Chernobyl

Starring: Jared Harris (5 episodes), Stellan Skarsgard (5 episodes), Jessie Buckley (5 episodes), Emily Watson (4 episodes), Adam Nagaitis (4 episodes), Paul Ritter (4 episodes), Robert Emms (4 episodes), Sam Troughton (4 episodes), Karl Davies (3 episodes), Michael Socha (3 episodes), Laura Elphinstone (3 episodes), Adrian Rawlins (3 episodes), Alan Williams (3 episodes), Con O'Neill (3 episodes), Douggie McMeekin (2 episodes), David Dencik (2 episodes), Mark Lewis Jones (2 episodes), Barry Keoghan (2 episodes), Donald Sumpter (2 episodes), James Cosmo (1 episode), Peter Guinness (1 episode)
Directed by: Johan Renck (5 episodes)
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Drama, Thriller
2019

Seasons Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: In 1986, the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl explodes, an event believed impossible. Russian officials scramble to contain the devastating man-made disaster.

Review:
Tim: It's hard for me to quantify how good Chernobyl is. It's certainly one of the finest miniseries I have ever seen. Johan Renck creates something magnificent here- a shocking look at perhaps the greatest man-made disaster in the planet's history. I obviously knew about the nuclear accident at Chernobyl, but I had no idea of what actually happened, or what it took to prevent an even bigger disaster. This gripping 5-episode series shines a light on those events.

While I loved all five episodes, the first 2-3 are works of genius. They are so intense, so compelling. While I know a little about the dangers of radiation, I had no idea of the immediate impacts of radiation poisoning on the human body. It's horrific and terrifying and just incredible to watch the human toll as the reaction explodes and melts down. Those episodes were stunning, as you're placed right in the middle of this nuclear accident. You get to see the illogical decision-making that led to the disaster, but you also see the heroics of the Russian people as they fight to contain the radiation. It's a beautiful story of the worst and the best of humanity, all centered around one event.

The story was structured so well. You get to see into the mechanisms of how the nuclear plant works, both from a scientific and bureaucracy standpoint. We get insight into the Russian government and the culture and mindset that existed in the mid 1980s. We connect with Russian scientists, who have to navigate the uncertain environment to do their jobs. And, we see the toll Chernobyl took on everyday citizens. It's a wonderful tapestry of different stories and perspectives that allows you to get a 360-degree look at this disaster.

The cast was superb. I'm a big fan of Jared Harris and he did incredible work here. He was believable as a nuclear scientist, and was able to establish a connection with the audience. He's really the protagonist of the series and is excellent in that role. He has a terrific partner in Stellan Skarsgard, another tremendous actor. Skarsgard was fantastic here. He plays a Russian official who starts out antagonist, but undergoes a transformation through the series. You learn to identify with and care about his character. It's an incredible performance. Emily Watson rounds out the main cast with an excellent performance. She is such a talented, strong actress and that was on display here. Watson's best moments are subtle, but there's so many of them as the series progresses. I like Jessie Buckley and while I wish she had more to do, is solid in her smaller supporting role. Paul Ritter is fantastic in an unlikable, villainous role. He does such a great job, you just feel such anger toward him. I liked seeing Barry Keoghan here in a small role, too. He doesn't do much, but he has a few nice scenes.

Chernobyl is at turns terrifying, fascinating, illuminating, exciting, and sobering. It brings the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to life and gives you much to ponder. The series was critically well-received. It won 2 Golden Globes- Best Television Limited Series and Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for Stellan Skarsgard. It also won 10 Emmys, including Outstanding Limited Series. Director Johan Renck did a fantastic job of crafting a series that I'll think about for a long, long time. This is truly something special, one of the greatest miniseries I've ever seen.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



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