History YMMV / Chernobyl

** Referring to graphite as "spicy concrete" after Bryukhanov tries to pass the graphite on the ground as burnt concrete.

*** "You didn't see graphite. '''YOU DIDN'T''', because it's NOT. ''THERE..''"

*** "You didn't see graphite. '''YOU DIDN'T!'''"

* MemeticMutation: Dyatlov's insistence that there is no graphite and that RBMK reactor cores don't explode has spawned a number of memes, particularly involving Homer Simpson.

** In ''{{Film/Thor}}'', Creator/StellanSkarsgard's character mentions a scientist pioneer in gamma radiation.
* NoOneShouldSurviveThat: Some rooted in reality:
** Alexander "Sasha" Yuvchenko - the man who says "I don't think there is a core" - [[http://ecolo.org/documents/documents_in_english/cherno-alexander_yuvchenko.htm survived]]. He spent nearly a year in the hospital afterwards, and needed burn treatments, but was able to live with his wife and son afterward in Moscow. He was even interviewed in the documentary seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITEXGdht3y8 here]]. A [[http://strana-rosatom.ru/2016/05/04/%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB-%D1%8E%D0%B2%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%BE-%D1%81%D1%8B%D0%BD-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0-%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE/ Russian newspaper article]] about his son Kirill says he passed in 2008 at the age of 47.
** All three of the 'Chernobyl Divers' [[https://www.businessinsider.com/chernobyl-volunteers-divers-nuclear-mission-2016-4 survived]] their mission to drain the basement.
*** Alexei Ananenko and Valeri Bezpalov were alive as of 2018 when they were [[https://www.ukrinform.ru/rubric-society/2449795-prezident-vrucil-nagrady-geroamlikvidatoram-i-rabotnikam-caes.html awarded the Order For Courage in the Third Degree]] by the Ukranian president in a ceremony held at the nuclear plant. Ananenko was able to accept in person, while Bezpalov was absent due reportedly due to health issues.
*** Boris Baranov died of a heart attack in 2005 and was given the Order posthumously, which his grandson [[https://for-ua.com/article/1153439 accepted on his behalf]].

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Glukhov's gotten a lot of love for his BrutalHonesty and mercilessly snide sense of humor, making him one of the few sources of genuine comedy in this extremely dour series. Being AFatherToHisMen and one of the few characters willing to call the government bureaucrats on their bullshit doesn't hurt either.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Glukov's gotten a lot of love for his BrutalHonesty and mercilessly snide sense of humor, making him one of the few sources of genuine comedy in this extremely dour series. Being AFatherToHisMen and one of the few characters willing to speak truth to power doesn't hurt either.

* SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfAwesome: When it becomes clear a team needs to go in to drain the water underneath the meltdown to avoid a steam explosion, nobody wants to volunteer. Shcherbina, already shaken by the revelation [[YourDaysAreNumbered he may already be dying in five years]] just by ''being there'', stands up to give a RousingSpeech about how three volunteers can save millions, and that their culture as Soviet Russians always required sacrifice from every generation to serve their country.
** It's enough to convince three men to [[HeroicSacrifice stand up and volunteer]], even though each man looks at each other knowing what the risks will be. In that moment, those three were the bravest men ''on the planet''.

* HopeSpot: Some rooted in reality:

** The leaden "egg basket" obtained by Bacho for Pavel to protect him from going infertile is a pun in Russian - eggs is slang for testicles.

** Also counts as NightmareFuel, but the [[BodyHorror state]] of Vasily Ignatenko by the end of episode 3. He looks like a corpse that has been decomposing for days.

** Alexander "Sasha" Yuvchenko - the man who says "I don't think there is a core" - [[http://ecolo.org/documents/documents_in_english/cherno-alexander_yuvchenko.htm survived]]. He spent nearly a year in the hospital afterwards, and needed burn treatments, but was able to live with his wife and son afterward in Moscow. He was even interviewed in the documentary seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITEXGdht3y8 here]]. A [[http://strana-rosatom.ru/2016/05/04/%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB-%D1%8E%D0%B2%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%BE-%D1%81%D1%8B%D0%BD-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0-%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE/ russian newspaper article]] about his son Kirill says he passed in 2008 at the age of 47.

*** Boris Baranov died of a heart attack in 2005 and was given the Order posthumously, his grandson [[https://for-ua.com/article/1153439 accepted on his behalf]].

*** Boris Baranov died of a heart attack in 2005 and was given the Oder posthumously, his grandson [[https://for-ua.com/article/1153439 accepted on his behalf]].

** Alexander "Sasha" Yuvchenko - the man who says "I don't think there is a core" - [[http://ecolo.org/documents/documents_in_english/cherno-alexander_yuvchenko.htm survived]]. He spent nearly a year in the hospital afterwards, and needed burn treatments, but was able to live with his wife and son afterward in Moscow. A [[http://strana-rosatom.ru/2016/05/04/%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB-%D1%8E%D0%B2%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%BE-%D1%81%D1%8B%D0%BD-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0-%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE/ russian newspaper article]] about his son Kirill says he passed in 2008 at the age of 47.

** The promo for "The Happiness of All Mankind" uses an untranslated old Cossack song as leitmotif. It is about a man talking to a crow [[CirclingVultures circling above him]], which represents death.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: When it becomes clear a team needs to go in to drain the water underneath the meltdown to avoid a steam explosion, nobody wants to volunteer. Shcherbina, already shaken by the revelation [[YourDaysAreNumbered he may already be dying in five years]] just by ''being there'', stands up to give a RousingSpeech about how three volunteers can save millions, and that their culture as Soviet Russians always required sacrifice from every generation to serve their country.

** The promo for "The Happiness of All Mankind" uses an untranslated old Cossack song as leitmotif. It is about a man talking to a crow [[CirclingVultures circling above him]], which represents death.