Author Topic: Chernobyl (HBO show) (Read 4800 times)

Phoenix87x · « **on:** May 21, 2019, 04:11:30 PM »

Two episodes in and its pretty decent. How terrifying that you have to combat something that if you get close to it you die. The silent killer of radiation poisoning.

And then all the politicians trying to downplay it and keep it quiet. Man oh man...

Apparently from what I had read previously on the Chernobyl incident, if they didn't contain it, a meltdown could have taken out a huge chunk of Europe, so good on them.

Anyone else watching?

CrimsonSunrise · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2019, 04:34:54 PM »

Watched the first 2, will watch episode 3 tonight. Very well done so far!

gmillerdrake · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2019, 05:17:53 PM »

On my watch list. Have heard great things about it.

lonestar · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2019, 06:46:35 PM »

Watched the pilot and it surely sucked me in, and I need it with GoT, Gotham, and American Gods over. Should make a welcome addition to my schedule along with Good Omens.

MirrorMask · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2019, 01:04:35 AM »

I know I can just look it up on Wikipedia, but since we're at it... is this a fiction or a documentary?

Zydar · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2019, 01:12:57 AM »

9.6 on IMDB

I've been meaning to check this one out. I need something new to watch.

Phoenix87x · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2019, 03:46:29 AM »

Quote from: MirrorMask on May 22, 2019, 01:04:35 AM

I know I can just look it up on Wikipedia, but since we're at it... is this a fiction or a documentary?

Fiction show with actual historical events and actual people dramatized, but also some made up stuff and people. Which I was pretty surprised to hear, since it builds and presents some very strong and memorable characters.

Like obviously gorbachev was real, but apparently Emily Watson's character wasn't, which I was disappointed to hear since she was pretty memorable.

So Its a hodge podge of real mixed in with made up

Still really entertaining though.

MirrorMask · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2019, 04:02:17 AM »

Yeah, thanks, that's what I wanted to know if it was still a story (with the obvious mix of historical facts being real and protagonists being invented or real life protagonists being dramatized) since documentaries are not my thing. Guess I'll add it to my watchlist!

CrimsonSunrise · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2019, 04:06:53 PM »

Quote from: Phoenix87x on May 22, 2019, 03:46:29 AM

Fiction show with actual historical events and actual people dramatized, but also some made up stuff and people. Which I was pretty surprised to hear, since it builds and presents some very strong and memorable characters.

Like obviously gorbachev was real, but apparently Emily Watson's character wasn't, which I was disappointed to hear since she was pretty memorable.

So Its a hodge podge of real mixed in with made up Still really entertaining though.

I haven't done any research into the thought process in writing the show. So I'm not sure why they didn't go 100% factual. Maybe incomplete information? Had to fill in gaps and or add drama? Not a really big fan of when they do the latter. For example ... two of my favorite war movies, Midway (which they are remaking!!!) and Pearl Harbor. Both of those, in particularly Pearl Harbor, they fictionalized WAY too much.

orcus116 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2019, 05:39:26 AM »

If you check out the companion podcast they have the writer and creator is the guest and he explains in detail why they made those decisions.

cramx3 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2019, 01:12:34 PM »

Just started watching, did the first two episodes this weekend and hopefully will be caught up soon. Really intriguing show, kind of crazy the reaction and denials initially and how easily they could be cool with mass amounts of deaths.

Phoenix87x · « **Reply #11 on:** May 29, 2019, 06:01:49 AM »

The latest episode was really good. For a second there I thought the little robot would work clearing the roof. The necessity to use men is haunting.

Just 90 seconds to chip away at such a gargantuan task. Its mental and to my knowledge from a doc I've seen, despite only being 90 seconds and taking all those precautions, they all died shortly there after.

And dealing with bureaucratic double think must be maddening. You are trying to find a solution, and also prevent it from happening again, yet the whole damn country's official policy is "nothing every goes wrong in our country". Damn that sucks

MrBoom_shack-a-lack · « **Reply #12 on:** May 30, 2019, 01:56:59 AM »

Love the show!

Fun fact, the director is this guy: https://youtu.be/sGNK-cOtxSs

Samsara · « **Reply #13 on:** May 30, 2019, 08:37:12 AM »

Quote from: Phoenix87x on May 29, 2019, 06:01:49 AM

The latest episode was really good. For a second there I thought the little robot would work clearing the roof. The necessity to use men is haunting.

Just 90 seconds to chip away at such a gargantuan task. Its mental and to my knowledge from a doc I've seen, despite only being 90 seconds and taking all those precautions, they all died shortly there after.

And dealing with bureaucratic double think must be maddening. You are trying to find a solution, and also prevent it from happening again, yet the whole damn country's official policy is "nothing every goes wrong in our country". Damn that sucks

Incredible show. The last episode...I'm with you. The storyline with the animals though (being vague in case people didn't see it)...heartbreaking.

CrimsonSunrise · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2019, 07:34:02 PM »

Yeah, I had to FF through the animal scenes. Heratbreaking, but understandable. They wouldn't have enough vodka to get me through it.

Grappler · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2019, 06:56:25 AM »

The finale was incredible - I couldn't take my attention away from the tv during the trial scenes as the testimony and scenes of what happened to cause the meltdown occurred.

Phoenix87x · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2019, 07:01:48 AM »

Totally agree. That was an awesome finale and a fantastic series.

It was so gripping and fascinating to hear all the many aspects of what led to the disaster.

Samsara · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2019, 09:34:14 AM »

Watched the finale last night. Incredibly moving. I loved the very end, when they added the real photographs of the people and explained the statistics and such. Really brings it home. Frankly, it should win a mountain of Emmy Awards.

CrimsonSunrise · « **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2019, 01:57:52 PM »

Well done HBO. Yeah, I also loved the whole trial seen. Walking through the whole scenario or giving us "nuclear reactors for dummies" was great.

Phoenix87x · « **Reply #19 on:** June 06, 2019, 05:40:38 PM »

Quote from: CrimsonSunrise on June 06, 2019, 01:57:52 PM

Well done HBO. Yeah, I also loved the whole trial seen. Walking through the whole scenario or giving us "nuclear reactors for dummies" was great.

Yeah that was great. I had to rewind a little bit, but it did a decent job of explaining it while doing it justice, but not totally losing me.

cramx3 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 07, 2019, 09:41:41 AM »

Skipping the comments as I am still behind on the last episode but just saw this

https://news.avclub.com/russia-hates-hbos-chernobyl-vows-to-make-its-own-serie-1835298424

like seriously? Some things never change

MirrorMask · « **Reply #21 on:** June 07, 2019, 09:46:37 AM »

Well, in their own version - at least the one they claimed at the beginning - the series would be just one boring episode where nothing happens and the central works fine, because they refused to admit it ever exploded

TioJorge · « **Reply #22 on:** June 08, 2019, 02:05:46 AM »

This shit is amazingly fucked up. Good lord. There's very few movies or shows that scare me anymore but this shit is utterly terrifying. Especially when you think of how many nuclear warheads and god knows what else there is NOW compared to then. Fuck. Superb show though, so so good.

Evermind · « **Reply #23 on:** June 08, 2019, 02:55:45 AM »

Quote from: cramx3 on June 07, 2019, 09:41:41 AM

Skipping the comments as I am still behind on the last episode but just saw this

https://news.avclub.com/russia-hates-hbos-chernobyl-vows-to-make-its-own-serie-1835298424

like seriously? Some things never change

You should see our news headlines. "HBO show Chernobyl is once again accused of deliberately falsifying the facts about the catastrophe" and so on.

All of my friends who watched the show praised it. Hell, even the bartender in my local bar recommended it to me yesterday. I should really watch this tbh.

MrBoom_shack-a-lack · « **Reply #24 on:** June 09, 2019, 11:51:54 AM »

Great finale, such a terrible tragedy the whole thing.

The only thing I would have prefered is actually non-english dialogue because that could really change the tone and make it even more authentic imo.

ReaperKK · « **Reply #25 on:** June 09, 2019, 05:57:34 PM »

Just binged the whole thing and loved it. One of the best things I've seen on TV in a long time, maybe ever.

Zydar · « **Reply #26 on:** June 10, 2019, 12:03:25 AM »

What a great show.

ReaperKK · « **Reply #27 on:** June 10, 2019, 05:10:35 AM »

Logain Ablar · « **Reply #28 on:** June 10, 2019, 08:24:14 AM »

Great show, not a happy show, but really really well done.

That guy above is like the worst boss you've ever had, times 10.

"Err, sir, number 4 reactor has exploded". "No it hasn't, you must be mistaken". Huh?? I was shouting at the TV at that point.

Phoenix87x · « **Reply #29 on:** June 10, 2019, 08:27:22 AM »

Quote from: Logain Ablar on June 10, 2019, 08:24:14 AM

That guy above is like the worst boss you've ever had, times 10.

"Err, sir, number 4 reactor has exploded". "No it hasn't, you must be mistaken". Huh?? I was shouting at the TV at that point.

And not only that, he's like "Go stand directly above it, look inside and die a miserable death where you skin falls off". No thanks buddy

Logain Ablar · « **Reply #30 on:** June 10, 2019, 09:58:52 AM »

That episode where the men (biorobots!) worked in 90 second shifts to clear the graphite off the roof was one of the most tense things I’ve watched on TV for quite a while.

I felt sorry for the poor supervisor, standing just inside the door with his clipboard. How long was that guy standing there himself?

krands85 · « **Reply #31 on:** June 11, 2019, 05:07:29 AM »

I finished this last night after watching it over the last few days. I was a little skeptical after seeing all the praise it was getting, but it really was excellent. They really nailed the atmosphere of it all, it was just so bleak. It was maddening seeing all the bureaucracy and lies, but also incredible learning about the scale of all the cleanup efforts and seeing the bravery of the likes of the miners, the men on the roof and the ones who went down to drain the water.

Great performances from Harris and Skarsgard too.

MirrorMask · « **Reply #32 on:** June 11, 2019, 05:20:31 AM »

Since the hype is strong, I will start watching it as well. I plan to begin this evening.

MirrorMask · « **Reply #33 on:** June 11, 2019, 03:05:49 PM »

Aaaaand the hype was justified. Brilliant first episode. Really portrays well the scope of the disaster and the panic of those first hours.

I was just a small kid when it happened so I have very vague memories of it - just the news, maybe a drawing we did at school, some hazy memories of being careful which food to eat (Italy was very scarcely, if at all, affected). This helps to realize better what a colossal disaster it was.

Cyclopssss · « **Reply #34 on:** June 12, 2019, 04:37:44 AM »

What a fantastic achievement. Also, can we just talk about how damn scary that music score is?

News: Track-by-track video for Untethered Angel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Co1_h0GtAw

Author Topic: Chernobyl (HBO show) (Read 4800 times)