 01:23 on Saturday, April 26, 1986, reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located north of Kiev in Ukraine, experienced a catastrophic explosion. Fire brigades were dispatched to the scene, and without adequate protective equipment, they commenced firefighting operations. Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), a nuclear expert, was summoned and swiftly recognized the magnitude of the disaster. He, along with Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård), journeyed to Chernobyl to mitigate the damage.
The adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” is particularly apt in the case of Chernobyl. Director Johan Renck and screenwriter Craig Mazin have produced a masterful miniseries. The five episodes are exceptionally well-balanced, delivering a compelling, informative, engaging, and sobering narrative. The script and direction are of the highest caliber. Upon completing the final episode, I immediately re-watched the first. The performances, particularly those of Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgård, are outstanding, and their character development throughout the series is compelling.
Emily Watson portrays Ulana Khomyuk, a fictional character whose actions are inspired by real events. Her character is a composite of several individuals involved in the incident. Watson’s casting is perfect for the role. I would also like to commend David Dencik as Prime Minister Gorbachev and Fares Fares as Bacho. Jessie Buckley, portraying Lyudmilla Ignatenko, the firefighter’s wife, delivers one of the series’ most poignant performances, depicting a heartbreakingly true story.
I initially watched Chernobyl on HBO Nordic upon its release in May 2019. For the first time in 17 years, I eagerly anticipated each new episode (I discontinued watching conventional television in 2002). The week-long intervals between episodes were agonizing. This issue is now resolved with the release of the excellent Blu-ray edition, which features valuable bonus content that complements the series. Furthermore, the Blu-ray offers significantly improved picture and sound quality compared to the subpar streaming quality provided by HBO Nordic. Despite adequate bandwidth, the streamed series suffered from compression artifacts and audio anomalies, including poor black levels and deficient resolution. Experiencing the series again in Full HD with superior audio was a marked improvement.
In conclusion, I cannot recall a miniseries that has captivated me to such an extent. The five compelling episodes depict one of modern history’s most devastating disasters, highlighting both human fallibility and acts of courage and ingenuity, eliciting both sorrow and admiration. While some dramatic license is taken to enhance the narrative, Chernobyl remains a largely accurate portrayal of the events of April 1986. This is a definitive must-see; if you have not yet viewed it, I highly recommend doing so.
