Chernobyl is a five-part historical dramatisation of the 1986 explosion in the Soviet Union's Ukraine, the fallout, and clean-up efforts, with the Chernobyl disaster widely regarded as one of the worst nuclear disasters of all time. The series has won nine Bafta awards, multiple Emmys, and Golden Globes, and it boasts a 95% critics' score and 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. According to Metro - Main, Vanity Fair described it as paradigm-shifting historical storytelling, while The Observer noted its articulation of the human cost and Soviet system.
IMDb users praised it as a masterpiece, with one calling it scarier than most horror movies due to its dramatisation of real-life horror, and another labeling it catastrophic, breathtaking, and accurate. Created by Craig Mazin and starring Jared Harris, Jessie Buckley, and Stellan Skarsgard, the show did not have actors speak in Russian or use Russian accents. Millions of people tuned in when Chernobyl first came out, though the exact number is not confirmed.
Chernobyl is not just excellent television; it’s paradigm-shifting historical storytelling, the kind of tale that alters, ever-so-subtly, the texture of the real world.
According to Metro - Main, Craig Mazin described the team's pride in the show and expectation that viewers would appreciate it. The free airing's specific nightly times and whether it includes all episodes or a selection have not been disclosed, nor have any additional events for the anniversary beyond the TV airing. The exact date of the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster is also not specified in the announcement.
Everything has been beautifully articulated – from the devastating human cost to the science of radiation to the machinations of the Soviet system. I’ve even enjoyed the architecture and drab decor.
We were proud of the show we made and we thought that the 'some amount of people' that watched it would appreciate it.