Chernobyl

[NannaNoodleman]

Bloody hell! We've just watched episode 1. That was intense.

I'm a bit shocked.

I'm really enjoying this. I remember it happening at the time, the initial detection of radiation by the Swedes/West Germans, the denial by the Soviets that anything was wrong, the gradually dawning horror at what had really happened.

The culture of the USSR at the time is portrayed really well - loyalty to the Party above all else, the rigid hierarchy, fawning to those above you while shitting on those below. Bribery getting you past the regulations.

I definitely feel I need to watch them again to catch all the detail.

Just caught up with episode 3
So so shocking
Horrific
To get an idea of what these men had to suffer
It’s unimaginable

When he was describing what the radiation would do and how the cells will break down... awful!

Those miners.

So pleased I have just spotted this thread. Thought I was the only person totally absorbed in this programme.

I remember exactly where I was in 1986 when I first heard about the Chernobyl disaster and embarrassed to say it pretty much went over my head. ☹️ I do vividly recall becoming quite worried about the potential dangerous fallout over the following weeks.

This programme is harrowing! The bravery demonstrated by so many to basically save a good proportion of the world is astounding. The naked miners - OMG! Such dedication! However, the dead fire fighters in lead caskets buried in concrete. Dear God, that sent a shiver down my spine.

I understand there are only 5 episodes so only 2 more to go but am so pleased it has been made. Such a phenomenal piece of work! Should be shown on Freeview so everyone can see what REALLY happened.

Totally agree raffles , I think it’s very educational and eye opening
I was only 5 when this happened so no real recollection at all
I’m sure lots of my age and younger would have no knowledge other than that it was a nuclear disaster

I didn’t know any of the ins and outs

I wonder if this happened in this day and age would there be the same subservient willingness to get down and do the “ dirty “ work of turning pipes and digging tunnels etc

No USSR , more “ me me me “ in the world in general culture these days ?

Also people could just google “ what would happen if I dig under radioactive site “ etc ...

It was the lack of knowledge and pulling wool over eyes of innocent people that’s upsetting to watch

The radiation burns scenes in hospital had me

Anyone know where I can watch this online?

Its done so well, absolutely fantastic, I was eighteen when it happened and working in a supermarket, as more and more information leaked out we realized people were not buying fresh fruit and veg, they were so concerned about contamination, it was a scary time and of course we never knew the extent of the accident for a long time.

Christ the funeral was harrowing

Sorry Violetroselily, I haven't a clue where you could watch it on line.

It’s interesting viewing DH is a nuclear engineer who has worked there. Kinda freaks me out knowing he goes to other nuclear power stations for work

@helenadove and @Violetroselily I'm watching it online on Now TV. You can get a free 7 day trial of their Entertainment package so if you wait until the final 5th episode is shown in a fortnight you could binge watch them all for free in a week.

@LateToTheParty thank you, will look into it

Thanks for the tip Party

It’s absolutely harrowing. I remember it so so well. I’m hoping sky allow it to go freeview after the initial showing so other people can watch it. Brilliant.

I am also watching it, I read a few articles in newspapers mags about it a while ago and the reviews were excellent.

Its truly shocking what happened and how it was dealt with, those firemen, staff who worked at the plant and the miners good god its horrendous.

Im learning a lot from the program, my understanding of what did happen is poor to say the least, but this series is quite terrifying. I remember it happening but not the enormity of it all. Watching Threads was bad enough.

Other half is reading Midnight In Chernobyl and it goes into quite a lot of detail and again its frightening, maybe I should read it.

Another totally impressed viewer here, extraordinary TV. Couldn't stop the tears at some parts.. those heroic, doomed men..
I was an active in CND and other nuclear and anti weapons protests at the time of the Chernobyl incident and remember getting info which terrified me about radiation effects and the long term pollution. I think Threads was screened round about that time too.
Since then, we've had many incidents, including Fukishima, which, seven years on, is still discharging radioactive water into the sea..

I’m watching it with my 14 year old daughter. I remember it (in my 20s then). She googles bits for more info. Great way of opening dialogue about stuff. Can’t belief how dated the tech is - how far we’ve come in 30 years!

Giggorata, I was living in Japan when the tsunami and Fukishima happened, my god it was very scary.

We also love it. Will order the Midnight in Chernobyl book. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have spent that summer in Ukraine on school holiday. Now looking back, we were incredibly naive. Thinking about it, a lot of the stuff makes sense which a young child would not have got.
None of us liked the canteen food, and the boys sneaked out and bought milk. The teachers were ever so angry. Or now I think frightened.

Just caught up with this

Oh my goodness, the radiation contamination and the funeral scenes were so bleak

Very harrowing watching the concrete pour over the coffins

This is such a brilliant series. I highly recommend the accompanying podcast which gives a sense of what is real and what is drama (I was shocked at how much is real!), and also explains things like the impact of radiation and how it was handled by Russia.

After all the human cost of the disaster that we have seen so far... I'm still most upset that they wouldn't let her take her dog.

Thanks for the podcast suggestion upthread. It’s great for explaining what is real and not. Have been watching with my usual cynical attitude assuming much is not true but a surprising amount is not embellished or changed at all.

I binge watched all three episodes this weekend. My attention span for watching TV or reading books is terrible these days but I was transfixed. That final scene with the coffins being buried in cement was a real gut punch

I don’t want to give away any spoilers Cricketmum but as far as animals go things get worse in one of the remaining episodes

The sense of foreboding is the essence of this production, scarier than any horror movie I’ve watched. I can hardly bring myself to think about the fact that one terribly exposed character is just about to give birth.