Ep 1. 1:23:45

In the cold early hours of April 26, 1986, in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant of Pripyat, Ukraine, workers arrived and began a routine morning shift. As they prepare for their work, a sudden explosion rocks the power plant and sends a plume of radioactive smoke high into the air. The first episode of the mini-series 'Chernobyl' takes us through the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

Titled '1:23:45', the episode starts with the aftermath of the explosion and the initial confusion, as residents of nearby town, Pripyat, caught sight of the orange glow coming from the plant, which triggered a mixture of panic and curiosity. The power plant workers who were on the site when the explosion occurred were caught in a state of shock and didn't fully comprehend the magnitude of the situation. It took several hours for officials to understand the severity of the event and begin taking action. The fuel core inside the reactor was exposed, resulting in a nuclear meltdown, emitting deadly radioactive particles to the atmosphere.

As the government's top officials gathered to create a plan of action, it becomes clear that they are ill-equipped to manage a disaster of this level. The officials are reluctant to accept the scale of the crisis, and the Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers, Boris Shcherbina (played by Stellan Skarsgård), is sent to assess the situation on the ground. Upon arriving, Shcherbina is confronted with the reality of the situation; with the scale of the disaster far more significant than anyone could have anticipated. He is met first by Anatoly Dyatlov, the plant's Deputy Chief Engineer, who had been overseeing the night's work on the day of the explosion and is visibly shaken.

The chaos and the scale of the disaster are off the scale and significant efforts are spent to contain the catastrophe to prevent it from spilling out over Europe. While the workers from the plant are initially tasked with putting out fires and trying to contain the damage, the threat is much more significant than anyone initially foresaw. It becomes clear that those who have been exposed to the radiation will likely be doomed to a horrible death, whilst those who continue to work to contain the spread of radiation are placed at risk themselves.

At the center of the action is Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), a nuclear physicist with a deep understanding of the situation and how to counteract it. He is called upon to be part of the initial team that is sent in to assess the situation and work towards containing the disaster. He encounters resistance from various officials who are not ready to face the magnitude of the event. The plant's head engineer, Viktor Bryukhanov, and Dyatlov, the deputy chief engineer, both under General Secretary Gorbachev, assert that the situation is under control, though it becomes clear that they were unwilling to do everything required to keep people safe over the years prior to the explosion.

Despite the resistance, Legasov commits himself to saving as many lives as possible, and puts his own safety at risk to do so. He partners with fellow scientist Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) to develop a plan to contain the spread of radiation and protect the surrounding area's population. As the episode concludes, we see the 'liquidators': a group of soldiers drafted in to clear the neighboring areas of radiation, prepare themselves for tasks ahead.

'1:23:45' sets the tone for the remainder of the series, which paints a bleak picture of the events in Chernobyl, and the challenges faced by authorities attempting to manage large-scale disasters. It’s clear that safety was not prioritized, and it showed in the failure of the facility's safety mechanisms. While the situation begins as a disaster, the series builds upon broader issues such as bureaucracy, political will, and the human capacity for self-preservation.

In conclusion, the first episode of 'Chernobyl' paints a harrowing picture of the events surrounding the disaster at Chernobyl, and underscores the severity of the fallout. The show is masterfully written, and the acting is top-notch, with skilled direction and cinematography that ensures the viewer is right there with the characters, feeling their fear and anguish. As far as historical dramas go, 'Chernobyl' is a hallmark of its genre.