This show is great. I was hoping they weren't Hollywood'ing this up for TV, and it sounds like they are keeping this pretty true to the facts.
I did read that two of those divers are still alive today (one died of a heart attack 15 years ago), and they seem to have avoided getting completely destroyed by radiation.
And I liked that in the post-episode discussion they explained that the woman scientist wasn't real - that she was a amalgamation of a bunch of different people and why they did it. Appreciate the honesty / explanation.
The show is not only a dispassionate and -close to accurate- retelling of the disaster. It is a very true depiction of how the Russian communism government operated. Centralized government functions in spite of itself. Loved the scene where the high government official threatened to throw the scientist off the helicopter because he was receiving information in a way he didn't like.
All caught up.
How awesome is Stellan Skarsgard? Has he ever done a bad job in any role?
This show does a great job of capturing the depressing Soviet feel of that place and a feel that still kind of lingers in that part of the world. This immersion coupled with the great casting and story telling make this whole thing excellent.
Those scenes with Gorbachev are probably my favorite so far. Also the speech where Shcherbyna appeals to the plant workers to volunteer to “go into that water” was great stuff too.
Skargard is amazing. His character is not that bright, but has excellent political instincts, and Skargard portrays him perfectly.
The end of the second episode is pretty intense.
How awesome is Stellan Skarsgard? Has he ever done a bad job in any role?
That character went on to lead the disaster response to the Armenia Earthquake and also ran against Boris Yeltsin.
Terrifying what happens in a society when truth no longer matters.