HBO's 5-Part Classic That's Designed To Be Binged Will Never Get Old

By Published May 15, 2026, 4:45 PM EDT

Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones.

You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep."

Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant.

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HBO has long been considered the home of prestige drama, with shows like The Sopranos and The Wire becoming flagship series for the channel and setting a standard that is hard to beat. That said, while drama might be the defining genre for the platform, each of are masterpieces in their own ways, and sometimes blend genres.

One of these is a five-part classic that blends the theme of a disaster movie with the serious tone of a drama, without verging into horror despite its horrific subject matter. This is the harrowing miniseries, which is a dramatization of the . The series stands out among other excellent dramas as it does not take the form of a traditional episodic TV show.

Each episode of Chernobyl lasts for around an hour, ensuring that the entire series can be binged in around five hours, but rather than feeling like a series of episodes, Chernobyl feels like one long movie. This was by design, with writer Craig Mazin explaining to that the show was originally supposed to be six episodes, but he realized the story could be told in five and condensed the story. This concise approach has ensured that with no unnecessary moments.

Chernobyl Is The Definition Of A Timeless TV Series

The Chernobyl disaster is one of the most disturbing and world-changing events to happen within the last few decades, with repercussions that were felt on the world stage as well as on a personal level. HBO's miniseries is not a perfect representation of events, but it generally comes close, using the real dialogue as reported by survivors, and reflecting many of the pivotal real-life actions, often down to the exact minute.

The detail explored in the series is unparalleled, and this realistic approach makes Chernobyl an extremely valuable show, capturing the horror, despair, and heroic behavior of the people involved in attempting to contain the disaster. While history can often focus on the dry facts and consequences of an event, , making it difficult to watch, but essential viewing for anyone wanting to understand more about how this could have happened.

The series is more than just a representation of a real-life horror story. It carries a timeless message that should be heard by all, both warning against government corruption and assuring viewers that cover-ups have a habit of being uncovered eventually. Despite its harrowing subject matter and visuals, it also serves as a testament to the bravery and selfless actions of the first responders and people close to the reactor, who returned to work, ready to die while trying to minimize the damage.

Chernobyl Will Go Down As One Of The Greatest Shows Of All Time

Jessie Buckley as Lyudmilla Ignatenko in Chernobyl

Chernobyl impressed both critics and audiences, with critics giving the series an impressive 95% positive review on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences rating it 97% positive. The series will stand the test of time due to its historical accuracy and reflection of the human stories involved in the Chernobyl disaster, going down in history as one of the .

Many excellent historical dramas either take a fictionalized approach with significant creative liberties and a lighter tone, or treat the subject matter like a documentary. However, Chernobyl uses the best of both worlds, creating a series that is unique and never compromises on quality, as shown through Mazin curating his own work to give viewers a shorter series rather than an overstretched one. Some otherwise great shows feature violence that feels gratuitous, but the graphic scenes in Chernobyl are essential, adding context and ensuring that the show does credit to its subject, including the people.

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Not only is the series an essential binge for its story, but it is also a masterclass in acting, with many of the characters being based on real people. The show stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, and Paul Ritter, who all give standout performances, and Chernobyl was nominated for an incredible 147 awards, winning 87 of them, including the BAFTA TV Award for Best Leading Actor, which went to Jared Harris for his portrayal of the tormented Soviet chemist, Valery Legasov.

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