History Funny / Chernobyl

* During a phone conversation between Legasov, Shcherbina, and Gorbachev the latter asks when situation will be over. Legasov’s response?

* Scherbina explains how to talk to the KGB: "That went surprisingly well. You came off as a naive idiot. Naive idiots are not a threat."

* In the series, the naming of the portions of the roof is sombre. In the podcast, it's revealed that Nina, Katya and Masha were nieces of Shcherbina's - "apparently, Masha[[note]]whom the most deadly portion is named after[[/note]] ''really'' was a handful."

-->'''Miner #2:''' Andrey, you can't be so picky about this, [[MST3KMantra it's just a film]]...

'''Bacho:''' No, no, you can wait until the radiation gives you a cunt. Yes, now. ...Over your clothes! Fucking shit!\\

* The irony of the title of Episode 2: "Please Remain Calm"

* As Legasov explains Khomyuk's findings related to the fire extinguishing efforts and why they won't work, there is a moment where Gorbachev looks up and flatly asks, "You made ''lava''?"

->'''Bacho:''' We make these from lead scrap. Put it on under your balls.\\

-->Glukhov: What's as big as a house, burns 20 liters of fuel every hour, puts out a shit load of smoke and noise, and cuts an apple in three pieces? A Soviet machine made to cut an apple into four pieces!

* Shcherbina, after discovering that the Central Committee gave a deliberately low radiation level to the suppliers of the West German bomb 'bot - which meant not only that its circuits fried within seconds of getting exposed to the graphite debris, but that the Committee knew all along that it's never going to work - smashes a phone to pieces in frustration.

* Although it's a serious scene overall, when Boris asks him why he could graphite on the roof if the reactor hadn't exploded, he, (in a classic sitcom gag) immediately turns to Fomin and asks him 'Why did the deputy secretary see graphite on the roof?

* ALthough it's a serious scene overall, when Boris asks him why he could graphite on the roof if the reactor hadn't exploded, he, (in a classic sitcom gag) immediately turns to Fomin and asks him 'Why did the deputy secretary see graphite on the roof?

-->'''Miner #2:''' Andrey, you can't be so picky about this, it's just a film...

* After the meeting, Fomin, eager for promotion, stays behind and walks around the table to what was Bryukhanov's half to try how the fall feels when he leans against it.

- - - - - - -

!!Memes
* "[[https://twitter.com/GWillowWilson/status/1133075928811225093 You DIDN'T see graphite on the ground because it's not there! CHANGE MY MIND.]]"
** [[ApprovalOfGod Craig Mazin]] responds: "[[https://twitter.com/clmazin/status/1133458049966850048 I'm struggling. Maybe... maybe ask him to go up to the vent block roof and look down? Probably won't work though. He'll just vomit and stumble off.]]"
** The best part? [[FailedASpotCheck There’s graphite on the ground right next to him!]]
** There is an alternate version of that meme with Dyatlov vomiting on the desk.

Make no mistake. ‘’Chernobyl’’ is an incredibly dark series that, despite the few moments of artistic license it does take, is an accurate account of the real life horrors the victims of the nuclear disaster endured and the incredible heroism undertaken by hundreds of individuals in the months long battle it took to contain the radiation while preventing the disaster from getting worse. However, there are a few, arguably well earned, moments of levity that come up a few times throughout the series and give the viewers a good laugh.

* In Episode 3, when the Minister of Coal relents and tells the miners what they're being "hired" to do, Glukhov and his crew pat the man on the shoulder and face as they walk by him to jump on the trucks and head to Chernobyl. As they were completely covered in coal dust, by the time they all walk past him, the Minister is completely covered in the dust. In an incredibly dark series about one of the worst man-made disasters, it comes off as a much needed, though brief, moment of light-heartedness and could give viewers a good, hard laugh.