Chernobyl (TV Mini Series) The Happiness of All Mankind (2019) User Reviews

Chernobyl is not merely a drama, it is much more than that!

[suleymanacikkan · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

People seem to forget that the main source of the script is reality. If you feel utterly irritated and somewhat delighted by the splendidly shot scenes then "Chernobyl" succeeds. Perhaps you can grasp a fracture of what really happened, how unimaginably people suffered.

This is not something fun to watch! This is supposed to be an interpretation of one of the most catastrophic events in our history.

Although reality and the script do not fully match, HBO performed outstandingly at conveying emotions.

Scientific and political side are kept to moderate, as in my opinion they should be, since Chernobyl disaster transcends politics and average viewer would be lost in details.

So far it borders on perfection!

Brutal but necessary.

[moosahussain1 · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

This show is on a steep increase and it doesn't seem like it's treading downwards anytime soon. First of all, you can tell the show follows a very general set of rules regarding who it follows. Whether it be with Legasov, or the firefighters, or for this episode, the liquidators. The biggest thing that needs to be taken from those scenes is that people were having to do things that they didn't want to. They were victims to a crisis that they didn't even realize existed until it was brought to there attention. The show is a masterpiece, and this episode is also one. Difficult to watch yes. Can you skip the scenes and maybe not lose that much context? Absolutely. The show does a great job of showing the horrors of Chernobyl, and it does it front and center, not shying away from it.

i cried at the end

[rusucristian · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

When i saw them killing pets, i said yes, i can understand why, when i saw them sending biorobots to the roof i said yes, i can understand why, but when the hour was at the end and i saw the firemans wife, i cried like a child...and im over 40. best episode so far, one of the best shows i have ever seen, the imagery and the feelings it suggests, just a damn piece of tv art!

Speechless.....

[Adam-09265 · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

I have to say this series is one of the most powerful pieces of television i have ever watched. This episode touched me on a really emotional level and just shows how gritty and critical conditions have raised since the explosion.

A difficult episode to watch.

9.8/10

Brutal in it's reality.

[kinthiri · 9/10 · 28 May 2019]

Don't watch the 4th episode without a box of tissues nearby. The sad truth of hunting all the radioactive pets and animals is not passed over in this episode. The emotions are raw and you are not going to escape them.

I cannot speak highly enough of this series as a whole. This series is exactly the sort that History should be making. Not leaving up to HBO and Sky. A deep dive into the events of a major catastrophe that demonstrates the very real human costs it caused.

Its just amazing

[salahowaidh · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

I really like it especially the scenario, the sound of the radioactive tracker when they on roof, I mean every small detail is been considered

For the Pups.

[ftphenom951 · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

All I wanted to do while watching this was jump through the screen and take bullets. If you've ever loved an animal you'll understand. This is hands down the hardest episode of any television show i've ever seen to watch. It's also one of the best.

masterpiece

[vallennox · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

I listened to the official podcast before watching episode 4. With all those background information in mind (famine in Ukraine, the rovers etc.), this episode was even more emotionally wrenching. That Russian song they played when the liquidators buried dead pets was chilling. The roof scene was intense, I almost had a heart attack when the soldier tripped over.

"to hell with our lives"

[basharbetta-80886 · 9/10 · 28 May 2019]

That's absolutely a proper way for making 60+ minutes episode on TV. Scenes spoke without the need for words, or even music. A 90 seconds continuous shot is perfect to transfer feelings and experience what is at stake. I think directors made a huge effort to make a Chernobyl-like atmosphere inside our homes. And damn it worked well. Ulana speech at the end took this episode to whole new level, humanity is not about individuals , it's not about pride, or bravery. Humanity is about sacrificing for humanity ,to hell with our lives for the sake of saving many others' . Finally, an empty baby bed spoke a thousand words about sacrifice

Beautifully Brutal

[shawnmkael · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

This was by the far the most brutal episode of the series so far. I completely understand people's reactions to the liquidation scenes. They were incredibly hard to watch, but at the same time it made for one of the most gripping episodes of television I've seen in a very long time.

The last three episodes has a kind of frantic pacing to them, which worked perfectly for all the pieces falling of the story into place. However, the entire show seemed to slow down for this one. It lets you take every last horrific moment in. The way it was all down was beautifully brutal.

There is, of course, the rooftop scene in all it's glory. I found myself leaning forward from the tension. It was such an expertly crafted scene and I found myself feeling for this unnamed soldier tossing graphite over a ledge.

I haven't watched a show that's brought me through so many emotions or that's been such perfectly made in such a long time. Liquidation scenes aside, this truly is one of the best hours of television ever put onto screen.

I don't quite think some people understand WHY this episode needed to happen.

[fshardlow · 10/10 · 30 May 2019]

'Could've done with less', 'would have been more effective if they'd just stopped after the first one'...

No Brenda, it wouldn't.

I think that this episode is one of the most brutal depictions of violence I have ever seen. On one hand, you have violence for entertainment's purpose (I.e GOT/ SAW) and then you have the violence within 'The Hapiness of All Mankind': necessary, no thrills & disturbing. There was no over the top music, no sad piano picked up when we saw the puppies. Everything felt raw...real.

I think that this series isn't supposed to entertain like so many other dramas of similar caliber. Whilst it is interesting to see what happened following Chernobyl, I think the show was created more to remind us of what had to be done. Of the sacrifices people made.

If you don't like the TV show because it showed radioactive dogs being shot and bleeding, not for fantasy or entertainment's sake, but because it is what actually happened, then just leave. Stop polluting the space with your close-mindedness. This happened. Animals died. People burnt from the inside out. Sorry that your little safety bubble of your own life was burst, but this show is necessary.

Over 1000 votes said what???

[louis-170 · 28 May 2019]

I liked first three episodes. But no matter how good or bad this fourth episode will be, more than 1000 people already said 10/10 before the release. Those people trying to create public opinion about how good this episode is. I remember the days when IMDb was reliable source. It is not anymore.

Current political agenda slips in

[dsfilatof-16493 · 7/10 · 28 May 2019]

Some of dialogues are very cringie. Ulana Khomyuk is annoying fictional character which only function is to show that the powerful whaman is smarter then everyone around and has moral high ground. It looks like a spit in the face of real liquidators.

Well that went downhill

[larosaj-26666 · 5/10 · 28 May 2019]

After an incredibly compelling 3 episodes that were nerve wracking and well executed; this one was insufferably boring. If you want to see three guys walk around for a combined half hour exterminating pets in the slowest dramatic way possible; then this is your dream episode. Of course any scene featuring Watson, Harris and Skarsgard are not to be missed and the last 15 minutes are back to the riveting narrative but boy did they drop the ball with those 3 guys........

"Comrade Soldier, you're done ...Time to go"

[bartrk · 10/10 · 29 May 2019]

A slow and beautifully shot masterpiece of television.

The scene of the liquidators clearing the roof is probably the best 90 seconds of television I've ever watched. Perfectly choreographed, perfectly executed to create tension and visceral fear. The brutality of the dialogue which followed was awe-inspiring - "comrade soldier, you're done" spoken by the officer in charge to a liquidator who had just tripped over some graphite while scrambling to exit the roof, and in doing so indicating his imminent death. This was followed by a brisk "Time to go" to the next group waiting to enter "the most dangerous place on earth". Who needs GoT when you have this?

That roof scene.....

[ronheinzman · 10/10 · 14 June 2019]

I have never been on the edge of my seat like that ever and felt so much fear for those men on the roof. The 3 soilders killing dogs I understood it was sad and depressing to watch but I get why it had to be done. But those last 15 minutes or so and that roof scene was amazing.

Wow

[jtalks · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

A fantastic episode, so far the best. This is truly an astonishing show.

WHAT WAS THAT???

[snkkylo · 10/10 · 30 May 2019]

It took my brain half hour to comes into reality!!! The most epic Episode I've ever seen since Breaking Bad's Ozymandias. The Actors of this Show's are just Phenomenal. If they won't win emmys for their roles then it would be the Biggest Disgrace to Talent.

(Ignore the bad english in my review)

The essence of the sadness

[corvusu · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

Im seeing a few complaining about the scenes of the pets, but in my opinion its a tribute to how hard is the life in real. This episode gets that at times I forget that it is a show. Insane perfection

Brilliant is all I can say!

[miselino-63799 · 10/10 · 28 May 2019]

Here I am, 34y (I was 2 when this happened, crawling on the playgrounds in the middle Europe) learning about the biggest nuclear disaster in my life. I can truly say the show is amazing and this episode was no exception. Goosebumps all over me after I've finish watching it.

I wonder who are the people complaining about the violence on the dogs. Did you see the last scene from this episode, did you watch those soldiers 'willingly' going to the roof? Yet, you're bothered with the 12min of dogs shooting. Things are that every found cow, pig, horse, dog, cat... was killed during this time. All of the crops were burned, people moved out of the houses, lost homes, lost their future and yet it's cruel to you. It was cruel time, requiring cruel solutions. Some of those dogs were doomed to die, bones full of radiation. Imagine such a dog falling into a well or river.

It was drastic scene, but necessary - everybody was suffering then and there. The suffer took a long time, not just your 12 min of discomfort.

On the edge of perfection!

Time went so fast

[hideyxd · 10/10 · 29 May 2019]

Well here we're, Chernobyl has proven that you don't need any sex or nudity to produce a brilliant work. Thank you HBO for the masterpiece. Loved each second.

Aftermath consequences - A dramatic episode

[rookescanor · 10/10 · 2 June 2019]

This episode showed the sacrifices that were made to save the Soviet Union and the world from the Chernobyl disaster. It was not a war where men were sent to fight for his country, but instead, a battle against the grim existence of nature, called Radiation. It is an enemy which cannot be defeated with weapons and propaganda. It is shown as an enemy of entire humanity. It is an enemy which can turn you against your dear ones. It is an enemy which results in killing thousands of innocents; humans, animals and other beings. It is an enemy which shows no mercy.

The sad fate of the victims of the disasters are mentioned in astonishing and outstanding detail. People might complain about the animal situation in this episode, but it did happen and the truth is painful often than not. They should understand the facts regarding the situations, instead of complaining of animal issues. The slow-pacing in the episode of the various instances described the feelings and tragedy of the scenarios with grace. Good music. Everything seemed near perfect. A score of 10/10 justifies this episode.

I dont know how

[diggerz039 · 7/10 · 29 May 2019]

I really dont know how this got an equal review to the last episode. This episode is ok. Nothing to write home about. Yes it does show the sadness of the event but it doesnt show it to the extent of the previous episode.

Sure yes the whole series shows how bad this was but episode 3 actually made me well up a bit seeing the crap the people went through and what illnesses they gained. I sat here this whole episode thinking ooooh this must be as brutal and good as the last..... its not. A lot of it is talking.

Sorry not sorry

Geat

[ateeg-62898 · 27 May 2019]

Masterpiece of this series and the series and I am hopeful for the last episode

Loved it until this episode

[hvkarateclub · 3/10 · 28 May 2019]

Spent at least half the show watching 3 guys shoot dogs and cats, and at least 5 minutes on a cow. It felt like i was watching a Sarah Mclachlan animal cruelty commercial. This was painfully slow with only a few significant scenes considering it was the worst nuclear disaster in world history.