Line #12 Funny/Chernobyl


1	Make no mistake. ''Series/{{Chernobyl}}'' is an incredibly dark miniseries 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, [[BlackComedy often black as core graphite]] that come up a few times throughout the series and give the viewers a good laugh.
2
3	'''As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff as per policy.]] Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''
4
5	----
6	[[foldercontrol]]
7	[[folder:Episode 1: [=1:23:45=]]]
8	* Bryukhanov is, on the whole, a disastrous leader who seeks only to cover the accident up and pass the buck, but he does get off one good DeadpanSnarker line when first convening at the emergency meeting with Fomin and Dyatlov.
9	--> "So, I take it the reactor test was a failure?"
10	* Unintentionally humourous the actor who plays Viktor Bryukhanov [Creator/ConONeill] has a naturally shrill high pitched voice. And sounds like he runs out of breath in his complaining about the officials he'll have to call about the accident.
11	--> ''[Barely able to get it out]'' ... That my power plant is on fire...
12	* Zharkov dismissing the guard that tries to help him up.
13	* Dyatlov's meek apology for vomiting before he collapses on the ground due to radiation sickness.
14	[[/folder]]
15
16	[[folder:Episode 2: Please Remain Calm]]
17	* The sheer, unadulterated, high octane, multi-layered irony of the title of Episode 2: "Please Remain Calm". (Taken from the real loudspeaker announcement telling the populace of Pripyat that they are being evacuated.)
18	* Although it's a serious scene overall, when Boris asks him why he could see graphite on the roof if the reactor hadn't exploded, Brukhanyov, (in a classic sitcom gag) immediately turns to Fomin and asks him, "Why did the deputy secretary see graphite on the roof?" The way Scherbina asks is also ''hilarious.'' From the script:
19	--> '''Scherbina:''' Graphite is only found in the core, where it's used as a neutron flux moderator-- correct? [[note]]He learned this from Legasov literally one scene ago.[[/note]] \
20	'''Script:''' Holy shit.
21	* When Scherbina has Bryukhanov and Fomin arrested upon learning the true levels of radiation the facility is expelling, Fomin immediately attempts to throw Dyatlov under the bus. Even while in the process of being physically arrested, they're still pointing fingers.
22	* As Legasov explains Khomyuk's findings related to the fire extinguishing efforts and why they have [[NiceJobBreakingItHero created a second, even larger problem]], there is a moment where Gorbachev looks up and flatly asks, "You've made ''lava''?" Tellingly, for the rest of the meeting, [[SureLetsGoWithThat that is how it is described]].
23	* During the same meeting, there is something darkly comic about Legasov's deadpan responses to Gorbachev's questions; every time Gorbachev thinks he has heard the worst news, [[FromBadToWorse Legasov keeps talking]]:
24	-->'''Gorbachev''': There are approximately 50 million people in Byelorussia and Ukraine...\
25	'''Legasov''': 60, yes.\
26	'''Gorbachev''': And how long before this happens?\
27	'''Legasov''': Approximately 48 to 72 hours.
28	[[/folder]]
29
30	[[folder:Episode 3: Open Wide, O Earth]]
31	* 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, so is the Minister.
32	--> "Now you look like the Minister of Coal."
33	** In a moment of meta-humor, the ''actual'' Minister of the Coal Industry, Mikhail Shchadov, looked like another coal-mining roughneck in an expensive suit - because he ''was.'' Unlike most of the government ministers, he was a veteran of the industry he oversaw, starting from when he went to work in the mines at age ''fifteen.'' He was one of them to his bones.
34	** Later, when they're working at Chernobyl, Shcherbina and Legasov arrive to find that [[NakedPeopleAreFunny they are all naked]]. It's too hot underground and they can't use fans for ventilation because it will bring in radioactive dust. Glukhov points out that they are still wearing their work hats at least.
35	** When they first see the naked workers, [[FlatWhat Shcerbina's]] and [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe Legasov's]] reactions are ''priceless.''
36	** The cherry on the top is comparing their current methodology to their fathers' and grandfathers' techniques. You know, those from the bad old Imperial days of low-tech, high-manpower, highly dangerous, slav--cough--serfdom and short lives that the great Soviet Union has put well behind it with its great concern for the rights and quality of life of the general worker, Comrade. [[MirthToPower Feel the burn of naked truth to power dressed in the finest of True Soviet™ and suitably cliched phraseology straight out of the most certified of positive propaganda pieces.]]
37	** Just before that, the miners of Tula share some vodka and tell each others self-deprecating jokes about the inefficiency of the Soviet Union in a typical RussianHumour fashion:
38	--->'''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!
39	* Glukhov's exchange with Legasov, which resembles something from ''Series/TheThickOfIt''.
40	--> '''Glukhov:''' So what's the job? \
41	'''Legasov:''' ''[pointing to blueprints]'' We need to install a liquid nitrogen heat exchanger underneath this concrete pad. \
42	'''Glukhov:''' And what's above the pad? \
43	'''Legasov:''' ''[trying his best to sound nonchalant]'' The core of the nuclear reactor...which is...melting down. \
44	'''Glukhov:''' ''[{{beat}}]'' What, like... ''[gestures in a downward motion]''? \
45	'''Legasov:''' Essentially...
46	* When Legasov confronts Charkov over arresting Khomyuk, he points out that he is the First Deputy Chairman of the KGB. Charkov confirms, and says that because of this, he doesn't have to deal with arresting people anymore.
47	* Shcherbina explains how to talk to the KGB: "That went surprisingly well. You came off as a naive idiot. Naive idiots are not a threat."
48	* During a phone conversation between Legasov, Shcherbina, and Gorbachev the latter asks when the situation will be over. Legasov’s response?
49	--> '''Legasov:''' If you mean when will Chernobyl be completely safe, the half life of plutonium-239 is 24,000 years. So perhaps we should just say not within our lifetimes.
50	** Also the fact that Gorbachev's response to this is to simply [[GetOut hang up on him]].
51	[[/folder]]
52
53	[[folder:Episode 4: The Happiness of All Mankind]]
54	* Shcherbina's reaction to one of Tarakanov's [[TooDumbToLive clean-up]] [[IdiotBall ideas]]:
55	--> '''Shcherbina''': [[DidNotThinkThisThrough You want to shoot exploding bullets at an exposed nuclear reactor?]]
56	--> '''Tarakanov''': [[IdiotHero Well...]]
57	--> '''Shcherbina''': [[SarcasmMode No, no. Let's go light that roof back on fire, it was so easy to put out the first time!]]
58	* The containment personnel are [[{{Squee}} visibly giddy]] to operate the Lunokhod STR-1 moon rover... which, to be fair, is a pretty cool toy to get your hands on. Capped by this exchange:
59	-->'''Shcherbina:''' To think, that's what we put on the moon.\
60	'''Legasov:''' [[CaptainObvious Well, not that one.]]\
61	'''Shcherbina:''' I ''know'' not that one.
62	* The conversation about "[[BallsGag egg]] baskets":
63	-->'''Bacho:''' We make these from lead scrap. Put it on under your balls.\
64	'''Pavel:''' Now? \
65	'''Bacho:''' No, no, you can wait until the radiation gives you a cunt. Yes, now. ''[Pavel begins pulling his pants down]'' Over your clothes! Fucking shit!
66	* 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 was never going to work - spews obscenities and then smashes the phone to pieces in frustration. He then drags the phone with him outside and throws it into the grass.
67	-->'''Shcherbina''' ''(to a nearby soldier)'': We need a new phone.
68	** Also take note of Valery Legasov's expression while Boris Shcherbina is going berserk. He may be able to handle knowing that he is slowly dying just being at Chernobyl with the pinnacle of grace, but his coworker yelling at their boss causes him to be '''deeply''' uncomfortable.
69	* When the young untrained liquidator carelessly points his rifle at another liquidator, the guy slaps the barrel away in mild annoyance.
70	** [[CallBack This of course came after Bacho told him he doesn't care if Pavel points the gun at Garo.]]
71	* Bacho showing how much he cares for his fellow liquidators:
72	--> ''I only have two rules: One; Don't point this gun at me, that's easy right? (Motions to another soldier, Garo) You can point it at this piece of shit, I don't give a fuck.''\
73	''(Garo flips him off.)''
74	** Earlier when Pavel and Bacho are walking around the camp:
75	-->'''Bacho:''' Those guys over there?They dig up the ground. Those guys, they cut down trees. Those guys I think evacuate people, you know? Like villagers?\
76	'''Pavel:''' What about those guys?\
77	''(Beat)''\
78	'''Bacho:''' I don't know them, fuck them.
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Episode 5: Vichnaya Pamyat]]
82	* At the meeting on the 25th of April, Bryukhanov comes in very sullen, causing Fomin to ask if something is wrong. Bryukhanov snaps "Of course something is wrong, can't you read a fucking face?!"
83	* After the meeting, Fomin, eager for promotion, stays behind and walks around the table to what was Bryukhanov's half... not to sit in the chair but to try how the wall feels when he leans against it.
84	* This bit of BlackComedy as the KGB shuts down Legasov before he can further expose the Soviet government's failures over the accident:
85	-->'''Charkov''': Why worry about something that isn't going to happen?\
86	'''Legasov''': "Why worry about something that isn't going to happen?" [[SarcasmMode Oh, that's perfect]]. They should put that on our money.
87	* Dyatlov may be an abusive jackass of a boss, but he's got quite a few unintentionally hilarious moments:
88	** Speaking of BlackComedy, there's also this line from Dyatlov in the lead-up to the disastrous reactor test during the flashbacks, aimed at two technicians expressing concerns over the lack of preparation:
89	--> '''Dyatlov:''' Shut the ''FUCK'' up and do your ''job''.
90	** Dyatlov checking to make sure everyone is ready for the test:
91	-->'''Kirschenbaum:''' I- I haven't reviewed, we only just found out-\
92	'''Dyatlov:''' ''[throws binder at Kirschenbaum's feet]'' There, review it.
93	** Toptunov trying to get Dyatlov to record his commands that led to the disaster:
94	-->'''Toptunov:''' I would like you to record your command in-\
95	'''Dyatlov:''' ''[violently slaps binder out of Toptunov's hands]'' Raise the power.
96	** Dyatlov's lame excuse and the reaction thereto:
97	-->'''Dyatlov:''' I wasn't in the room when they raised the power. \
98	'''Legasov:''' If you weren't in the room than where were you?\
99	'''Stepashin:''' Comrade Legasov, you are a witness, not a prosecutor. I will ask the questions here. ''[turns to Dyatlov]'' If you weren't in the room, then where were you?\
100	'''Dyatlov:''' The toilet.\
101	'''Legasov:''' ''[shakes head in dismay]''
102	* During the trial, Legasov briefly pauses in his testimony while a soldier moves the microphone closer to him.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Meta]]
106	* Two surviving Russian miners react to their depiction in the miniseries for a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo2X-zRmiEU Sky News report]]:
107	-->'''Andrey Nasonov:''' (''laughing'') Look, they're drinking vodka! No one ever drank vodka while we were working...
108	-->'''Vladimir Naumov:''' Andrey, you can't be so picky about this, [[MST3KMantra it's just a film]]...
109	* 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 Tarakanov's - "apparently, Masha[[note]]whom the most deadly portion is named after[[/note]] ''really'' was a handful."
110	[[/folder]]

Context Funny / Chernobyl