As a nuclear engineer who has dedicated my life to understanding the power and peril of atomic energy, I can confidently say that Chernobyl is not just a gripping drama, but a haunting reminder of the consequences of human hubris. The series masterfully weaves together fact and fiction, painting a chilling portrait of the 1986 disaster that still casts a long shadow over our understanding of nuclear technology.
This article reveals plot details from the 2019 HBO miniseries titled “Chernobyl.” Produced by Craig Mazin for HBO in 2019, “Chernobyl” stands out as one of the most eerie and unsettling productions from the past two decades. While it may not be categorized as horror by many viewers, its use of horror genre elements surpasses that of many traditional horror movies. Co-created by Mazin and his filmmaking partner Johann Renck (who later worked together on HBO’s more conventional series “The Last of Us”), the lengthy TV series skillfully combines a variety of genre-bending narratives, offering a sweeping but chilling portrayal of the aftermath of the explosion at Reactor #4.
A U.S. production features British actors portraying Slavs, and it’s titled Chernobyl. This series reenacts the devastating nuclear disaster in northern Ukraine from April 1986. The Soviet administration is portrayed as the main antagonist, reflecting a system that was never intended to be challenged or overruled. The central character, Valery Legasov (Jared Harris delivers a convincing performance as the bureaucratic scientist), clashes with his adversary, Boris Shcherbina (played by Stellan Skarsgård), in an attempt to make him understand that Uranium 235 possesses power beyond what Karl Marx ever envisioned.
In a somewhat eerie nod to old-school horror, several scenarios in this production seem strikingly similar, be it intentional or not. For instance, Emily Watson’s character, a typical scientist, delivers expository dialogue just as you’d expect. Unlike films like Scanners or Independence Day, where there’s a comforting veil of fantasy, here there’s no such barrier. Instead, each episode switches perspectives, one moment immersing us in a doomed love story, and the next presenting men in lead jockstraps firing at radioactive pets. Rather than being a traditional disaster movie, Chernobyl is a tale that delves into how our well-meaning intentions can twist technological wonders into our darkest fears.
An Epic Tale with a Deceptively Anti-Climactic Finale
Mazin skillfully weaves the recurring theme of corruption and deterioration (encompassing both biological and nuclear aspects), tracing back a series of events that initiated a decade prior when design faults were concealed. Similar to how the radioactive power plant core seeps into the basement, the administrative response is a snowball effect of countless minor errors. It appears that virtually everyone in authority linked with the reactor shares some accountability. The most informed individuals are tolerated but consistently undermined, following the reasoning that “unsuspecting fools pose no risk” to the nation.
The miniseries is not entirely truthful, taking some liberties. Watson’s character, Ulana Khomyuk, as The New Yorker notes, is likely drawn from many of the interviews from Svetlana Alexievich’s non-fiction account of the ordeal, Voices from Chernobyl. The Khomyuk character mostly sets up the last episode, easily the weakest part of the whole. It is a foregone conclusion from the onset of the first hour in the five-part series that Chief Engineer Dyatlov (played by Paul Ritter) is the designated scapegoat of the tragedy.
In the words of the KGB agent speaking to the investigation’s leader, “Our story will have its antagonists, its protagonist, and its revelations.” Given how powerful the previous four episodes were, it’s challenging for the conclusion to match the overwhelming impact of the rising tension, but Episode 5’s trial feels predictable and routine, which is common in political spectacles.
‘Chernobyl,’ an Unexpected Homage to Classic Horror
Initially, it doesn’t appear similar to Godzilla at all, yet the charred remains seem recognizable, as does the underlying theme. The character portrayed by Harris declares that the molten core of Chernobyl becomes increasingly hazardous with each bucket of water poured on it, essentially unquenchable – akin to Godzilla’s resistance to conventional weaponry. Simultaneously, Stellan Skarsgård conveys the heavy weight of a noble individual trapped within a corrupt system, first needing to preserve appearances and only then focusing on preventing the nation from impending destruction.
If you’ve ever watched a disaster movie, you can guess the character’s development rather swiftly. In a similar vein, the Soviet Union’s powerful Central Committee seemed eager to conceal the disaster, aiming for a clean and speedy resolution to avoid disrupting the May Day celebrations. It’s reminiscent of the Jaws plot, minus Gorbachev in a pastel suit adorned with anchors. However, as Mazin clarified to Vice in 2019, it was never meant to be a mere imitation or drama – it was intended as a political documentary all along.
…”The Soviet system essentially functioned as a grand tribute to the practical deception. They mastered deception: They deceived one another, their superiors, their subordinates, and they did so out of necessity. Over time, deceit became commonplace, and honesty was diminished in value.
Unlike the original Toho Godzilla which was intentionally made less frightening and with an anti-nuclear message, Mazin subtly conveys the dangers of nuclear disasters. Scenes such as birds falling from the sky and strange blue lights resembling the northern lights add to the unsettling atmosphere. Ultimately, human remains are handled like contaminated waste or debris, either contained in a lead casket or buried in a concrete tomb. After watching Guillermo Del Toro’s visionary film, you can rest assured that it’s just a movie.
This miniseries is filled with subtle instances that convey the vastness of destruction. Stray dogs desperately try to catch up with their owners hastily leaving on buses. A sudden breeze of electrified wind quickly disrupts a Red Army helicopter’s costly electrical circuits. A passionate kiss between lovers unintentionally exposes an unborn child to radiation, making the mother responsible for her child’s death – a burden so heavy it makes even David Cronenberg’s most unsettling scenes seem tame in comparison.
Equal Parts ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Oppenheimer’
The unfortunate irony lies in the fact that the disaster at Chernobyl was caused by a compulsory safety check that went awry. A series of misjudgments made by the chief engineer who wasn’t fully informed about the reactor’s restrictions led to an explosion. This incident released harmful amounts of strontium, cesium, plutonium, and iodine into the atmosphere. The Soviet Union, a nation that prided itself on logic and order, placed engineers in influential political roles, while the public remained unaware. The “Bridge of Death” scene, depicted in reality that night, vividly illustrates this paradox, as people gathered nearby to witness the stunning colors of the explosion while their children played innocently in clouds of toxic soot.
Pripyat is fated to status as a ghost town, occupied only by roaming soldiers. Barry Keoghan makes a brief but extremely memorable cameo as one of the hapless soldiers mopping up the mess as they grapple with their conscience. Animal lovers, you might want to skip this episode. The main “monster,” if you will, of the first four episodes are lumps of graphite, ejected outside the reactor chamber. Workers march orderly to their demise, allotted ninety seconds of exposure max as they suffer panic attacks at the mere sight of nondescript black rocks. The roof of the Chernobyl reactor is referred to as the most dangerous spot on the planet, literally destroying DNA.
The brightest minds, bravest men, and most sophisticated machines available are embarassingly feeble when pitted against a gamma-ray spewing hunk of trash. For those turned off by dry historical dramas or insipid disaster films, Chernobyl is your gateway. But you had better have a strong stomach.
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2024-12-01 05:32