HBO newest miniseries, Chernobyl, is a bold undertaking. The near mythical connotation with which we think of the defunct nuclear power plant is hazy with urban legend and Soviet-sponsored misinformation. The core meltdown that occurred in Pripyat was unfathomable to the Soviet scientists of the time, let alone the majority of the world’s population without an education in nuclear physics. But the authenticity and clarity that creator Craig Mazin and director Johan Renck have brought to the table is astounding. The sets and costumes are out of this world, the writing is particularly sober and Soviet, and the cinematography forgoes the flashy for the gritty and realistic.
What you have here is a miniseries engagement that has done an amazing job of conveying, with startling attention to detail and strict adherence to history, the exact events that took place in a way that captures the essence of reality. As Mazin describes in the weekly HBO-produced podcast about the show, the script is accurate even down to the words and phrases used in the actual conversations between these people.
So Chernobyl is grounded and true. But I think the show also appeals to audience that love genre fare like Game of Thrones and Star Trek. Why?
The answer lies in the truth itself, because in this case truth is truly stranger than fiction. None of us can fathom what direct exposure to an open nuclear reactor can do to a human body. The events of Chernobyl are heavy with a sense of dread and mystery akin to James Vandermeer’s Annihilation. The threat feels otherworldly. The horror and suspense are palpable. I was born nearly a decade after the Chernobyl incident, nearly half a world away, so for me, and a lot of the Western audience, it will feel distinctly foreign and strange.
Beyond the general sci-fi crowd, fans of dystopian stories and themes specifically will love the political maneuvering we see in the show. The lengths to which the Soviet politicians are willing to go to keep the magnitude of the disaster under wraps is equal parts astounding and disgusting. The Orwellian manner in which the common people are kept out of the loop is astounding, yet all too familiar. On the other end of things, the sometimes blind commitment and often total sacrifice of the lower-level workers and first responders is nothing short of heroic.
The bureaucrats send these workers to their deaths, and the show does an excellent job of giving their decisions enormous weight. The show generally avoids unnecessary “Soviet-bashing.” The characters do not use stereotypical Russian accents; there’s no caricature here. The actors feel natural within the language, and the story feels universal.
Thematically, Chernobyl hits on the dangers of narrative, and how easily we can be distracted from reality by comforting stories we tell ourselves, or that are told to us. It’s about those in power trying desperately to keep evidence of their incompetence out of the hands of the people, and it rings clear and true. Hardcore science heads will be fascinated by the mystery of the reactor and the unimaginable effects of its radiation. Lore-heads have the wealth of materials and first-person accounts of the meltdown to scour. If you consider yourself a fan of well-made television in any capacity or genre, I highly encourage you to watch Chernobyl, Monday nights on HBO.
The third episode of Chernobyl airs tonight! You can catch a recap of the premiere episode here.
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