Chernobyl: HBO’s harrowing new masterpiece
“There was nothing sane about Chernobyl” – this very line in the series trailer is enough to explain what you are about to witness in the series itself and how the events unfolded at the site. But to be honest, nothing can prepare you for what you will witness as you immerse yourself into this eerie docudrama, which will seem like a story based off of a dystopian world.
HBO’s Chernobyl will take you back in time to 1986 Ukraine of the then Soviet Union where reactor no. 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant suffered a colossal explosion that exposed different parts of the Soviet Union and western Europe to high quantities of radiation. This five episode miniseries tells the harrowing story of the immediate aftermath of the explosion, the fallout, and the cover up operation following the accident.
Chernobyl asks one very daunting question, “What is the cost of lies?” which in this case, is human lives. The one asking this question is Valery Legasov (played by Jared Harris), the man who led the Chernobyl investigation and our protagonist for this series. Legasov’s fate is determined within the opening scenes of the series, but as the show goes on, you will find the answer to his question in the most frightening ways possible. It also does an excellent job of portraying the actual events in a way that is both convincing and scary to the point that it will make you question the safety of modern day technology especially that used in nuclear plants. The attention to detail is also something that deserves praise.
Many of us have perhaps watched documentaries related to the accident. But unlike the series, those films will not be able to make you live through it all. Another thing that is vividly portrayed is how the men in power handled the grave situation at hand. The accident was dealt with denial and deception as bureaucrats prioritised their nation’s reputation instead of the lives of millions. Their ignorance regarding the matter affected the rescue and response efforts that were taken after the disaster struck.
Chernobyl will appeal not only to the typical sci-fi and dystopian theme lovers, but also to those who enjoy a bit of drama. At the same time, if you are someone who enjoys the suspense and terror that can be experienced from every good horror movie, this miniseries is something you wouldn’t want to miss. It can easily be tagged as a horror series despite missing most of the elements a typical modern day horror show would have. This just goes on to prove how frightening reality can often be.
Irrespective of the genre you’re fond of or the excitement you’re looking for, this series might end up infusing panic into your heart and leaving you a bit paranoid to say the least. It has a 9.6 on IMDb and a 95 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, and is leaving its viewers mesmerised while at the same time, making them fearful of how ignorance can lead the human population to their own destruction.
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