On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located in Ukraine -which at that time was part of the Soviet Union-, suffered a massive explosion that released radioactive material in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, as well as in parts of Scandinavia and Central Europe. What happened would later be known as the biggest disaster in history since Hiroshima and Nagasaki and is masterfully narrated in Chernobyl, the HBO miniseries available in the Max catalog.
In this historical fiction of just five one-hour episodes, it tells from multiple perspectives what happened around one of the greatest tragedies in recent history, as well as the sacrifices made to save the continent from an unprecedented disaster.
It is also one of the best miniseries ever made -with the permission of Band of Brothers-, a gem in the catalog of this platform that was a real surprise when it premiered in 2019 and swept the awards season with up to ten Emmy awards, including Best Miniseries and Writing.
The Beginning of the End
Tráiler | 'Chernóbil' (VO)
It all begins when an explosion unleashes at a power plant. The blast and the spread of a large fire are reported, which ends up mobilizing firefighters and emergency services.
Fascinated by the strange colors emitted by the fire, some onlookers approach to get a closer look at the spectacle. The size of the fire may pose some danger to them, but it's impossible to look away.
However, those of us watching from home also know what was happening on screen and the fate that all attendees to what was a terrible catastrophe faced.
We know it's not fiction, that it's history and we are reliving it through what can already be considered one of the best TV productions ever made. A production that delves into one of the darkest chapters in human history in an astonishing and, at the same time, terrifyingly disturbing way.
A Television Masterpiece
'Chernobyl'
Chernobyl is one of the must-watch shows in current television for many reasons, but also for its way of remaining emotionally resonant with the viewer after watching its unique and heartbreaking five episodes.
It's a visual marvel in every sense, both for the interpretive work of its actors and for the behind-the-scenes work. The creators make us partakers of horror and destruction, without needing to make explicit the consequences suffered by the victims, because in many occasions, it's more horrifying what we don't see.
One of the most impactful and powerful sequences in Chernobyl -yet not the only one- is when Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), one of the main characters, states that "every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth. Sooner or later, that debt is paid."
A phrase that perhaps could summarize the plot of the series, where a pile of lies can magnify an innocent and human error, triggering a catastrophe of incalculable disastrous levels that we still pay for today.
Profile
- Created by: Craig Mazin
- Where to watch it: Max and Movistar Plus+
- Year of release: 2019
- Number of episodes: 5 of approximately one hour each
- Cast: Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, Mark Lewis Jones, Robert Emms, Sam Troughton, Adam Nagaitis, Joshua Leese, Alan Williams, Adrian Rawlins, Fares Fares, Barry Keoghan, Con O'Neill, Ralph Ineson
* This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence