Please Remain Calm

Episode aired May 13, 2019
TV-MA
1h 5m

IMDb RATING

9.6/10

53K

YOUR RATING

Drama History Thriller

With untold millions at risk, Ulana makes a desperate attempt to reach Valery and warn him about the threat of a second explosion.With untold millions at risk, Ulana makes a desperate attempt to reach Valery and warn him about the threat of a second explosion.With untold millions at risk, Ulana makes a desperate attempt to reach Valery and warn him about the threat of a second explosion.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

9.6/10

53K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
After Ulana Khomyuk identifies the isotope that triggered the alarm as Iodine 131, a byproduct of nuclear reactor fuel, her coworker suggests "Ignalina". Ignalina refers to a nuclear power plant in Lithuania operating 2 RBMK-1500 reactors similar to Chernobyl's RBMK-1000 reactors. The decommissioned Ignalina power plant doubles for Chernobyl in this series.

Goofs
About 40 minutes in, when Boris Shcherbina receives a phone call informing him that the radiation had been detected in Sweden and Germany had banned children from playing outside, the program implies this was the reason he decided to evacuate Pripyat. The scene is set on Sunday, April 27th, the correct date that the Soviets decided upon and completed the evacuation of Pripyat. However, it was not until the day AFTER the evacuation (Monday, April 28th) that the Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant in Sweden detected the radiation. Closure of children's playgrounds in the Frankfurt region in Germany (1600 kilometers away) took place at least a week later, in May 1986.

Quotes
Garanin: I must tell you, this is why no one likes scientists. When we have a disease to cure, where are they? In a lab, noses in their books, and so Grandma dies. But when there isn't a problem, they're everywhere, spreading fear.
Ulana Khomyuk: I know about Chernobyl.
Garanin: Oh?
Ulana Khomyuk: I know that the core is either partially or completely exposed.
Garanin: Whatever that means.
Ulana Khomyuk: And that if you don't immediately issue iodine tablets and then evacuate this city, hundreds of thousands of people are going to get cancer, and God knows how many more will die.
Garanin: Yes, very good. There has been an accident at Chernobyl, but I've been assured there is no problem.
Ulana Khomyuk: I'm telling you that there is.
Garanin: I prefer my opinion to yours.
Ulana Khomyuk: I'm a nuclear physicist. Before you were Deputy Secretary, you worked in a shoe factory.
Garanin: Yes, I worked in a shoe factory. And now I'm in charge.
[Raises his glass of vodka]
Garanin: To the workers of the world.

Connections
Featured in The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards (2019)

Soundtracks
Taganka
Performed by Mikhail Shufutinskiy
(Played at the hotel bar where Legasov goes to get a drink)

User reviews73

Review

Featured review

10/10

The Truth is scarier than any Horror Movie.

What is so terrifying is it's not trying to be a horror programme, it's what actually happened. It's not gratuitous... it's what happened. And it's scarier than any horror movie I could ever call to mind. There are scenes where my blood ran cold, where I felt queasy but most of all I was just horrified by the scenes that depicted those first on the scene. You always look for the helpers in any disaster. But what if the disaster overcomes the helpers. What if even the strongest of us are no match for the horrific event. It's almost unthinkable. But it happened here. This will stick with you long after the credits roll. As it should.