Only 2 weeks since the final season of GoT concluded, HBO’s miniseries, Chernobyl, has already made a name for itself as the best TV Series! It’s not just us but the IMDB ratings which are saying this. With a 9.7 rating, it has left both GoT (9.4) and Breaking Bad (9.5) behind. Which also means that it’s the show with highest ever IMDB rating ever. Only one more episode left to air, it has also become India’s top trending show and has already got viewers hooked to it! This miniseries follows the immediate aftermath of the catastrophic explosion of the nuclear powerplant at Chernobyl and here is why you should be watching the show RN!
What is the Chernobyl disaster?
It’s been 33 years since the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear disaster and yet it remains the worst nuclear disaster the world has ever seen. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded on April 26, 1986, at approximately 1:23 AM when the no. 4 reactor overheated. It is said the radiation released by this incident was 10 times more than that of the atom bombs dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The nuclear rain produced from the disaster spread as far as Ireland. About 800,000 men exposed themselves to the harmful radiation to contain the situation. Out of that, 25,000 lost their lives, and 70,000 were disabled. 20% of people even committed suicide because of the trauma. And it is appalling how most of the world, especially our generation, is not even aware of this disaster. That’s probably one of the reasons why this series has caught everyone’s attention.
Chernobyl – The Show
The HBO miniseries is a dramatic retelling of the Chernobyl tragedy. Regarded as one of the worst human-made catastrophes in history. Set during the first few hours of the disaster, and the days after, the series follows events as the Soviet government tried to cover up and later contain the tragedy. The makers have done such a phenomenal job telling the story down to every detail. The best part about the show is the fact that how the story flows, circling one incident. Also, there’s no sensationalism, no over-dramatisation of the entire event, which makes it all the more believable and captivating.
Once you watch the show you would be able to tell how much research has gone into it prior to filming. It is haunting, maddening and told through many different angles. The series showcases real horror that is clearly made to blow your mind. So if you haven’t watched it already, we suggest you do it right now because if this show doesn’t grip you, we don’t know what else will!
Writer and Producer
Craig Mazin has written this show so outstandingly well that you will have to pick up your jaw off the floor after every episode! And guess what, Mazin has also written movies like The Identity Thief, Hangover Part II and even Scary Movie 3 and 4. Can you even imagine the writer of these insanely hilarious comedy movies writing something as dead serious as Chernobyl? Well, it only goes on to prove the versatility of the guy.
Chernobyl is a compelling, no-nonsense, highly researched dramatisation. It comes as a shock to see that someone who has given us movies like Hangover Part II and the Scary Movies has written this. (You’ll know what we mean once you watch the series). With impeccable writing, this series is an eye-opener for those who don’t know much about the disaster. It also serves as a near-perfect recreation of the events for those who do!
The Impeccable Casting
Jared Harris plays Valery Legasov, a nuclear physicist with dignity and gravitas. You’ll see another physicist Ulana Khomyuk played by Emily Watson who joins him in tackling the scale of the disaster. Both the actors have turned in memorable performances with the perfect display of emotions. They portray a colourless world beautifully and will make you feel like you’re watching the disaster unfold firsthand.
Featured Image Source: Screen Rant
