Chernobyl Ending Explained, Plot, and Cast
by Mathelene
Updated May 22, 2023
Chernobyl
The miniseries Chernobyl premiered in 2019 and is a historical drama that centers around the Chornobyl disaster of 1986 and the subsequent cleanup efforts. Created and written by Craig Mazin, and directed by Johan Renck, it boasts an ensemble cast including Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, and Paul Ritter. The show was a joint production between HBO in the United States and Sky UK in the United Kingdom.
Upon its release, Chernobyl received widespread critical acclaim for various aspects such as its cinematography, historical accuracy, performances, atmosphere, screenplay, and musical score. It garnered multiple award nominations, winning Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Writing at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.
Additionally, Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson received acting nominations. The series also won Best Miniseries or Television Film at the 77th Golden Globe Awards, with Stellan Skarsgård winning Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film.
While the series was extensively researched, certain creative liberties were taken for dramatic purposes. To address these changes, the creators released a podcast accompanying each episode, where Craig Mazin and NPR host Peter Sagal discussed the alterations and their reasons. While there have been observations of historical and factual discrepancies by critics, experts, and witnesses, the attention to detail exhibited by the creators has received widespread acclaim.
Chernobyl Ending Explained
In the final episode of Chernobyl, the narrative begins 12 hours prior to the nuclear explosion at the Chernobyl power plant. Anatoly Dyatlov, Viktor P. Bryukhanov, and Nikolai Fomin attend a meeting to discuss proceeding with a late-night safety test despite being advised against it due to its unsafe nature.
The story then jumps forward to July 1987, when a criminal trial and investigation were launched by the Soviet government to determine the cause of the explosion. Nikolai Fomin, Anatoly Dyatlov, and Viktor P. Bryukhanov were put on trial. The episode alternates between the evening of the disaster and the state trial in 1987.
Boris Shcherbina, Ulana Khomyuk, and Valery Legasov provide testimony at the trial, which points to human error as the cause of the disaster. Shcherbina exposes the Soviet government's false version of events. During his testimony, Shcherbina reveals that the safety test had failed in three previous attempts. Tragically, it was on the fourth attempt that the disaster occurred, as the staff ignored orders to halt the test.
The relationship and trust that developed between Shcherbina and Legasov were poignant to witness. They share a final conversation outside the court, where Legasov expresses his admiration and pride for Shcherbina. Throughout the episode, Shcherbina is seen coughing frequently as a result of radiation poisoning. In the final moments, it is revealed that he died in Moscow in 1990 at the age of 70.
Khomyuk's diligent research and evidence gathering contribute significantly to the prosecution's case. She interviews firefighters and plant staff who succumbed to acute radiation poisoning before their deaths. Their accounts confirm that Anatoly Dyatlov was in charge of the safety test.
Khomyuk also urges Legasov not to lie during the Vienna conference, where he discloses details about the Chernobyl disaster. However, Legasov refuses to reveal information about a previous explosion at a Leningrad power plant with a similar reactor. The Soviet Union had concealed that explosion and erased all records of it after the Chernobyl incident.
Despite Khomyuk's pleas, Legasov chooses to expose the Soviet government's lies during the criminal trial. He explains the scientific explanation behind the reactor explosion and points the blame at Dyatlov. However, Legasov's testimony is abruptly cut short by the judge.
Shcherbina protests, demanding that Legasov be allowed to continue. Thanks to Shcherbina's intervention, Legasov is given the opportunity to expose the truth. Legasov reveals the government's failure to replace all 16 RMBK reactors in the Soviet Union, referring to the Leningrad explosion as evidence. His accusations of government deception lead to his own downfall. He is threatened by a KGB officer and told he will never work in science again.
Ultimately, Legasov takes his own life exactly two years after the Chernobyl disaster. Before his death, he records a series of tapes exposing the truth about Chernobyl. In the final moments of the episode, a version of Legasov's tapes is played, narrated by Jared Harris. The tapes explain the aftermath for those affected by Chernobyl.
Dyatlov, Fomin, and Bryukhanov are sentenced to 10 years in a labor camp. It is revealed that Lyudmila, Vasily's wife, was told she could never have children again due to radiation poisoning. However, she is living in Kiev with her son. Tributes are paid to the numerous individuals who lost their lives in the Chernobyl disaster. Valery Khodemchuk's name is mentioned specifically, as his body remains entombed in reactor number 4 at Chernobyl.
Chernobyl Plot
In April 1986, a catastrophic explosion occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Soviet Union, making it one of the most devastating man-made disasters in history. This series delves into the accounts of the brave men and women who risked their lives to contain the disaster and prevent further catastrophic consequences.
On April 26, 1986, a massive explosion and subsequent fire erupted at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in northern Ukraine. The events that unfolded are chronicled, highlighting the aftermath, the attempts to conceal the true reasons behind the incident, and the relentless efforts of one man to expose the truth. The miniseries primarily focuses on the experiences of Valery Legasov, a prominent scientist leading the efforts to control the disaster.
Alongside Legasov, we follow Boris Shcherbina, a Soviet politician tasked with representing the interests of the government during the crisis, and Ulana Khomyuk, a nuclear physicist determined to uncover the hidden realities of the Chernobyl incident. Throughout the series, the narrative sheds light on the consequences of concealing the truth and the profound impact it has on society, posing the fundamental question: What is the true cost of lies?
In 1986, the Chernobyl disaster triggered the most catastrophic nuclear meltdown in human history, ultimately reshaping the Soviet Union and contributing to the downfall of Communism in Europe. This is a gripping account that explores the events that unfolded on the frontlines of the chaos, the clandestine cover-ups that took place behind closed doors, and the innocent civilians who became prisoners of the circumstances surrounding Earth's worst nuclear catastrophe.
Chernobyl where to watch
The miniseries Chernobyl can be watched on various platforms depending on your location. Here are some popular options:
- HBO (United States): The series was produced by HBO and is available for streaming on the HBO Max platform. You can access it with a subscription to HBO Max.
- Sky Atlantic (United Kingdom): In the United Kingdom, Chernobyl was broadcast on Sky Atlantic. If you have a subscription to Sky, you can watch it on-demand through the Sky Go service.
- Amazon Prime Video: In certain regions, Chernobyl may be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Check your local Amazon Prime Video library to see if it is available in your country.
- DVD/Blu-ray: You can also purchase or rent the DVD or Blu-ray of Chernobyl from various online retailers or local stores that offer home entertainment products.
Chernobyl Cast
Jared Harris
Valery Legasov
Stellan Skarsgård
Boris Shcherbina
Emily Watson
Ulana Khomyuk
Paul Ritter
Anatoly Dyatlov
Jessie Buckley
Lyudmilla Ignatenko
Adam Nagaitis
Vasily Ignatenko
Con O'Neill
Viktor Bryukhanov
Adrian Rawlins
Nikolai Fomin
Sam Troughton
Aleksandr Akimov
Robert Emms
Leonid Toptunov
Barry Keoghan
Pavel
Alex Ferns
Andrei Glukhov
Ralph Ineson
General Tarakanov
Mark Lewis Jones
General Pikalov
Alan Williams
KGB Chairman Charkov
David Densik
Valery Perevozchenko
Gerard Kearns
Pavel
Michael Colgan
Mikhail Gorbachev
Actor/Actress
Character
Chernobyl Trailer
Chernobyl Ending Explained - FAQs
Yes, the Chernobyl miniseries is based on the true events of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that occurred in 1986.
The miniseries was primarily filmed in Lithuania, particularly in and around Vilnius.
The miniseries is known for its commitment to accuracy and historical authenticity.
The Chernobyl miniseries consists of five episodes.