Review: Why HBO’s Chernobyl is the television event of the season
Writing
Lastly, it would be insulting to review Chernobyl without applauding the immense effort required and put forth by writer Craig Mazin. It is seemingly impossible to not only capture the scale and impact of a disaster this epic in five hours of television, but to do it with this level of precision and aplomb. Never dramatizing when not needed and taking only the bare minimum of creative license, the effect is undeniable. When a work of non-fiction is as compelling, complex, and dark as this, there is no need to contort it into something that it never was in the first place. Mazin produces the appropriate scope, pacing, and level of personal attachment, and then lets the stranger-than-fiction events lead the way. That’s the best way a docudrama can conduct itself; after you’ve strayed too far away from the “docu-“, the “-drama” loses credibility.
This all coincides perfectly with the themes Mazin has threaded through this work. The ideas presented on the dangers of false narrative and the inevitable redemption of truth all feel disturbingly relevant to our world of constant spin, narrative, and “fake news.” It warns against the comforts of contrived stories and chooses instead to stare unblinkingly into the darkest of truths. It teaches us that to fail to shed light on dangerous lies is to be complicit in what they cover.
The commitment to accuracy, specificity, and reality permeated the entirety of the production and lend Chernobyl with a sense of authenticity I have never experienced in a television show before. And in commitment to that sense of unvarnished reality, Mazin has released all the scripts for interested fans, aspiring screen writers and educators.
Chernobyl has received critical and popular acclaim for these reasons and more. In addition to the show, HBO has also produced a podcast series of the same length featuring Mazin, who gives insight into each of the episodes. It gets the highest of marks from me. If you need further reason to watch, I have some ideas right here.
In conclusion, Chernobyl is the television event of the season, and you would be sorely mistaken to miss this expertly crafted glimpse into history.
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Rating: 5/5
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