Chernobyl

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: May 6, 2019
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 402 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 371 out of 402
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 402
  3. Negative: 22 out of 402
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. dimchis3
    May 22, 2019
    10
    Боль и страдания! Только так можно выразить, происходящее на экране. Сериал держит зрителя в напряженности от первой секунды до последней. Создатели рассказывают истории людей, переживающих последствия данной катастрофы, и эти истории завораживают своей трагичностью и безумием. В определенные моменты становится страшно смотреть на экран, но от этого сериал не становится хуже. Он показываетБоль и страдания! Только так можно выразить, происходящее на экране. Сериал держит зрителя в напряженности от первой секунды до последней. Создатели рассказывают истории людей, переживающих последствия данной катастрофы, и эти истории завораживают своей трагичностью и безумием. В определенные моменты становится страшно смотреть на экран, но от этого сериал не становится хуже. Он показывает реальную историю без преувеличений и заставляет зрителя сопереживать героям. Низкий поклон создателям сериала за огромный труд, с помощью которого они отдают дань уважения всем людям, участвовавшим в ликвидации последствий катастрофы, а так же за то, что показали это людям, чтобы они не забывали и помнили, какую цену заплатили ликвидаторы за жизни нынешних и будущих поколений!… Expand
  2. Blade-Runner
    May 14, 2019
    10
    I didn't have much expectations from this, but it turns out it is absolutely and exceptionally powerful television, the cast is superb. It starts slowly, but by episode 2 things become so disturbingly real, I almost could feel my hair fall out from anxiety and the sheer horror of looking impending apocalypse and death in the eyes...
    (Europe as a whole dodged a bullet in 1986).
  3. Aryjunior
    May 18, 2019
    10
    Great TV show, I am not been so impressed since breaking bad for a TV serie
  4. shoulderoforion
    May 7, 2019
    9
    The first episode tonight was outstanding, made me feel physically ill, and feared that while watching somehow I was being exposed to nuclear radiation.
  5. Wolfenstein51
    May 7, 2019
    10
    Very compelling television. This story will induce rage among viewers on how the Russian government was more concerned about their politics than the safety of their people. Can't wait for episode 2.
  6. Evkaxy
    May 16, 2019
    10
    The first episode was so good. There was a lot of attention put into making things look authentic. It is as bleak as you would expect USSR in mid 80s to be. Everything from camera filters, and lighting to costumes, interiors and hairstyles paint a very convincing picture. Radiation burns is not something that you can see on television every day and many of the scenes were truly shocking.The first episode was so good. There was a lot of attention put into making things look authentic. It is as bleak as you would expect USSR in mid 80s to be. Everything from camera filters, and lighting to costumes, interiors and hairstyles paint a very convincing picture. Radiation burns is not something that you can see on television every day and many of the scenes were truly shocking. It was like watching apocalyptic horror movie...except it wasn't a fiction… Expand
  7. Skeletor71
    May 22, 2019
    10
    I don't see how this show could have been any better. I especially love the eighties sovjet atmosphere. The only thing I don't like is that I have to wait a week for the next one. And that it's a mini-series.
  8. ctcropley
    May 16, 2019
    9
    Beautiful acting and amazing cinematography. The sense of impending doom that lasts throughout each episode is suspense at its best.
  9. Joes
    May 16, 2019
    10
    Una gran serie que recrea bieo que pasó en Chernobyl.
    Altamente recomendada
  10. Big1
    May 9, 2019
    10
    This show is absolutely captivating. After only 1 episode you can already feel the hopelessness from the event. This is already panning to be one of my favorite limited series from HBO.
  11. UncleWillard
    May 21, 2019
    10
    I was lucky enough to have visited the USSR twice before the wall came down, and Chernobyl captures that Soviet aesthetic to a tee. It's looming throughout the show as it was when I visited Romania and the Ukraine; ever-present and suffocating. I'm fascinated with every episode they release. There's just no wrong step here.
  12. brockcheese
    May 12, 2019
    8
    This show is especially grim and has such an impressive atmosphere that really carries the entire ordeal.
  13. andy24king24
    May 7, 2019
    10
    Absolutely brilliant this new series showcasing incredible talent telling us the story behind one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. Very haunting, incredibly powerful, shocking but outstanding. Episode one only.
  14. Dubeau
    Feb 27, 2022
    10
    Amazing recreation of this real disaster. The story is made to follow those who have made sacrifices. Maybe the invention of Khomyuk is taking liberties, but you do feel it brings more focus. I felt like it brought some lights on the events. The acting is quite amazing with a great cast. And also, how the story starts and end was a smart choice. I give it a 98%. We probably gets the storyAmazing recreation of this real disaster. The story is made to follow those who have made sacrifices. Maybe the invention of Khomyuk is taking liberties, but you do feel it brings more focus. I felt like it brought some lights on the events. The acting is quite amazing with a great cast. And also, how the story starts and end was a smart choice. I give it a 98%. We probably gets the story of Fukushima Daiichi reactor one day. Still ongoing.… Expand
  15. hitzestau
    Jun 8, 2019
    10
    Gripping, disturbing, extremely well done... the show maintains a good balance between the human drama and the retelling of the events of the disaster. It's almost unimaginable with how much naivety people reacted to the explosion at the beginning. But the show also manages to portray the Soviet system of lies, fear and deliberately leaving the people in the dark as one of the mainGripping, disturbing, extremely well done... the show maintains a good balance between the human drama and the retelling of the events of the disaster. It's almost unimaginable with how much naivety people reacted to the explosion at the beginning. But the show also manages to portray the Soviet system of lies, fear and deliberately leaving the people in the dark as one of the main culprits. The production design and the choice of locations creates an extremely authentic look of the time. The series offers a glimpse into the abyss of hell and won't let you go until you've seen all the episodes.… Expand
  16. MediaMan
    May 7, 2019
    10
    This was a great start, i was worried they would censor or leave out disturbing facts of this catastrophic incident. More specifically the shady politics that came with the USSR at the time, how crazy communist governments become and inherently are. I do wish it was Russian actors with subtitles to be as authentic as possible, but the visuals are unimaginable and they definitely dove intoThis was a great start, i was worried they would censor or leave out disturbing facts of this catastrophic incident. More specifically the shady politics that came with the USSR at the time, how crazy communist governments become and inherently are. I do wish it was Russian actors with subtitles to be as authentic as possible, but the visuals are unimaginable and they definitely dove into the realities of what it must have even looked like. Places that only so many people witnessed before their demise such as peering into the core. Absolutely fascinating and it plays out like a horror program, only it is real, all to real. You didn't want to be on the bottom end of the communist totem pole as a soldier, first responder, scientist, or politician when this situation happened. So many lives ruined. I'm looking forward to how the show unfolds and depicts the event many already know or have studied, but as it looks right now they aren't holding anything back.… Expand
  17. Websevee
    May 21, 2019
    10
    Очень понравился сериал. Правдоподобный, увлекательный, поучительный и пугающий
  18. WalterJohsnon
    May 26, 2019
    10
    The Writing, Set Design, Music, Acting, and Cinematography for this miniseries is absolutely exceptional. The Cinematography is probably some of the best of any TV show ever, and Every episode so far has you in suspense for what will happen next.
  19. Tazcat2011
    May 10, 2019
    9
    So far this a riveting look at the worst nuclear disaster in history. Not only is the human drama compelling, but so is the political drama. The Soviet state dared not admit what happened and prevented the engineers at Chernobyl from speaking truth to power. The Soviets labored under the delusion of supremacy and it cost many lives. Excellent show, pay no attention the New York Times review.
  20. DrexlerN7
    May 7, 2019
    9
    After what HBO did to GoT Season 8, I was going to unsub. This show is great and I'll stick around for it. And then probably unsub.
  21. Black-Templar
    May 19, 2019
    10
    Ok, forget about that sh**ty a** season 8 of Game of Thrones.

    This is the season of 2019.

    Johan Renck should have been appointed director of GoT S8 and Craig Mazin should have written it.
  22. Pringles_Stalin
    Jun 3, 2019
    10
    I'm from Russia. The film is believable, and all events are transmitted realistically. I recommend it to everyone. It is a masterpiece.
  23. Broyax
    Aug 9, 2019
    10
    Après avoir vu cette série, on se sent regonflé à bloc comme un écolo barbu binoclard avec les pancartes "non au nucléaire"... on en ressort en effet horrifié, consterné, sidéré. En même temps, une telle catastrophe est dûe à de multiples causes -très bien expliquées dans la série- non liées directement à l'énergie de l'atome.

    Une énergie, précisons-le d'ailleurs pour nos écolos,    Après avoir vu cette série, on se sent regonflé à bloc comme un écolo barbu binoclard avec les pancartes "non au nucléaire"... on en ressort en effet horrifié, consterné, sidéré. En même temps, une telle catastrophe est dûe à de multiples causes -très bien expliquées dans la série- non liées directement à l'énergie de l'atome.

    Une énergie, précisons-le d'ailleurs pour nos écolos, "propre" entre guillemets : elle ne dégage pas le vilain, le très vilain CO2, ni de fumées polluantes et ne sent pas mauvais comme le biogaz... et en plus, elle fournit une électricité vraiment bon marché. Bref, elle assure un avenir radieux !

    C'est juste que confiée à des enfoirnazes de communistes, ça peut pèter méchamment... et encore... -comme on s'en rend compte ici- le pire a en fait été évité ! Grâce au courage des Russes et à leurs nombreux sacrifices, malgré le poids écrasant de la bureaucratie des Soviets et la Guerre Froide qui n'était pas encore terminée...

    Bien documentée en tout cas mais pas documentaire pour autant, d'une densité bienvenue (seulement cinq épisodes d'une heure), Chernobyl ne sombre jamais dans le pathos ou le violoneux mais se cantonne aux faits et -mon dieu- les faits parlent d'eux-mêmes... Les acteurs sont tous excellents avec notamment un Stellan Skarsgard impeccable, le seul connu du lot d'ailleurs.

    La reconstitution des évènements s'avère rigoureuse et toujours très claire et l'ensemble se révèle finalement aussi effrayant que poignant. Et terrifiant. En France, très éloigné de tout cela, on a pas mesuré l'ampleur de ce cataclysme ; on en mesure toute l'ampleur à travers cette série et accessoirement la faillite d'un système sclérosé, bouffé de l'intérieur, celui de l'Union Soviétique corrompue et à bout de souffle.

    Une grande, très grande série superbement réalisée, sobre, authentique et touchante.    … Expand
  24. upupandawayweb
    May 18, 2019
    10
    It's great. If you enjoy an excellent drama with an intense slow burn storytelling, but still interesting, you'll love it.
  25. Zavoloka
    May 25, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This has to be one of the few rare and perfect shows on TV!

    I'll give some brief examples that really made it stand out!

    1) Visually it is a masterpiece!
    2) That the characters are based on real people, especially the woman in the beginning whos husband was a firefighter. (She's based on the woman from the introduction to the book: voices of Chernobyl.)
    3) At the end of episode 2 when the men in the tunnels lights were going out due to radiation I almost lost my ****
    4) The music is simply powerful and mindblowing.
    5) The totality of it all! At the end of episode 3 when the cement is laying over the coffins of the firefighters, no human would not cry at that part.

    Conclusion! MUST. WATCH.    … Expand
  26. Goupil
    Jun 4, 2019
    10
    I'm not used to rate 10 because I think that there is always something that could be better but Chernobyl was just...wow, terrifying, brain-blowing. I think everyone should watch it to understand the cost of lies...
  27. JPK
    Jun 13, 2019
    10
    A Complete And Utter Masterpiece
    Chernobyl is a horrifying and accurate account of that tragic day under the oppression of the communist regime.
  28. Ben37
    Jun 5, 2019
    10
    A truly great mini series. Suspenseful and moving this mini series is a perfect binge watch.
  29. AverageStudent
    May 25, 2019
    10
    Amazing series, truly gives a insight into the devastating and incredible sacrifices made by a small group of men to save millions of lives and thousands of acres of lands from death and devastation. Not a series for the faint of heart however the insight and realism shown are truly remarkable viewing giving the viewer a deep understanding of the event whilst also maintaining some creativeAmazing series, truly gives a insight into the devastating and incredible sacrifices made by a small group of men to save millions of lives and thousands of acres of lands from death and devastation. Not a series for the faint of heart however the insight and realism shown are truly remarkable viewing giving the viewer a deep understanding of the event whilst also maintaining some creative control due to the nature of it being a television show. A must watch for history fans, drama fans and anyone who just wants some education whilst watching a compelling drama alongside.… Expand
  30. GloryToUkraine
    Jun 14, 2019
    9
    Если у вас есть желание посмотреть сериал с хорошем сюжетом, но не хватает времени, то Чернобыль - лучшее, что с вами может случиться! Весь антураж красной страны передан великолепно! К примеру агит-плакаты или школьная форма. Если вы житель постсоветского пространства, то только по этому вам следует посмотреть сеё творение Йохана РенкаЕсли у вас есть желание посмотреть сериал с хорошем сюжетом, но не хватает времени, то Чернобыль - лучшее, что с вами может случиться! Весь антураж красной страны передан великолепно! К примеру агит-плакаты или школьная форма. Если вы житель постсоветского пространства, то только по этому вам следует посмотреть сеё творение Йохана Ренка
  31. Camamber
    Jun 14, 2019
    10
    Most impressive there is not even the dramatic effect of Chernobyl man-made catastrophe (by the way, more correct would be to write Chornobyl, with O), but the precise reconstruction of late USSR epoch. For a moment I even had a nostalgia for my childhood.
  32. LennySlaya
    Jun 28, 2019
    10
    one of the best series I'v seen in my whole life, work on shadow, effects, emotions and so on, would highly recommend to watch it.
  33. OlivierPiel
    May 29, 2019
    9
    Excellent drama. Top-notch writing (while this has been done before, the meshing of the different story lines from the political to the micro level is flawless), editing and cinematography (that end-scene with the beam of light at the first episode was one of the best of the year). The quality of the photography is breath-taking.
    The lead actor is fantastic.
    The only minor question is    Excellent drama. Top-notch writing (while this has been done before, the meshing of the different story lines from the political to the micro level is flawless), editing and cinematography (that end-scene with the beam of light at the first episode was one of the best of the year). The quality of the photography is breath-taking.
    The lead actor is fantastic.

    The only minor question is on whether Russian/Ukrainian actors would have been preferable. Also the portrayal of the Gorbachev character was slightly embarrassing for an older generation like mine, who has a vivid recollection of him.    … Expand
  34. kwjduff
    May 23, 2019
    10
    Immensely atmospheric, great characters, brilliant score and a fast pace create a thoroughly intriguing and unsettling retelling of a horrifying event in our history.
  35. thelettere
    May 30, 2019
    10
    Scariest thing I've ever watched - it's riveting. There's not a single false note as we're guided through how the event was experienced by individuals in diverse roles - from first responding firefighters to nuclear scientists to politicians. The writing is strong, and the pacing is perfect - never too fast, never too slow - allowing the viewer to savor the moments and the full import ofScariest thing I've ever watched - it's riveting. There's not a single false note as we're guided through how the event was experienced by individuals in diverse roles - from first responding firefighters to nuclear scientists to politicians. The writing is strong, and the pacing is perfect - never too fast, never too slow - allowing the viewer to savor the moments and the full import of what is happening while retaining interest and slowly ratcheting up the full horror of the event as it unfolded. Makes me curious to find out more about the true story - which I will wait until the show has concluded to research.… Expand
  36. akvadrako
    Jun 3, 2019
    4
    It's okay but overly dramatic. It also seems a bit like anti-nuclear propaganda, greatly exaggerating the danger.
  37. Acrofilo
    Jun 19, 2019
    10
    I'm truly shocked that the critics don't average over 95. This miniseries is moving, powerful and interesting. So beautifully told, well acted, a truly visual experience. Nobody should miss it.
  38. Idiota150
    Jun 4, 2019
    10
    Don't miss this - absolutely brilliant. Every aspect of this mini-series is just stunning - acting, photo, authenticity. Entertaining and horrifying at the same time. If you're smart enough, you'll learn something too ... don't cheat and lie.
  39. rox_roli
    Jul 3, 2019
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. CHERNOBYL is a well-directed, interesting 5-hours mainstream disaster movie/fictional historical drama.

    It's grim and visually compelling, and manages to explain scientific matters in a clear, simple way. Of course, it is not a surprise that a HBO-SKY UK production has such an incredible production value, acting, visual effects, costumes etc etc. (is it, to someone??)

    But people seem to treat this story as a shocking, urgent documentary when it isn't. It is FICTION.

    If you are passionate about the nuclear disaster, you can find real, non-biased documentaries from all over the world, made by historians and scientists.

    But come on?! It's a HBO-SKY UK production and still we have the main "antagonist", Dyatlov, depicted as the most hideous, ridiculous Disney villain, and en *entire* political class (and... an ideology) dismissed as simply evil, idiot, ultimately pure trash.

    When it comes to create new characters, et voilà the TOKEN FEMALE, who of course is the only Pure one, the Good Mother, and also a sort of super-heroin because she is able to do everything and travel around Russia and she is admitted in front of the president--and whenever she talks, the speaks the Truth. She is an Angel. The scene while she confronts the former shoe-maker, fat, drunken politic... wow. Disgraceful.

    And, finally, the last speech of Legasov: 100% pure Hollywood rhetoric... BTW he never spoke the truth during the trial. It is a good writers' choice in terms of dramatization, but I have the impression that people are taking it *very seriously*. Legasov, true American hero?

    Speaking about HBO recent historical drama, why SHOW ME A HERO has *no* user reviews on Metacritic? Of course, CHERNOBYL is a mainstream, propagandist, rhetoric disaster movie and SHOW ME A HERO is a nuanced, complex, amazingly written piece of prestige television about housing, poor people, AND politics. From DAVID SIMON. Well, how many people universally acclaiming this?? History can be dramatized in millions of way, but are you sure that propaganda is the best? We are already seeing Russian ready to shoot a... surprise!!... counter-propaganda story about it.    … Expand
  40. msafonov
    Jun 8, 2019
    8
    I have been avoiding anything from Hollywood like a plague in the last 3 years. I only saw one new movie in 2016, and that was the last one I saw. But Chernobyl sparked my interest because the post-apocalyptic town close to it(Pripyat) has been on my radar of interest for nearly a decade now, so it's kinda obvious I wanted to see this even though I knew it was going to be filled withI have been avoiding anything from Hollywood like a plague in the last 3 years. I only saw one new movie in 2016, and that was the last one I saw. But Chernobyl sparked my interest because the post-apocalyptic town close to it(Pripyat) has been on my radar of interest for nearly a decade now, so it's kinda obvious I wanted to see this even though I knew it was going to be filled with typical Hollywood propaganda.

    The TV-series itself is very well made, probably one of the best I've seen from an entertainment point of view(if you can call this disaster something to enjoy). The production value is very high and you almost felt you were taken back to the 80s. The acting was well crafted. The cinematography is good, but nothing innovative(there hasn't been any progress in that area over the last 15 years, so I don't blame this show in particular).

    Now, to the plot itself. The main character, Legasov was based on a real man named Valery Legasov, a brave and talented scientist that was the leading Liquidator of the disaster. His companion Boris Shcherbina, was also a real politician guy. Dyatlov was real, Akimov was real, Tuptunov, Fomin etc. etc. And then you have Ulana Khomyuk, a nuclear physicist, who is the most capable, the bravest, the smartest person in the series. After the accident, the following morning, by wiping some dust of her window she figures out that there has been a nuclear accident somewhere in the area close to her lab. She starts making calls, and eventually finds out everything before any accident is even reported or confirmed. She storms the authoritative headquarters and demands to see everyone involved with the cleanup. At one point she makes Legasov look like a school boy, while she looks like a professor. AND, I have to mention, she is one hundred percent fictional. Totally made up, as is her involvement in this incident. She is supposedly a culmination of all the people that helped Legasov during the aftermath. And here is where the propaganda part comes in. The show is obviously pushing forced feminism. It's barely subtle. But most people aren't going to bother to look up her character and will be affected of how super capable a woman can be.

    And for a show that cares about "the truth" so much, is filled with fictional material for dramatizing effect like Legasov/Scherabina/Khomyuk were never at that trial. Helicopter crash happened months after the accident. And other minor things like events not being in order, like sweden finding out about the accident before evacuation at pripyat. But of course at the end of the show they're going to blame "ideologies and religions" for not caring about the truth enough.

    And I can't help but mention that the producers just happened to be of a particular small minority in the U.S. that Hollywood just happened to be filled with in almost every movie/show produced. But I have to remind my bigoted brain that it is all PURE COINCIDENCE.    … Expand
  41. Hemphiz1
    Jul 11, 2019
    10
    Never have I watched anything that's made me mentally feel anything... But this show, I can't even put it into words other than it made me feel "weird" it was absolutely immense in every way
  42. julioaa69
    Jun 4, 2019
    10
    Better representation of the events that occurred at that time, unforgettable
  43. Mak_52
    Jun 8, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Show has a really dark theme (obviously), stunning visual depiction of the actual events.its not a mindless entertainer and probably not for everyone.… Expand
  44. eagleeyeviking
    Jun 30, 2019
    9
    “Chernobyl” retells the essential story of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster with incredible attention to detail. The mini-series succeeds as a horror-thriller piece of filmmaking, a respectful tribute to the lives involved in this disaster, an incisive look at Soviet corruption and denial, and a cautionary tale about nuclear disasters in the future. This is a testament to the skills of“Chernobyl” retells the essential story of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster with incredible attention to detail. The mini-series succeeds as a horror-thriller piece of filmmaking, a respectful tribute to the lives involved in this disaster, an incisive look at Soviet corruption and denial, and a cautionary tale about nuclear disasters in the future. This is a testament to the skills of showrunner Craig Mazin and director Johan Renck, as well as the rest of the crew involved.… Expand
  45. AliceofX
    Jun 12, 2019
    9
    Really great show that covered the tragic events from many different perspectives.
  46. MattBrady99
    Jun 16, 2019
    9
    "When the truth offends, we lie and lie until the truth is no longer visible but it's always there. Sooner or later the debt must always be repaid. Our lies are what define us. And that's how a RBMK Reactor explodes."

    I rarely get scared at any horror movies, but this got to me. Not the fact it happened, but how it happened and the affects they don't want you to see. I can't remember    "When the truth offends, we lie and lie until the truth is no longer visible but it's always there. Sooner or later the debt must always be repaid. Our lies are what define us. And that's how a RBMK Reactor explodes."

    I rarely get scared at any horror movies, but this got to me. Not the fact it happened, but how it happened and the affects they don't want you to see.

    I can't remember the last time I was this gripped and tense. Absolutely horrifying, heartbreaking and gut-wrenching.

    Superb performances all around. Jared Harris should be in everything.

    One of the best shows of 2019.    … Expand
  47. Felindie
    Jul 16, 2019
    10
    A wonderful mini-series. The storyling was amazing, every detail was flawless.
  48. Bertaut1
    May 7, 2021
    9
    Terrifying and sobering – as exceptional a piece of television narrative as you're ever likely to see

    Created, written, and executive produced by Craig Mazin, Chernobyl is directed by Johan Renck as part-horror movie, part-cautionary tale, and part-political treatise. It presents a terrifying, nightmare vision of how bad things can get when hard scientific facts are made subservient to    Terrifying and sobering – as exceptional a piece of television narrative as you're ever likely to see

    Created, written, and executive produced by Craig Mazin, Chernobyl is directed by Johan Renck as part-horror movie, part-cautionary tale, and part-political treatise. It presents a terrifying, nightmare vision of how bad things can get when hard scientific facts are made subservient to political agendas, and governments strive to undermine not only scientific expertise but the very nature of truth itself (the Soviet Union was a big fan of "alternative facts" long before the GOP). Chernobyl begins and ends by asking the viewer to ponder the cost of cumulative nation-wide lies. However, it's just as interested in celebrating the heroes as it is assigning blame.

    April 26, 1986, 1:23am; near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR, Reactor No. 4 at the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Nuclear Power Plant explodes, sending out masses of radioactive material. As the Central Committee tries to keep a lid on things, a commission is assembled to investigate the disaster. The commission's head is Boris Shcherbina (a career-best performance from Stellan Skarsgård), Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, and a devout party-man. The commission's scientific expert is Valery Legasov (a mesmerising Jared Harris), deputy director of the Kurchatov Institute, who immediately realises that the accident is much more serious than the government are saying.

    Thematically, Chernobyl is not subtle. The opening line is "What is the cost of lies?", and this issue is front and centre for the entire five episodes. The show presents the Soviet Union as a place where lying and statecraft were one and the same, and in so doing, it illustrates what can happen when institutions of government put political ideology above objective facts, when egotistical politicians disregard everything that experts are telling them in favour of their own ill-informed theories (sound familiar?). The first episode in particular gives us some fine illustrations of a system obsessed with committees, bureaucracy, and secrecy, all built upon an unnecessarily complicated and rigid hierarchy.

    However, if there's an overriding mindset amongst the Soviet people, it's a sense of civic duty, borne of a genuine belief in socialism and total trust in the Central Committee. Not all characters share this trust, but enough of them do to make it a trope. And for the most part, the show presents this sense of duty to the State as deeply honourable, worthy of a great deal of respect. How the State elicits, manipulates and exploits these feelings is being criticised, not the feelings themselves – a vital distinction.

    Aesthetically, Chernobyl opens with the explosion, throwing the audience into the chaos and confusion. However, rather than placing us in the control room at the moment of the explosion, we see it through the closed window of a character who doesn't even notice it happening until the shockwave hits a couple of seconds later. It's a wholly unexpected way to begin, presenting a massive real-life disaster not from the perspective of spectacle, but from a subjective human perspective. This immediately sets up the show's interest in people. The helicopter crash seen in the trailer is shot the same way - focusing on human reactions to the crash rather than the crash itself.

    As for the cinematography generally, Jakob Ihre shoots everything unfussily, with no real visual gymnastics. However, there are still moments of stark beauty and great artistry. The second episode ends with a dialogueless scene that Michael Mann would be proud of and also features perhaps the single most extraordinary shot in the series – a high elevation shot of Pripyat looking down at the residents being evacuated onto a fleet of buses. In the background, the power plant can be seen still burning, whilst the people and the plant are bifurcated by the flats in which they used to live. This is as good an example of thematic photography as you're likely to find.

    As for problems, well, the characters are a little too black and white – the 'good' characters are practically saintly, and the 'bad' characters are almost pure evil. And there's not a lot of ground in between.

    At its core, the show is most interested in what happens when governments stop listening to science, when every smart person in the room is telling a leader one thing, and he or she decides to ignore it based on nothing other than ideology or ego (and yes, Trump's attitude to the ever-worsening global climate crisis is very much the target). An exceptional piece of television in pretty much every way, Chernobyl is as terrifying as it is compelling, as heartbreaking as it is eye-opening.

    And all of this is not even to mention the dogs. I'm just not ready to talk about the dogs.    … Expand
  49. greenisgood
    Jul 30, 2020
    9
    TL;DR - Went into the series completely blind to fact or fiction or even what part of the disaster this story will be dealing with. I had convinced myself that this was probably a court drama through which we would connect to the inciting incident, I was not prepared for the sheer terrifying ordeal I experienced in regards to the actual incident and it's effect on the human experience.TL;DR - Went into the series completely blind to fact or fiction or even what part of the disaster this story will be dealing with. I had convinced myself that this was probably a court drama through which we would connect to the inciting incident, I was not prepared for the sheer terrifying ordeal I experienced in regards to the actual incident and it's effect on the human experience.

    The Good
    The reality of the horror, the human suffering, sheer human will of everyone involved while dealing with the Chernobyl disaster would have no doubt been an experience neither I nor the show could ever fathom.
    But the miniseries manages to capture a deeply affecting mental and physical facsimile of the human experience through all the above mentioned faucets.
    This show will definetely leave it's mark on your psyche just trying to grasp the mentality of everyone involved as Chernobyl manages to give us a good recreation of the whole ordeal, beginning from a minute to minute then hour to hour then week to week and so on. The changing viewpoints through various individuals magnifies the extent of this incident in the right ways making it feel very real and not gratuitous.

    Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgård were the characters we spent the most time with but I have to mention that every character no matter how small turns in their 'A' game giving the factual part of this disaster a true human experience. The editing and cinematography of the series is also commendable making all the horror and suffering realistic over something gratuitous or exploitative. Music and Sound design were excellent partners to the whole semi-fictitious story telling nature.

    The Bad
    Several write ups that I went through constantly stated that the writing for the show was not entirely accurate. A lot of real facts related to the secrets, the blame game and the statecraft seems to have a universal voice of smudged and fudged for either propoganda reasons or cinematic liberty.
    The main concern is whether this skewering of facts will paint an inaccurate picture and incite fear mongering to which I say that anyone taking the writing and dialogue as 100% accurate is probably an idiot who does not need something like a TV show to send them into a fit.
    It should be understood and thereby taken as a matter-of-fact that probably 50-75% of the reality of the show would have been a re-creation and is not a second to second and shot by shot retelling of the whole truth, it is impossible to be accurate to the atom in realistic events like this.

    Chernobyl is a scientifically accurate yet semi-fictitious re-telling of the whole incident and its names sake. Yet with the knowledge that everything I watch is not an accurate depiction it does not take away from the excellent harrowing, terrifying and triumphant experience the show provides.    … Expand
  50. Noobik12316
    Jun 15, 2019
    9
    Awesome series about the tragedy at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Very good and beautiful shot. Breathtaking scenery. Be sure to view!
  51. Diptanshu
    Apr 6, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Groundbreaking series!every episode felt relaxing and intense cudos to amazing mixture of screenplay and score!acting was amazing at start the characters were hard to remember but when prof came everyone was settled for their roles!very deep dive among the subject of nuclear physics amazing to see such detail!ending episode was politically satisfying to watch which really point to point explains the story of chernobyl!overall amazing mini series!… Expand
  52. guille176
    Nov 21, 2022
    10
    Its Excellent!!!
    Es Excelente!
    Una joya en todo sentido.
    Extremadamente cuidada.
  53. imconorirl
    Apr 25, 2020
    9
    Fantastic series that doesn't overstay it's welcome by dragging it out any longer than it has to. The visuals and characters are great and shine a light on one of the biggest disasters in the modern age. A must watch even when you want to look away.
  54. geewah
    Jan 12, 2021
    10
    Excellent.
    This is a riveting, disturbing and intense telling of one of the greatest man made disasters in living memory.
    A tight script that brilliantly conveys both the tension and emotion of this tragic event.
    Must see and arguably 2019's best tv drama.
  55. Fahad90
    Oct 25, 2021
    10
    الشعور بالذنب وتئليم الظمير مشاعر يسهل تمثيلها بطريقة او بأخرى ولكن تجسيد واقعة قديمة بهذه الطريقة اعتقد انه انجاز كبير
  56. BlueGuyTalks
    Mar 25, 2023
    10
    Chernobyl uses body horror, scientific thinking, and the overbearing censorship of 1980s Soviet Russia to thoroughly and mightily reassess one of the biggest and worst disasters of the 20th century.

    FULL REVIEW HERE: https://boxd.it/3MayUj

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best TV Season of 2019
14
#14 Most Discussed TV Season of 2019
71
#71 Most Shared TV Season of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Lucy Mangan
    Dec 4, 2019
    60
    Things may improve over the coming weeks as the smoke clears, and I hope so. Chernobyl is a story that has everything, but at the moment, comrades, justice is not being done to it.
    Read full review
  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    May 9, 2019
    70
    The fact that it really happened--and, for all of its devastation, could have been worse--makes this five-part slog of unrelieved misery even more chilling. [13-26 May 2019, p.11]
  3. CNN
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    May 7, 2019
    90
    Spare, bleak and devastating.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »