Chernobyl Review: A Chilling Re-Creation of Disaster
9.5/10 — Chernobyl (2019)
Pros
- Chilling atmosphere
- Superb performances
- Powerful central theme
Cons
- Dramatic licence with history
- Very grim
Craig Mazin’s miniseries recounts the Chernobyl nuclear accident and the cover-up that followed, through scientists, firefighters and the officials who tried to contain it. Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson lead.
What works
The production design and the unsettling score create a sickening atmosphere, and the performances are outstanding. The series is clear on how lies and bureaucratic fear made the disaster worse, and the fifth episode’s courtroom is gripping.
Where it falters
It invents composite characters and takes liberties with some details, and its grimness can be hard to watch.
Verdict
A tense, devastating drama with real moral weight.
