History Heartwarming / Chernobyl

* The series ends with a slate dedicating the series to those who suffered and died at Chernobyl.

** The epilogue also explains that Khomyuk is fictional and represents the hundreds of scientists who worked at Chernobyl in the aftermath. So yes, there ''were'' people other than Legasov who did their damnedest to prevent this horrible disaster from engulfing the rest of Europe, even as the Soviet government continued to hamstring their efforts just to save face. For these scientists, Cold War politics can take a backseat when the lives of ''millions'' are on the line.

** On a meta level, nearly every comment on social media regarding the miniseries and the disaster itself has been in praise of the Liquidators' -- the divers, the miners, the "biorobots" -- sacrifices.

-->''Following the death of her husband and daughter, Lyudmilla Ignatenko suffered multiple strokes. Doctors told her she would never be able to bear a child. They were wrong. She lives with her son in Kiev.''

** In the same episode, Bacho's treatment of Pavel: While he's very blunt and strict, it's made clear he cares for the newbie and when seeing Pavel's distress at killing the pets, he makes it clear he doesn't enjoy it either, but [[MercyKill it gives the animals a faster death]].
** When Pavel hesitates in killing the dog he first shot, Bacho is furious at him. Bacho marches up to him, and is probably about to lay into him (remember, he promised to ''kill'' Pavel if Pavel let an animal suffer). When he sees Pavel's traumatized face, Bacho realizes Pavel has ''never'' done anything like this. He fixes Pavel with his gaze and says, forcefully, ''"Don't'' let them suffer!" Beyond that, the only "punishment" he gives is ordering Pavel to drag the body to the truck. Shortly after, he offers Pavel a drink and gives him an ItGetsEasier speech. It seems to work; the next time we see Pavel, he's accepted what he has to do and works alongside Bacho and Garo.
*** Related to the above point, when the two men come across a newly born litter of puppies and their mother, Pavel can't bring himself to shoot them. Bacho gives him an understanding look and orders him out of the building before doing what must be done himself.

* Pikalov chooses to measure the radiation himself instead of sending in a subordinate. The radiation level is 15,000 roentgen, and he's an older general; he understands that his word would mean more than a random soldier who may misread or misunderstand the radiation level.
* Lyudmilla's actions may be incredibly foolish, but one can't judge her. First, she doesn't understand just how dangerous being around her husband can be. Second, she's shown as a genuinely sweet, decent person. When her neighbor apologizes for his faux pas about her husband, she shrugs it off, not offended. Then, as Vasily's health deteriorates, she stays by his side, holding his hand, cleaning him and his bed off when he soils the sheets, and staying with him even when his body has been reduced to a burned-out husk. She may have had poor judgment, but make no mistake, she ''[[HappilyMarried loves]]'' her husband.

* There's some heartwarming that despite being told she would never have children, Lyudmila ''would'' end up having another child, who she lives with in Kyiv, Ukraine.
* Despite only knowing him for a few minutes, [[SergeantRock Bacho]] tells another soldier to spread the word around that [[NewMeat Pavel]] is one of ''[[AFatherToHisMen his men]]'', so nobody should mess with him, then makes the man give Pavel his make-shift lead ball-shielding.
-->'''Bacho:''' He's with me. Nobody fucks with him. You understand?
** When Pavel, following a dog, walks into a house and finds her in a room with her litter of puppies, he [[HeroicBSOD shuts down]]. Bacho comes in, frustrated that he isn't responding, but when he sees the mother and the puppies, he tells Pavel to go outside and [[TearJerker handles them himself]]. It's a horrific job, but he spares the younger man of having to live with having done it.

* There's some heartwarming that despite being told she would never have children, Lyudmila ''would'' end up having another child, who she lives with in Kiev, Ukraine.

** This conversation takes on more significance when Legasov claims his testimony isn't finished, and he has more evidence to give. Scherbina could easily have protected Legasov from himself, by doing nothing at all. Instead, Scherbina stands up and outright overrules the Soviets trying to end the show trial, allowing Legasov to finish. He'd come to understand what the truth meant to these scientists, and stood up for Legasov telling it less than an hour after giving him cover not to. Despite the apparent contradiction, both actions were taken in full support of his friend. It also calls back to what Legasov said while comforting Scherbina about being "inconsequential". They hear Legasov, but the ''listen'' to Scherbina.

* Lyudmilla's actions may be incredibly foolish, but one can't judge her. First, she doesn't understand just how dangerous being around her husband can't be. Second, she's shown as a genuinely sweet, decent person. When her neighbor apologizes for his faux pas about her husband, she shrugs it off, not offended. Then, as Vasily's health deteriorates, she stays by his side, holding his hand, cleaning him and his bed off when he soils the sheets, and staying with him even when his body has been reduced to a burned-out husk. She may have had poor judgment, but make no mistake, she ''[[HappilyMarried loves]]'' her husband.

** This conversation takes on more significance when Legasov claims his testimony isn't finished, and he has more evidence to give. Scherbina could easily have protected Legasov from himself, by doing nothing at all. Instead, Scherbina stands up and outright overrules the Soviets trying to end the show trial, allowing Legasov to finish. He'd come to understand what the truth meant to these scientists, and stood up for Legasov telling it less than an hour after giving him cover not to. Despite the apparent contradiction, both actions were taken in full support of his friend.

* It's a small thing, but in episode three, when Khomyuk is questioning Toptunov about the events leading up to the disaster, a thin trickle of blood runs down his face. She fetches a tissue and gently wipes it away. The fact that Toptunov's just told her that [[TearJerker he's only twenty-five years old]] makes the gesture seem almost motherly.

* There's some heartwarming that despite being told she would never have children, Lyudmilla ''would'' end up having another child, who she lives with in Kiev, Ukraine.

*** Further proven when going to get Pavel the "egg basket" gonad shielding: Bacho glares at the soldier giving him the basket and says, pointing at Pavel, "He's with me. Nobody fucks with him, you understand?". This places Pavel off-limits for the usual hazing that he could otherwise expect. You do not want Bacho irritated with you.

* Lyudmilla's actions may be incredibly foolish, but one can't judge her. First, she doesn't understand just how dangerous being around her husband can't be. Second, she's shown as a genuinely sweet, decent person. When her neighbor apologizes for his faux pas about her husband, she shrugs it off, not offended. Then, Vasily's health deteriorates, she stays by his side, holding his hand, cleaning him and his bed off when he soils the sheets, and staying with him even when his body has been reduced to a burned-out husk. She may have had poor judgment, but make no mistake, she ''[[HappilyMarried loves]]'' her husband.