Chernobyl, episode 3 review ★★★★★

Warning: may induce sickness and dread. It was tempting to believe that the worst of Chernobyl was contained in episode one and approaching disinfection in episode two. But this is an obvious, sickly error. Episode three returns to gruesome television, so heed the disclaimer.

Carrying on from episode two, the volunteers descend into the bowels of the power plant – their ears splitting from the thunderous clicks of Geiger Counters. But Boris (Stellan Skarsgard) and Legasov (Jared Harris) still need to ward off apocalyptic problems. A kind of friendship is forming between them, despite Legasov’s spirit-crushing climb through many aggressive, Soviet hoops.


Lyudmilla (Jessie Buckley) finds her firefighting husband (Adam Nagaitis)

Also, an aiding gaggle of coal miners are introduced, asked to help the Chernobyl situation. Their introduction offers some of the most powerful shots in the series, crafted beautifully by cinematographer Jakob Ihre, as the workers confront their supposed masters.

Chief among the workers is Glukov, a no-s***-taken leader who wipes his grubby hands on the face of authority. But unlike those in authority, even the cautious Legasov, Glukov always tells the truth and doesn’t care for tradition. He’s an exciting, almost rebellious, addition to the series.

It’s too early to say, even with only two hours to go, that Chernobyl is one of the finest shows of 2019 so far – but it’s certainly spreading in that direction.

Chernobyl continues Tuesdays at 9pm on Sky Atlantic