Chernobyl returns this week with another gut-wrenching dose of historical drama, picking up the narrative where it left off. The three men emerge from the depths of the plant, triumphant in their mission, having dared to challenge the officials on their evacuation efforts. Legasov, in a somber walk with Shcherbina, elucidates the terrifying effects of radiation, his words heavy with the weight of the tragedy.
In Moscow, a legion of men gather to aid in the ongoing efforts at Chernobyl, with over 100 miners shipped off to the plant to dig underground and set up a heat exchange for the core. "We need at least 400 men for this," one miner barks, staring down the assembled men as schematics scatter their table. His request is denied, but he proceeds with his work, displaying the relentless work ethic of these brave souls.
Nine days after the explosion, we find the workers digging outside, sweat clinging to their brows. One of the miners requests fans to help ventilate the area, but the offer is refused due to the toxic dust in the air.
Meanwhile, Ulena interviews the chief engineer in hospital, who is rapidly deteriorating under the effects of radiation. As she begins to understand more about what caused the explosion at Chernobyl, she witnesses the heart-wrenching moment when Ignatenko, the fireman's wife, ignores the warnings heeded by the nurses and gets close to her husband, who is suffering badly from radiation himself. As the nurse grabs the woman and pulls her out of the room, Ulena witnesses the commotion in the hallway and immediately confronts her. "He's not your husband anymore," she warns her, but her pleas fall on deaf ears as members of the KGB appear and arrest her.
In Moscow, the officials congratulate one another for a job well done, knowing that the tunnels are nearing completion thanks to the efforts of the miners. However, Legasov updates them on the current situation: The long-term effects at Chernobyl are far worse and require a massive country-wide effort to put right. They need to destroy all animals, evacuate men, raze the Earth and build a structure around Chernobyl to contain the core – no simple feat to say the least. As the board members vacate the room in silence, Legasov asks for an imprisoned Ulena to be released, claiming he needs her assistance.
As the official promises to shoulder the responsibility for her actions, he agrees to her request, and Legasov visits her in prison. Her eyes sparkle with newfound knowledge, and she vows to return to the hospital and continue her relentless pursuit of the truth. Meanwhile, the brave souls who bravely battled the Chernobyl fire are all gone, their final resting place being steel caskets consumed by concrete. Ignatenko stands in awe, her dread mounting as she comes to grips with the sheer magnitude of the catastrophe.
Chernobyl once again delivers a haunting hour of television, its gritty realism and meticulous attention to detail making it a chilling and accurate portrayal of the disaster. The cinematography is exquisitely orchestrated, with long shots lingering uncomfortably on scenes that are both harrowing and poignant, particularly those involving the firefighters in the hospital. It is a masterpiece that is hard to fault, and HBO has struck gold with this series. Chernobyl is a must-watch TV event, on course to become one of the best mini-series of 2019.
