Within the first few minutes of HBO miniseries, Chernobyl, you are set up for the mood of the show perfectly. It is the middle of the night and a husband and wife are fast asleep. The woman wakes up to fetch up a glass of water when she hears an explosion. From her kitchen window, a building in the distance goes up in smoke. Not ordinary smoke, flames in deadly orange and yellow. This is no ordinary fire.
In April 1986, one of the worst nuclear disasters took place in the city of Chernobyl in the Soviet Union. Probably the biggest man-made disaster known to man, thousands died due to this incident which is truly horrifying. What makes Chernobyl such a masterful show is that is takes you at the epicenter of the horror.
It is clear that Chernobyl will not scrimp or sugarcoat the facts. It doesn’t. From the very beginning, you have a sense of impending doom while watching the show which never seems to go away. You root for every single plant worker, every single fire-fighter who are walking into their deaths. It’s heart-breaking.
Chernobyl is a critique of the flaws of the mankind. Of how political agenda and greed can be heartless. It takes us behind closed doors to realize what exactly happened and while we should fact-check every show based on true stories, it manages to ask the right questions. The fact is, the aftermath of Chernobyl can also be felt in present day. The death toll is unconfirmed and similar incidents can happen anytime, anywhere.
Chernobyl also celebrates the unsung heroes, many of whom sacrificed their lives, to contain the radiation in the days following the attack. They did so selflessly, for their country and their countrymen. They are the real heroes.
Chernobyl teaches us that some history lessons are invaluable.
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