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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that Chernobyl is not suitable telly for a 9 and 13 year old. At Christmas.

94 replies

WakingUp55643 · 22/12/2020 20:41

Dh has put it on to watch, but the kids were in front of the telly too. I haven't seen it myself but I don't think it's really very cheerful, horrifying in fact. Especially at Christmas. I've taken the youngest upstairs out of the way, dh thinks I'm making a fuss over nothing. Am I?

OP posts:

Canwecancel2020 · 22/12/2020 22:08

Gave me nightmares

olympicsrock · 22/12/2020 22:09

I have seen it. Definitely not appropriate for either

WhenSheWasBad · 22/12/2020 22:10

@Canwecancel2020

Gave me nightmares

Me too and I’m fairly tough when it comes to scary films. The scenes in the hospital are horrific.

Amazing series though.

ilikebooksandplants · 22/12/2020 22:16

Will the kids even understand what is going on? It’s a great series but not exactly action packed. They might be a bit upset when they shoot the dogs? That upset me a bit and I’m in my thirties!

TragedyHands · 22/12/2020 22:18

Thirteen year old will probably get it, but 9 year old won't understand much.
I don't see it being Christmas makes any difference.

snookercue · 22/12/2020 22:18

Is he trying to suck what joy there is left out of their lives? Surely he should watch this when they are not around and let them enjoy Christmas. What a misery.

Canwecancel2020 · 22/12/2020 22:20

I let my (mature and thoughtful) 10yo watch the last episode in the courtroom where he explains how it happened. She’d heard about it at school and had questions. I’m not a physicist and don’t really understand what a nuclear reactor is let alone explain it. I wouldn’t have let her watch the rest.

WinterStrawbsAreLikeTurnip · 22/12/2020 22:20

13 yes. A very mature 9 with a natural interest in radiation/medical issues I would consider it but that's a very specific case, most 9 is too young.

Hidinge · 22/12/2020 22:26

Do your children not watch those 999 emergency shows? Mine love them. Eldest wants to be a children's dr. Is it much different? They also like a ww2 documentary so this sounds right up their street. Is it on Netflix?

Landlubber2019 · 22/12/2020 22:27

My 10 year old watched it admittedly he missed the first few episodes and I though t he would soon get bored, but we both enjoyed it and it brought about all sorts of discussions. However he is very interested in nuclear energy and power stations and not your typical 10yr old

year5teacher · 22/12/2020 22:28

I’m 26 and I couldn’t watch it. Horrible

confusednortherner · 22/12/2020 22:31

My two are 12 and 14, they know a lot about Chernobyl as we have been involved organising summer visits for children still affected by it since they were tiny. Despite this I put it on while they were in bed. That first bit where the dust is blowing over them all gave me the shivers, really not a easy watch☹️

Thelnebriati · 22/12/2020 22:36

Isn't it rated a 15? There are some graphic injury scenes.

ConquestEmpireHungerPlague · 22/12/2020 22:41

My (then) 13yo watched it earlier in the year and was OK but I thought there were some near-the-knuckle scenes and themes. We talked about it a lot afterwards (watched it as a family, including older siblings) and he was fine. 9 - no way, sorry. And I'm pretty liberal with viewing and reading content. I didn't think it was the groundbreaking telly the reviews led me to expect, but it was very affecting in places and gave even the adults a lot to think about.

George1984 · 22/12/2020 22:52

I didn't find Chernobyl to bad if I'm honest, although I probably wouldn't let my DS7 watch it, maybe my DS11. Threads on the other hand is truly one of the most terrifying things I have ever seen. I can understand why it's never been allowed on British TV since it originally aired. 😱

AgentCooper · 22/12/2020 22:54

I loved it but I know 13 year old me would’ve had nightmares and become obsessed with the threat of nuclear war.

AgentCooper · 22/12/2020 22:54

@George1984

Oh my God, Threads. Jesus Christ.

Holothane · 22/12/2020 22:57

Excellent but the. Kids would be bored with it especially the 9 year old. Though I do remember being fascinated by the medical scenes in the Original Survivors at that age.

ShopTattsyrup · 22/12/2020 22:59

I suppose it depends on the 9 and 13 year old. I was watching Silent Witness and Waking the dead with fairly graphic autopsy scenes when I was about 10-11. I found it fascinating and ended up a nurse. I was fine with it, and probably would have been fine with the hospital scenes in Chernobyl had I seen them at that age.

As PPs have said though - I imagine that the plot would be too dry for a 9 and 13 year old.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 22/12/2020 23:02

As a child there was a Geiger counter on my farm which I remember playing with. My dad is dead now from cancer as are many of his farmer friends.

partyatthepalace · 22/12/2020 23:04

It’s a great drama. I think some 13 year olds would be intrigued. 9 too young but might well just go over their head.

I wouldn’t worry c it, unless the kids in question are worriers

waitingforadulthood · 22/12/2020 23:14

My thirteen year old struggled . It was a project assigned to her. Study a disaster and they were given a disaster to study (I wish mine were one of the ones to study storm Dennis!!!) she got Chernobyl. Which she knew a bit about. But she came home and picked up "letters from Chernobyl " from the shelf and I stopped her. Those who think the series graphic- don't read the book. I stopped her reading it and said the tv series is as good ( something I've never ever said! But I didn't want her reading it yet! ) I watched it with her and had to pause and discuss much. To properly understand and explore. No , I wouldn't do that over Christmas. Particularly this Christmas. It's brilliant and hard viewing. It's reality and painful. And why now? At Christmas? Just no need .

Allispretty · 22/12/2020 23:15

I'd say no to both personally. Some pretty horrific scenes of the aftermath in the hospital etc. It must be age rating 15 minimum

DougRossIsTheBoss · 22/12/2020 23:18

I love a crime drama, serial killers all that stuff and I don't mind a fair bit of blood and gore in dramas and in real life

But those hospital scenes in Chernobyl with those poor people's bodies essentially disintegrating around them are haunting. His pregnant wife visiting him.
The knowledge that this really happened in my living memory.

I just had to Google to make sure I hadn't misremembered and I definitely haven't. That is some of the most horrific stuff I've seen on TV in a long time. I really really cannot imagine letting my 13 yr old see it let alone my younger one.

I am so surprised that some people think it's OK for a 13yr old and wonder if they've actually seen the scenes in question.

Original poster

WakingUp55643 · 22/12/2020 23:34

Hi again everyone. The main thing I would be concerned about is the graphic hospital scenes. I know that when I was younger, anything horrible would stick in my mind and I just don't want them having anything upsetting playing on their minds. I too was around when the disaster happened, and I remember feeling so scared by it all, as well as all the cold war stuff. Covid is enough to deal with at the moment without this on top. My youngest had a long discussion with me last night about possible threats to life including diseases, and aliens! So he does think about stuff. And it's flippen Christmas ffs! I'm not the most happy clappy festive person, but I'd certainly prefer something a bit more seasonal and cosy on telly of a night!
Another thing maybe bothering me about the Chernobyl thing is the cases of thyroid cancer which are still happening now. I've had it, and it's no fun! I think I'm annoyed at dh for not thinking of this. I just find the whole thing traumatic, and I get that a lot of people have been raving about the series, but not for my kids thanks very much. Thanks for all your replies X

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