‘CHERNOBYL’ Series Premiere ‘1:23:45’ Review: Root Cause

On April 26, 1986, a Soviet nuclear powerplant suffered a fatal explosion in CHERNOBYL. Behind the science of what wrong in the powerplant are the brave men and women who lose their lives to save others. Also, there hid the persons responsible for keeping the truth from the public. Eventually, the effects of the explosion became undeniable. The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic could do nothing but witness the carnage that they could have prevented.

On Monday night’s series premiere of CHERNOBYL, Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) recounts the events of the nuclear powerplant meltdown. At the powerplant, Anatoly Dyatlov (Paul Ritter) has the powerplant workers desperately attempt to solve the problem. As they arrive at the scene, the firefighters, such as Vasily Ignatenko (Adam Nagaitis) witness the destruction of the powerplant firsthand.

Damage Control Mismanagement

Liam Daniel/HBO

The people directly responsible for the meltdown did not intentionally make their mistakes. However, covering up their faults is an entirely different issue. When Anatoly Dyatlov (Paul Ritter) dismisses the findings of the workers as delusions, he begins the chain of lies. The decision to hide the truth from the public, perhaps, is the more significant threat compared to the radiation. Much like Anatoly, the Board of Directors commits the same mistake. When one points out a possible risk, Zharkov (Donald Sumpter) insists on handling the situation the SSR way. Resorting to labeling instruments as faulty as well as dismissing one’s findings as fake became their official stance. Anatoly’s dramatic scene, being dragged away from the administration office after suffering from the effects of radiation, presumably makes him reevaluate his decisions. Still, at that point, it is far too late to take back what he said.

First Casualties

Liam Daniel/HBO

Firefighters are no strangers to danger, this is true, but the risks posed by the meltdown prove to be alarming. The worst part about the situation is that the firefighters think that they are putting out a roof fire.  As Vasily walked straight into the rubble, he could not hel[ but feel odd, seeing what he saw. Oblivious to the real danger, the firefighters directly exposed themselves to radiation, causing some of them to feel its effects immediately. It was heartbreaking to watch as other firefighters around became mortally wounded. As much as it is a part of a firefighter’s duty to accept risks, it is unfair that they did not know the real threat, hence the devastating outcome to those who responded.

Honest Mistake

Liam Daniel/HBO

Powerplant workers Leonid Toptunov (Robert Emms) and Akimov (Sam Troughton) are the first to blame for the explosion. Such accusations weigh heavily on them, so they take the responsibility to open the cooling valves manually. Unlike Anatoly, however, they do not wish to deny the truth about the accident. The core indeed exploded, and they feel that the entire town is at risk. Seeing the effects of radiation firsthand took its toll on them. Still, the sad reality is that powerplant workers cannot do anything beyond what their superiors allow them to do. Much of the scenes involving the workers usually happened in silence, creating an eerie and gloomy atmosphere in the powerplant. The presentation of these people as more than mere numbers adds to the overall impact of the episode, giving it a unique angle compared to how the world remembers the meltdown today.

Civilian Curiosity

An explosion awakens the residents of a nearby town called Pripyat. Unable to return to sleep, they opt to see the strange light coming from the powerplant. Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley), the wife of firefighter Vasily, joins her neighbors in watching the fire. As the residents stood at a bridge, ash started to fall. The children of the town played in the ash-covered ground, unaware of what the ash contains. Inevitably, the residents become the most affected by radiation. At the end of the episode, a hospital receives an influx of ambulances, all coming from the same place.

‘CHERNOBYL’ Series Premiere ‘1:23:45’ Final Verdict

The show presents a unique take on the April 1986 Chernobyl meltdown. At the beginning of the episode, the hero of the narrative dies, a move that no one usually does on television shows. However, the hero’s death leaves a lasting impact on the viewers. Also, the unique angle that the show picks up on is from the people involved in the accident’s point of view. A risky yet necessary portrayal of the Ukrainian SSR became one of the show’s plots. Also, a humanizing presentation of the powerplant staff proved to be one of the show’s strengths. Lastly, the haunting scenes of the people of Pripyat, oblivious to the danger they are in, bring a chilling feeling. One could not help but remember (and perhaps even research) of the events that transpired in real life but at the same time, feel sorry for those who did not wish to harm innocent lives.

CHERNOBYL continues Monday, May 13th with ‘Please Remain Calm’ at 9/8c on HBO.