Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Chernobyl - HBO/Sky *Spoilers*

1235718

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,951 ✭✭✭✭2smiggy


    One thing I've learned is not to mess with Russian coal miners !!


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,841 ✭✭✭buried


    The scene where they don't show Akimov in the Hospital 6 bed was genius. You don't see what sort of sickness he is in and the fact that the camera doesn't show you him either allows your own mind to create what sort of horrific state he could have been in. Which in a lot of ways is more harrowing to witness even it's not showing on the screen. Its just great work, proper writing, proper adult drama and its badly needed. All the actors are doing a great job too. Once again the sound design is fantastic, and the metallic drone ambient soundtrack almost has the radiation spilling out the screen and the speakers.

    "You have disgraced yourselves again" - W. B. Yeats



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,872 ✭✭✭Sittingpretty


    Such a horrifying episode.

    I had read an account from Itechenko’s wife once that during his last days he was coughing up pieces of his lungs and liver.

    Absolutely horrific deaths those poor men got.


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,757 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Best thing on TV currently. It's so dark.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,521 ✭✭✭cozar


    whats the story with turning on the switch that caused the blast,? any nuclear physicists on boards? would love to know in "layman's terms" what caused the blast.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,123 ✭✭✭Mundo7976


    cozar wrote: »
    whats the story with turning on the switch that caused the blast,? any nuclear physicists on boards? would love to know in "layman's terms" what caused the blast.
    Id presume we're going to find out after ulana gets released and continues the investigation


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,114 ✭✭✭PhilOssophy


    cozar wrote: »
    whats the story with turning on the switch that caused the blast,? any nuclear physicists on boards? would love to know in "layman's terms" what caused the blast.

    I'm not a nuclear physicist, but I did study physics in college, and read a book on the disaster a few years ago.

    My understanding is as below, and I am 100% open to contradiction!

    They were trying to test what would happen if there was a power cut (or failure). The pumps which were providing water to the reactor core would cut out in the event of a power cut. They were trying to test if the turbine could continue to provide power to the pumps (thus keeping the reactor core cool) while the backup generators were started up.

    In such a test, they were supposed to reduce the output of the reactor to 120MW or something like that. That was supposed to be the test.

    However, Dyatalov ordered that they reduce it to 0MW, neither Akimov or Toptunov felt this was the correct thing to do (and they had studied nuclear physics which Dyatalov had not) but they did what they were told. Apparently at this level, the core becomes unstable and both were uncomfortable with the request, but as it came from a superior they did it anyway. The theory was that at 120MW they could easily shut off the reactor by pressing the A5 switch or whatever it was called. Apparently this would have been fine and the test would have been a success.

    Once they reduced the output to 0MW, they lost control of the reactor, the switch did not work due to an effect called the positive void coefficient of nuclear fission (i'll let you google that yourself, its beyond my pay grade here!!), which basically meant the control rods were no longer able to be pushed down fully to shut off the fission. What happens then is a massive spike in temperature in the core, followed by a meltdown, followed by an explosion.

    Akimov and Toptahuov did everything right, it was the call by Dyatalov to completely turn off the output which caused this explosion. I think that's why Dyatalov was seen commiting suicide in the opening scene of the series.

    I hope this is something of an explanation!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,882 ✭✭✭sc86


    see a few complain about british accents etc , would they prefer it was in russian with subtitles?

    its the best tv i have saw in years , i dont normally watch tv only for sport but this has me hooked

    the lady that is question the workers in the hospital , what is her name and what became of her?

    i cant believe there is holiday tours to this place , wife has already turned that idea down!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,521 ✭✭✭cozar


    I'm not a nuclear physicist, but I did study physics in college, and read a book on the disaster a few years ago.

    My understanding is as below, and I am 100% open to contradiction!

    They were trying to test what would happen if there was a power cut (or failure). The pumps which were providing water to the reactor core would cut out in the event of a power cut. They were trying to test if the turbine could continue to provide power to the pumps (thus keeping the reactor core cool) while the backup generators were started up.

    In such a test, they were supposed to reduce the output of the reactor to 120MW or something like that. That was supposed to be the test.

    However, Dyatalov ordered that they reduce it to 0MW, neither Akimov or Toptunov felt this was the correct thing to do (and they had studied nuclear physics which Dyatalov had not) but they did what they were told. Apparently at this level, the core becomes unstable and both were uncomfortable with the request, but as it came from a superior they did it anyway. The theory was that at 120MW they could easily shut off the reactor by pressing the A5 switch or whatever it was called. Apparently this would have been fine and the test would have been a success.

    Once they reduced the output to 0MW, they lost control of the reactor, the switch did not work due to an effect called the positive void coefficient of nuclear fission (i'll let you google that yourself, its beyond my pay grade here!!), which basically meant the control rods were no longer able to be pushed down fully to shut off the fission. What happens then is a massive spike in temperature in the core, followed by a meltdown, followed by an explosion.

    Akimov and Toptahuov did everything right, it was the call by Dyatalov to completely turn off the output which caused this explosion. I think that's why Dyatalov was seen commiting suicide in the opening scene of the series.

    I hope this is something of an explanation!

    thanks for that, great explanation.!


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭The Specialist


    sc86 wrote: »
    see a few complain about british accents etc , would they prefer it was in russian with subtitles?

    its the best tv i have saw in years , i dont normally watch tv only for sport but this has me hooked

    the lady that is question the workers in the hospital , what is her name and what became of her?

    i cant believe there is holiday tours to this place , wife has already turned that idea down!

    She never existed (she is a single character to represent a group of scientists that worked with Legasov).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,882 ✭✭✭sc86


    She never existed (she is a single character to represent a group of scientists that worked with Legasov).

    ah no really :(
    Thanks for the info


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,408 ✭✭✭✭Sardonicat







    I think that's why Dyatalov was seen commiting suicide in the opening scene of the series.

    It is Legatov who commits suicide in the opening scene.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,872 ✭✭✭Sittingpretty


    I'm not a nuclear physicist, but I did study physics in college, and read a book on the disaster a few years ago.

    My understanding is as below, and I am 100% open to contradiction!

    They were trying to test what would happen if there was a power cut (or failure). The pumps which were providing water to the reactor core would cut out in the event of a power cut. They were trying to test if the turbine could continue to provide power to the pumps (thus keeping the reactor core cool) while the backup generators were started up.

    In such a test, they were supposed to reduce the output of the reactor to 120MW or something like that. That was supposed to be the test.

    However, Dyatalov ordered that they reduce it to 0MW, neither Akimov or Toptunov felt this was the correct thing to do (and they had studied nuclear physics which Dyatalov had not) but they did what they were told. Apparently at this level, the core becomes unstable and both were uncomfortable with the request, but as it came from a superior they did it anyway. The theory was that at 120MW they could easily shut off the reactor by pressing the A5 switch or whatever it was called. Apparently this would have been fine and the test would have been a success.

    Once they reduced the output to 0MW, they lost control of the reactor, the switch did not work due to an effect called the positive void coefficient of nuclear fission (i'll let you google that yourself, its beyond my pay grade here!!), which basically meant the control rods were no longer able to be pushed down fully to shut off the fission. What happens then is a massive spike in temperature in the core, followed by a meltdown, followed by an explosion.

    Akimov and Toptahuov did everything right, it was the call by Dyatalov to completely turn off the output which caused this explosion. I think that's why Dyatalov was seen commiting suicide in the opening scene of the series.

    I hope this is something of an explanation!

    It was Legasso the physicist that hung himself in the opening scenes no? After depositing his tapes with all his info on them in a vent in his building.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,733 ✭✭✭✭AdamD


    She never existed (she is a single character to represent a group of scientists that worked with Legasov).

    To be fair if there is one thing that I have a gripe with its the portrayal of two scientists dealing with this issue. Maybe I'm wrong but I assume the soviets had a huge team analysing this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,521 ✭✭✭cozar


    I assume dyatalov died shortly after explosion like the rest of the engineers.?


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,872 ✭✭✭Sittingpretty


    cozar wrote: »
    I assume dyatalov died shortly after explosion like the rest of the engineers.?

    He didn’t die until 1995.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,882 ✭✭✭sc86


    wow , how did he survive so long!

    so much for karma , how did he live with himself


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    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.
    Even as a particle physicist I was also initially confused as to how such a large explosion could have been possible. In fact I wasn't aware that the Chernobyl team had considered this possibility until it was pointed out to me March last year on this forum. I did a bit of reading up on the original papers and later simulations afterward, summary here:
    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=106485024&postcount=4895


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭The Specialist


    AdamD wrote: »
    To be fair if there is one thing that I have a gripe with its the portrayal of two scientists dealing with this issue. Maybe I'm wrong but I assume the soviets had a huge team analysing this.

    I'm sure the actual team was much larger, but think the show decided to portray these via 2 characters to keep the story focus and pacing tight.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,114 ✭✭✭PhilOssophy


    Oh it was Legasov in the opening scene. I knew the original blast didn't kill Dyatalov and thought it was him. Thanks for the correction!

    By all accounts Dyatalov was an extremely pig-headed man.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,514 ✭✭✭valoren


    AdamD wrote: »
    To be fair if there is one thing that I have a gripe with its the portrayal of two scientists dealing with this issue. Maybe I'm wrong but I assume the soviets had a huge team analysing this.

    She is a composite character to represent the team working on it. Kind of like in Apollo 13 when you have Gary Sinise playing Ken Mattingly in the command module simulator going through the power up procedures. Mattingly, and John Aaron the engineer, are composite characters representing the litany of people on the ground who worked the problem.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,106 ✭✭✭Technocentral


    Brilliant series, terrifying like a zombie holocaust, wonder if its popular or just watched by people who remember it like me?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    Dyatlov and two guys in senior management (remember them at the beginning) were sent to a labour camp, despite unlikely being in good health. Two (including Dyatlov) were released early. The other guy had a breakdown and attempted suicide, hence his early release

    Dyatlov maintained he was scapegoated and that shoddy workmanship was the cause. He wrote a book on it. I'd imagine the truth was a combination of the two. Yeah he survived a long time, but then again he didn't end up trawling the bowels of the plant like the other poor feckers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,362 ✭✭✭✭Itssoeasy


    He didn’t die until 1995.

    And in an interview near his death he still was defiant.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭The Specialist


    Brilliant series, terrifying like a zombie holocaust, wonder if its popular or just watched by people who remember it like me?

    I think it's fairly popular to be honest, overheard some of the younger staff in the office here (who were definitely only a twinkle in daddys eye at the time it occurred) talking about it and they are constantly questioning if what they watch actually happened :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,917 ✭✭✭✭Dial Hard


    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.

    That actor (Peter Stormare) is Swedish. He gets cast as Eastern Europeans a lot for some reason.
    sc86 wrote: »
    see a few complain about british accents etc , would they prefer it was in russian with subtitles?

    I would, but I suspect I'd be one of the few. It worked for Dark.

    Anyway, I'm glued to this. Can't believe there's only two episodes left.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    2smiggy wrote: »
    One thing I've learned is not to mess with Russian coal miners !!
    Their main guy was brilliant! I actually laughed when the miners shed all their clothes due to the heat and he sauntered up to Legasov and Shcherbina, manhood bobbing away, to tell them to get over it as the heat was too much. And then sneering at their bewildered, slightly disapproving faces "Oh relax, we're still wearing the f'ucking hats." :D

    A teeny bit of comic relief is very very welcome.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,362 ✭✭✭✭Itssoeasy


    sc86 wrote: »
    wow , how did he survive so long!

    so much for karma , how did he live with himself

    He lived in denial it seems. He believed it was anybody or anything else's fault the accident happened. It wasn't his fault even though he changed the parameters of the test against the ones set out by the authorities. As was said it was about seeing how the reactor would function without power. The Israelis bombed an Iranian plant which had Soviet built reactors in it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,514 ✭✭✭valoren


    Was nice to see that Finchy from the Office was once a General in the Soviet Army. No wonder he was a bloody good rep. :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    I just think re the accents that if it's in English in the first place, then that's already an inaccuracy, so why not have them using their actual accents instead of attempts at mimicking the likely nuanced accents of Ukraine/Belarusia, which again would be an inaccuracy, as the actual people weren't speaking in English with bad Ukrainian/Belarusian accents!

    And they can have English, Irish, Scottish, American, Australian, Canadian, NZ, Welsh accents - it doesn't matter.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,737 ✭✭✭✭TheValeyard


    It's a great show, very well done.

    All eyes on Kursk. Slava Ukraini.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,514 ✭✭✭valoren


    Their main guy was brilliant! I actually laughed when the miners shed all their clothes due to the heat and he sauntered up to Legasov and Shcherbina, manhood bobbing away, to tell them to get over it as the heat was too much. And then sneering at their bewildered, slightly disapproving faces "Oh relax, we're still wearing the f'ucking hats." :D

    A teeny bit of comic relief is very very welcome.

    Favourite part was the miners passing by the Minister of Coal and dusting up his pristine suit. His reactions going from "Ah here...ah stop....oh well....I asked for it....carry on...."


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    valoren wrote: »
    Favourite part was the miners passing by the Minister of Coal and dusting up his pristine suit. His reactions going from "Ah here...ah stop....oh well....I asked for it....carry on...."
    I enjoyed the petty bureaucrats being told to fuk off with their pointless rules and obsession with power/control... and they really had no comeback. Apart from the KGB guy in Moscow confronted by Legasov. That bit was kinda darkly funny too, when Shcherbina told Legasov he did very well, in that he came across as a naive idiot.

    But yeah the head miner guy's badassery and wit were awesome.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    Reminded of another Skarsgaard/Watson film, Breaking The Waves. Excellent show.


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 1,105 ✭✭✭Limpy


    I visited chernobyl last year. It was on the bucket list. Visited the ghost town of Pripyat, names of apartment occupants still on the mail boxes ect.

    Looking forward to the series as I've yet to see it. There's a very good documentary which we watched on the way to the powerplant.

    https://youtu.be/p5GTvaW34O0

    Seeing the thriving Town (Pripyat) later in the current state was really strange, especially the children's park. An un believable experience.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,388 ✭✭✭Cina


    Dial Hard wrote: »
    That actor (Peter Stormare) is Swedish. He gets cast as Eastern Europeans a lot for some reason.



    I would, but I suspect I'd be one of the few. It worked for Dark.

    Anyway, I'm glued to this. Can't believe there's only two episodes left.

    I probably would too, but Dark is a German show so it's not really comparable. The idea that HBO and Sky would spend such a huge amount of money on a mini-series, when their mean reach is English speaking markets, and do it in Ukrainian/Russian with actors nobody knows? No chance.

    I really don't mind it, I'm glad it's just "look, the actors speak whatever their accent is, deal with it" and then carry on with this great show, rather than trying to fake it or whatever.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,882 ✭✭✭sc86


    subtitles would not work with main audience american / brittish
    pain in the ass trying to read and watch
    they were correct to have english imo


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,882 ✭✭✭sc86


    on another note , some amount of smoking fags going on!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    sc86 wrote: »
    on another note , some amount of smoking fags going on!
    I keep thinking that, and "god they smoke way too much - so bad for them" and then... :o

    Shur they're fooked anyway.


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Credit Checker Moose


    Still the case to this day with smoking. It is so cheap. $2 a box for good smokes.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 81 ✭✭Crusty Jocks


    Jesus, my nephew who is 14 has watched the first two episodes and thought it was great, had good chats with him about it. He was really looking forward to the third one. Watched last nights episode 3 and it fairly knocked the wind out of me and I wouldn't be particularly squeamish about much. Not sure any of those images should be in any 14 year olds head no matter how hardy they are. Having a word with his folks about it is not something I want to do either.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,917 ✭✭✭✭Dial Hard


    Jesus, my nephew who is 14 has watched the first two episodes and thought it was great, had good chats with him about it. He was really looking forward to the third one. Watched last nights episode 3 and it fairly knocked the wind out of me and I wouldn't be particularly squeamish about much. Not sure any of those images should be in any 14 year olds head no matter how hardy they are. Having a word with his folks about it is not something I want to do either.

    I think 14 is a perfectly fine age to watch this. It happened, it's part of history, the programme isn't glorifying anything. I'd have a bigger problem with him watching gratuitous fictionalised violence, tbh.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    Jesus, my nephew who is 14 has watched the first two episodes and thought it was great, had good chats with him about it. He was really looking forward to the third one. Watched last nights episode 3 and it fairly knocked the wind out of me and I wouldn't be particularly squeamish about much. Not sure any of those images should be in any 14 year olds head no matter how hardy they are. Having a word with his folks about it is not something I want to do either.
    Warn him maybe? Yeah I can't stop thinking about those poor guys.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,561 ✭✭✭GrumPy


    Jesus, my nephew who is 14 has watched the first two episodes and thought it was great, had good chats with him about it. He was really looking forward to the third one. Watched last nights episode 3 and it fairly knocked the wind out of me and I wouldn't be particularly squeamish about much. Not sure any of those images should be in any 14 year olds head no matter how hardy they are. Having a word with his folks about it is not something I want to do either.

    He's 14... He's seen ALOT worse than acute radiation sickness burns, trust me. :pac: (former 14 year old)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,951 ✭✭✭✭2smiggy


    Jesus, my nephew who is 14 has watched the first two episodes and thought it was great, had good chats with him about it. He was really looking forward to the third one. Watched last nights episode 3 and it fairly knocked the wind out of me and I wouldn't be particularly squeamish about much. Not sure any of those images should be in any 14 year olds head no matter how hardy they are. Having a word with his folks about it is not something I want to do either.

    they are a few seconds away from a lot worse on their mobile phones !!


  • Advertisement
  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 81 ✭✭Crusty Jocks


    Thought it has been excellent by the way and agree with not sugar coating history but it's so well made it's all the more disturbing. Affected me so I'm just trying to think of it from a 14 year olds perspective.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    GrumPy wrote: »
    He's 14... He's seen ALOT worse than acute radiation sickness burns, trust me. :pac: (former 14 year old)
    I shudder to think what could be a lot worse than the depiction of a man literally decomposing (more to it than burns).

    And you don't know what that lad has seen. Think you should speak only for yourself if you watched worse stuff than that. :eek:

    I'd say he'll be grand though, Crusty. 14 is old enough for such reality. The age when people start to learn about how harsh life can be for many.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,739 ✭✭✭ASOT


    valoren wrote: »
    Favourite part was the miners passing by the Minister of Coal and dusting up his pristine suit. His reactions going from "Ah here...ah stop....oh well....I asked for it....carry on...."

    "Now you look like the minister for coal"

    Loving it so far.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,882 ✭✭✭sc86


    the damage this must have done to the earth

    when you see tds crying about co2 emissions from cars now and global warming , youd wonder where this ranks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,262 ✭✭✭✭GavRedKing


    Disappointed its such a short run because what they've served up so far has been fantastic.

    Its so tense and gripping and the ambient noise and sound track make it so deep and ominous.

    In the 2nd episode, even though I knew about the divers and the history of it, it felt like you were only waiting for a jump scare, like in a horror movie, they've really built this up very well and havent really pulled any punches.

    I've the 3rd episode to get to later but after seeing some of the visuals of the episode and the survivors in the Moscow hospital, it looks grim, I cant wait. :o


  • Advertisement
Advertisement