‘CHERNOBYL’ Season 1, Episode 3 ‘Open Wide, O Earth’ Review: The Long War

The CHERNOBYL accident bears consequences, both immediate and long term. With the fire in the powerplant contained, the commission now focuses its attention on addressing the radiation problem. Meanwhile, the personnel present in the powerplant on the night of the explosion suffer tremendously. Before it is too late, one rushes to uncover the truth. It is perhaps the only real hope for saving Ukraine from Nuclear Fallout.

On Monday night’s episode of CHERNOBYL, Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) and Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård) determine the next steps for the power plant’s containment. As Ulana Komhyuk (Emily Watson) visits Moscow’s Hospital Number 6 in search of answers, Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley) accompanies her husband, Vasily Ignatenko (Adam Nagaitis) spending his final moments.

The Casualties

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The episode gives a firsthand view of how fast and how devastating the effects of radiation are to man. Barely a week after the accident, the powerplant workers lose their lives. Also, the firefighters themselves lose their lives as well. A notable firefighter focused on in the first few episodes is Vasily, who has a pregnant wife, Lyudmilla. Repeatedly, Lyudmilla breaks healthcare protocol to be with her husband. Sure, some of the staff enable her by either sympathizing or taking bribes, but in the long run, it is her love for Vasily that endangers her and the baby that Vasily will never see. Indeed, the tragedies that befell the families of those present in ground zero push them to risk everything. Sadly, their deaths are inevitable, and the show captures the feeling of mourning a tragic loss excellently.

The Miners

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The miners provide a humor element to the episode despite the show’s tragic theme. Their introduction presents their characters as the working class of Ukraine, but with a twist. Unlike the soldiers, the miners dare to question their government. The moment the Minister of Coal announces orders towards them, the miners take none of it unless they know what the situation is. Perhaps in protest to how the government sees and treats them, the miners tap the Minister as they head to the trucks.

Once the miners work on the structure meant to prevent the powerplant’s thermal detonation, the temperature increases up to fifty degrees. As a result, the miners opt to work naked, alarming the military and to them, working naked made sense since they are not allowed to use fans. The Crew Chief, Glukhov (Alex Ferns) best embodies the personality of a miner: hardworking, no-nonsense, and observant.

The Government

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No matter how hard Valery tried to push the government to take the proper actions, the government does not budge. At some point, the KGB sends spies to guard Valery, making sure that he does not reveal anything to the public. It seems as if they are threats despite how they are only after the best interests of the Ukrainians. Ulana’s arrest shows how the government’s definition of Accountability works. Boris, on the other hand, remains firm in saying that the government is doing the best it can, given the circumstances. The man came to terms with how he dies, and in doing so, devotes the remainder of his life to doing what the government commands for the Motherland.

The Search

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Ulana is an amalgam of the scientists who worked together in solving the crisis. Since there is no mention of her existence in history, her fictional identity made her the writers’ perfect choice as a flexible character. Ulana’s, other than Valery, experience the bulk of the emotional and professional trouble. Her ethics compel her to work on solving the problem regardless of her bad experiences. Also, Ulana’s conscience dictates her to reveal what she knows to the public, much like Valery. Witnessing the immense pain Leonid Toptunov (Robert Emms) and Akimov (Sam Troughton) personally made her feel that she owes it to them to let the Ukrainian people know of the situation. Still, she and Valery must act with caution if they wish to live long enough to tell their tale.

‘CHERNOBYL’ Season 1, Episode 3 ‘Open Wide, O Earth’ Final Verdict

CHERNOBYL does a tremendous job at creating the world of the Ukrainian SSR and its unaccommodating treatment toward those not sworn to an oath to their country, or perhaps their government. The scientists usually solve the problems, but that does not necessarily mean that the government values their contributions. Also, the people of Ukraine remain oblivious to the real threat of the radiation to them. As the primary victims of the accident, they had every right to know, but that is not the case. The episode reveals the government’s little to no concern towards the people, focusing on projecting a powerful image to rest of the world.

CHERNOBYL continues Monday, May 27th with ‘The Happiness of Mankind’ at 9/8c on HBO.