Chernobyl (2019)
How does a RBMK reactor explode?
Presentation:
Heralded as one of the best TV series of all time, HBO’s Chernobyl definitely deserves to be considered as it is definitely a great watch. This is definitely helped from the fact that there are only 5 episodes, making it a very digestible series to binge watch. This means there’s not a lot of filler or plot meandering, everything is focused and that makes for a compelling script. It’s a beautiful grade with tastefully desaturated tones that are believable, striking yet not distracting. There’s a lot of handheld similar to Breaking Bad, but it’s definitely better presented and feels like a feature film in many ways with the tight dialogue. For a historical epic, it’s absolutely riveting, though not fast paced like Oppenheimer. It’s a more realistic presentation and you just assume everything is based on real events, which of course it is. There are a few things that keep it from being a top series for me. It pilots 2 years after Netflix’s Dark, which draws many similarities. Both begin with a shocking start, though Chernobyl keeps the momentum going for the entire immersive opening. Both grades are similar with greyish teal and blue and green color palettes. But one aspect that was really hard to accept was the accents. They mostly used British and European actors and the accents created disbelief for the Russians especially with jarring British mannerisms. Dyatlov is quite cartoonish but for the most part the performances are all great. For a realistic tone, the melodramatic elements stick out in comparison like a sore thumb to the grounded presentation.
Story:
This could go either way for audiences, but there are some character arcs that weren't super necessary. Lyudmilla's arc was important for emotional anchoring, but I'm not convinced of Barry Keogan's arc. They don't even mention these soldiers in the final scenes. Sure, it's important to give the wide ranging perspectives of the horrors, but it felt like if the dog extermination arc was cut it wouldn't diminish too much from the series. Episode 4 is clearly the weakest of the 5 parts, evidenced by a lot more moody B roll in my opinion.
Conclusion:
The biggest problem I have with the series is that it entirely hinges on its main message, “What is the cost of lies?” Although it’s mostly historically accurate, there are still creative liberties with some aspects contradictory to its very message. This should only occur once you read about what’s fact versus fiction after you finish watching. Perhaps this wouldn’t be a sore point for me if it weren’t for the realistic tone, it being a historical docudrama, and oh yeah, the fact that the entire premise critiques lies and propaganda. The series is clearly anti-Soviet, which is mostly warranted, but some of the points are logically stretched a bit unfairly particularly on AZ-5. This may appear like I’m a Russian apologist, but I’m not. I just find it difficult to point to this series as a definitive “I told you Russia and communism is bad” when some of the core critiques are dramatized. Story-wise, it’s a fantastic script that doesn’t slow down, especially impressive for a docudrama. Best docudrama? Perhaps. Best TV series? I think not.
Recommendations
Resilience is not an act.