Chernobyl - HBO/Sky Spoilers

BobMc · 17-05-2019 9:06am

Just caught ep1 of the podcast too, great info and insight into the making and backstories etc. well worth a listen
a change from breakfast radio in the car for a couple mornings

CrankyHaus · 17-05-2019 9:22am

Itssoeasy wrote: »

How is Anatoly Dyatlov depicted in the show ?

Unsympathetically in Episode 1, where he is a bullying, arse covering, incompetant in denial about the scale of the disaster.

However the prologue implies that he was subsequently unfairly scapegoated as fully responsible for what happened.

Hector Savage · 17-05-2019 10:44am

Itssoeasy wrote: »

How is Anatoly Dyatlov depicted in the show ?

For me similar as the book midnight in Chernobyl pretty arrogant and in denial.

He had a son that died of Leukemia that looked like he picked up from exposure to radiation through his father at another plant in the USSR.
He was in denial about the cause of that too.

Big Game · 17-05-2019 3:17pm

Jurgen The German wrote: »

Excellent TV.

For anyone that has in interest in the possibilities of what could happen in the event if a nuclear war, check out Threads. It's a 1980s BBC commissioned docudrama. It is as terrifying and sobering as any "horror" movie I've ever watched and I've watched a crap load of them. Its available through various other sources and Severin Films released it on blu ray last year.

Haven't seen it since the 80s but had a huge impact on me watching it then, thought it was amazing.

CrankyHaus · 17-05-2019 4:09pm

Big Game wrote: »

Haven't seen it since the 80s but had a huge impact on me watching it then, thought it was amazing.

Threads is great but I actually preferred The War Game from 1965. Withdrawn from TV by the BBC for 20 years as "too horrifying for the medium of broadcasting" it's both hard hitting and a good showcase of Peter Watkins' style of directing. You can get it on YouTube.

Dial Hard · 17-05-2019 11:31pm

Jess Buckley being the only person in the entire cast doing a Ukrainian accent is just silly. I've no idea why the director allowed it.

Also, anyone any idea why all three torches went out at the end??? Was it supposed to be related to the radiation or are we to believe it's just the world's biggest & worst coincidence?

CrankyHaus · 18-05-2019 12:54am

Dial Hard wrote: »

Jess Buckley being the only person in the entire cast doing a Ukrainian accent is just silly. I've no idea why the director allowed it.

Also, anyone any idea why all three torches went out at the end??? Was it supposed to be related to the radiation or are we to believe it's just the world's biggest & worst coincidence?

As I understand it, very high levels of radiation distort electronics. I never heard about it with torches but certainly the robots later provided for clearing the roof all failed due to a lack of adequate shielding (requiring humans to be deployed at enormous risk)

Jimmy Bottlehead · 18-05-2019 12:21pm

CrankyHaus wrote: »

As I understand it, very high levels of radiation distort electronics. I never heard about it with torches but certainly the robots later provided for clearing the roof all failed due to a lack of adequate shielding (requiring humans to be deployed at enormous risk)

Yep, the high levels of radiation short electronics. The 'Battle of Chernobyl' documentary illustrated this through the robots mentioned above. Pretty sure that's also why the helicopter ended up crashing despite instructions to pull back, but I could be wrong. (EDIT: Seems I was, and that it was radiation poisoning that discombobulated the pilot)

Really, really loving this series. Captures the horror of the situation very well, the casting, acting and sets are great. Another good job, HBO.

peddlelies · 18-05-2019 3:14pm

Loving this so far, it's excellent.

bnt · 18-05-2019 5:02pm

That point during the second episode when they were talking about the potential consequences of a much larger steam explosion ... seriously hair-raising. To talk about a steam explosion measured in megatons spewing radioactive material over whole countries had me going "oh sh-- oh sh-- oh sh--" like nothing else. Ukraine and Belarus are not small countries, and Chernobyl is almost at the centre of both.

19-05-2019 6:56pm

bnt wrote: »

That point during the second episode when they were talking about the potential consequences of a much larger steam explosion ... seriously hair-raising. To talk about a steam explosion measured in megatons spewing radioactive material over whole countries had me going "oh sh-- oh sh-- oh sh--" like nothing else. Ukraine and Belarus are not small countries, and Chernobyl is almost at the centre of both.

I’d be be a bit sceptical of the potential for an explosion that large, nothing I’ve read in the past on the accident made the potential steam explosion out to be something of that scale, very very bad yes but no where near that scale.

Leaving reading about it aside my own feeling would be an explosion that large would not be possible from a steam explosion even if taking out the other reactors. Now it would have very very severe consequences and result is an absolutely massive radiation release but megatons of an explosions sounds too much to me.

Atlantic Dawn · 19-05-2019 6:58pm

Watched the 2nd episode, liking it more now. I can't really do the wait for a week for the next episode though so I'm going to wait until the next 3 are done and watch them back to back.

Slydice · 19-05-2019 8:09pm

I'd recommend not googling the explosion thing.

After googling, there's a youtube video of one of the soviets saying it was said by the people (the science people i think) at the time so I reckon it's just another reason many people are going to die.

... which from the directors commentary I've seen.. is one of the main plot arcs you can spoil on yourself.

is_that_so · 19-05-2019 9:36pm

Bowen Uptight Tenet wrote: »

I’d be be a bit sceptical of the potential for an explosion that large, nothing I’ve read in the past on the accident made the potential steam explosion out to be something of that scale, very very bad yes but no where near that scale.

Leaving reading about it aside my own feeling would be an explosion that large would not be possible from a steam explosion even if taking out the other reactors. Now it would have very very severe consequences and result is an absolutely massive radiation release but megatons of an explosions sounds too much to me.

Probably a good deal too high but maybe it was a guesstimate. Good episode all the same, definitely some dramatic licence in there at times but it works.

valoren · 20-05-2019 11:06am

Bowen Uptight Tenet wrote: »

I’d be be a bit sceptical of the potential for an explosion that large, nothing I’ve read in the past on the accident made the potential steam explosion out to be something of that scale, very very bad yes but no where near that scale.

Leaving reading about it aside my own feeling would be an explosion that large would not be possible from a steam explosion even if taking out the other reactors. Now it would have very very severe consequences and result is an absolutely massive radiation release but megatons of an explosions sounds too much to me.

I loved the dichotomy between the autocrats attitude of it being a case of "nothing to see here, just a fire that's all" and the scientific consensus of continental Armageddon. Better to take the nuclear option, pardon the pun, to convince people of the seriousness of the situation I guess.

Credit Checker Moose · 20-05-2019 11:11am

No new ep this week?

Greyfox · 20-05-2019 11:14am

Wow.. OMG.. both episodes 10/10, absolutely amazing television! Very well written, grim and so gripping

The Specialist · 20-05-2019 11:20am

Credit Checker Moose wrote: »

No new ep this week?

It's on Tuesday nights so EP 3 is tomorrow

alchemist33 · 20-05-2019 9:13pm

This has been great so far. The portrayal of a system based on dogma and fear making them all so slow to react is fantastic.

Dial Hard · 21-05-2019 11:49am

The Specialist wrote: »

It's on Tuesday nights so EP 3 is tomorrow

Technically it's on Tuesday mornings at 2am so available any time after that

Arghus · 21-05-2019 6:16pm

Not for the faint of heart this week.

No punches pulled in depicting the horror of death by radiation poisoning.

gandalf · 21-05-2019 7:47pm

Man that was a rough episode. Excellent telly, great performances again but grim viewing.

mcdaids69 · 21-05-2019 8:28pm

tough watch this week..tell ur partners to hold their stomochs,every word is watchable this week,very fast paced

21-05-2019 9:16pm

Powerful viewing...

Atlantic Dawn · 21-05-2019 9:37pm

Best episode so far, the coal miner lads stole the show, reminded me of the oil riggers being asked to take out the asteroid in Armageddon. Stellan Skarsgård is doing a great job too as Boris Shcherbina.

Slydice · 21-05-2019 9:47pm

Those poor bastards

cozar · 21-05-2019 9:55pm

The ending with the steel coffins ...heartbreaking

harr · 21-05-2019 10:00pm

Poor poor ****ers what an absolutely terrifying way to go... I would hope someone would put me out of my misery.
The miners were some crew...

Working class heroes · 21-05-2019 10:07pm

WOW!

Itssoeasy · 21-05-2019 10:15pm

I will get around to watching this but does this episode deal with the liquidators ? Those poor bastards had an awful life after even if it was short.

how.gareth · 21-05-2019 10:17pm

Jasis this is savage tv, especially after the game of thrones disaster, how many episodes left now?

2smiggy · 21-05-2019 10:18pm

how.gareth wrote: »

Jasis this is savage tv, especially after the game of thrones disaster, how many episodes left now?

2 left

errlloyd · 21-05-2019 10:29pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

I will get around to watching this but does this episode deal with the liquidators ? Those poor bastards had an awful life after even if it was short.

The episode ends with the conscription of liquidators. I guess we'll see them in episode 4. I don't think the show is going to deal much with the future

dasdog · 21-05-2019 10:29pm

I loved the joke about the

Soviet apple slicer

.

AMKC · 21-05-2019 10:58pm

Arghus wrote: »

Not for the faint of heart this week.

No punches pulled in depicting the horror of death by radiation poisoning.

An absolutely horrible way to die.

cozar wrote: »

The ending with the steel coffins ...heartbreaking

And then the cement over them as well.

harr wrote: »

Poor poor ****ers what an absolutely terrifying way to go... I would hope someone would put me out of my misery.
The miners were some crew...

Same here. Better to die quick than go trough that knowing there is no cure and you can't end the pain yourself.

All the episodes so far have been very good. They really hit home how close we all came to armagadem and the very brave people who stopped even worse from happening.

2smiggy · 21-05-2019 11:12pm

sugarman wrote: »

Second attempt at watching the first episode tonight after giving it a go over the weekend but I just cant get into it for some reason. Feels very unauthentic / low budget with the British accents and choice of cast.

Low budget is definitely not how I would describe it, in my opinion.

gandalf · 21-05-2019 11:24pm

sugarman wrote: »

Second attempt at watching the first episode tonight after giving it a go over the weekend but I just cant get into it for some reason. Feels very unauthentic / low budget with the British accents and choice of cast.

That's exact opposite that a lot of people who grew up behind the iron curtain are saying. They are saying it's got the look of that era bang on.

Tbh I found the accents strange at first but once you get into it you don't notice them. It's not feel good but it's excellent and gripping television.

Gimme A Pound · 21-05-2019 11:25pm

Holy... the poor guys in the hospital... that was stomach churning.

The miners - heroes. Their main guy (Trevor from Eastenders!) was fantastic.

theteal wrote: »

Is the constant attachment of armed guards a communist state thing or a nuclear plant during the 80's thing, or a combination of both? The whole time there was a sense of the front line engineers afraid to speak up for fear of punishment.

Soviet state thing I'd say.

fritzelly wrote: »

cannot believe a woman in soviet Russia having that much influence

Communist regimes, in their "everyone is equal" guises (when it suits) can be pretty egalitarian between the sexes. When it suits though, as I said.

Jurgen The German wrote: »

Excellent TV.

For anyone that has in interest in the possibilities of what could happen in the event if a nuclear war, check out Threads. It's a 1980s BBC commissioned docudrama. It is as terrifying and sobering as any "horror" movie I've ever watched and I've watched a crap load of them. Its available through various other sources and Severin Films released it on blu ray last year.

It's beyond belief scary. As is The War Game (also mentioned) and The Day After. People must have been sh1tting themselves in the 80s.

CrankyHaus wrote: »

As I understand it, very high levels of radiation distort electronics. I never heard about it with torches but certainly the robots later provided for clearing the roof all failed

Cars don't start either, as far as I know? Or am I talking baloney?!

Atoms for Peace · 21-05-2019 11:31pm

Absolutely terrifying episode, if sellafield ever blows I'll be looking for cyanide rather than iodine tablets.

Atlantic Dawn · 21-05-2019 11:34pm

Wonder how many of these people who risked their lives are still alive, these people deserve crowd funding to have a good life for the remainder of their years.

fritzelly · 22-05-2019 12:15am

Seeing the slowly putrifying bodies was some gruesome viewing for what is not an horror movie

Gimme A Pound · 22-05-2019 12:18am

fritzelly wrote: »

Seeing the slowly putrifying bodies was some gruesome viewing for what is not an horror movie

Jesus Christ I felt sick.

And when they didn't show the last guy and Emily Watson's character couldn't hold in her upset... When she told Jared Harris later that the poor man's face was gone, it makes me think she must have been looking at a talking skull.

Shuddering...

Atlantic Dawn · 22-05-2019 12:34am

Such a pity it's not going to run for longer, could have easily done 8-10 episodes on the aftermath.

fritzelly · 22-05-2019 12:38am

Zaniyah Gigantic Caricature wrote: »

Jesus Christ I felt sick.

And when they didn't show the last guy and Emily Watson's character couldn't hold in her upset... When she told Jared Harris later that the poor man's face was gone, it makes me think she must have been looking at a talking skull.

Shuddering...

What they showed was not far off bones, some great makeup, cannot imagine how you would be trying to care for them and watch them as they slowly liquify away

Gimme A Pound · 22-05-2019 12:46am

God yeah, the psychological damage - PTSD, survivor's guilt - must be massive.

So many dramas and documentaries - even comedy dramas :rolleyes: - now seem to get the "Contains scenes some viewers may find distressing" treatment at the beginning, and then you watch the whole thing and wonder what they were on about.

But by god it's appropriate for this episode of Chernobyl. A few "leave the room" bits for some folk for sure.

extra gravy · 22-05-2019 1:21am

How were they not screaming in pain?

Maybe the body goes into shock at that stage.

fritzelly · 22-05-2019 1:34am

extra gravy wrote: »

How were they not screaming in pain? Maybe the body goes into shock at that stage.

Everything is dying I guess so no nerves or anything, brain shutting down etc

Gimme A Pound · 22-05-2019 1:36am

It seems like... decomposition while alive. Just... horrendous.

Tokyo · 22-05-2019 5:05am

gandalf wrote: »

Tbh I found the accents strange at first but once you get into it you don't notice them.

I find that the accents add far more to the show than they take away, TBH. It gives the viewer an immediately relatable handle on the social classes in play - working class *sound* like working class. Far better than the usual faux-Russian "I am not gas station. This is sophisticated laboratory" you find in movies like Armageddon.

Tipsy McSwagger · 22-05-2019 7:22am

mike_ie wrote: »

I find that the accents add far more to the show than they take away, TBH. It gives the viewer an immediately relatable handle on the social classes in play - working class *sound* like working class. Far better than the usual faux-Russian "I am not gas station. This is sophisticated laboratory" you find in movies like Armageddon.

Or John Malkovich in Billions with his painful Russian accent.

Chernobyl - HBO/Sky *Spoilers*

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Chernobyl - HBO/Sky Spoilers