> … is like the 80s nuclear horror-drama Threads crossed with the disaster-movie classic The Towering Inferno – but delivers neither the shocking realism of one nor the schlocky flair of the other.
An excerpt from Lucy Mangan’s 3* review of **Chernobyl** if anyone needs reminding about her taste
105
ashleyriddell61Apr 14, 2026
+33
That’s such a spectacularly wrong headed take! But completely on brand.
33
NeodamusApr 14, 2026
+17
Wtf, she didn't think chernobyl delivered on shocking realism.
17
HandbagsAtNoonApr 14, 2026
+165
>But – nah. It’s as if showrunners Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner almost forget about this fertile conceit as soon as possible, and the possibilities it offers for oblique comic commentary on modern misogyny (sooo surprisingly different from the old kind) and give prominence instead to an increasingly screwball vibe. Which is, if anything, even harder to pull off.
No shade against the premise of the argument, but just a question about the style. Have Guardian articles always been as informally written as a Listnook post (including helpful heaps of awesome alliteration)? This reads like both a first draft and a stream-of-consciousness format.
165
FX114Apr 14, 2026
+62
I went to read the article, because I don't mind an author being casual and friendly for a piece like this, but boy is it over the top and verging on forced.
62
preguntontasApr 14, 2026
+42
I think it's that author in particular, I've read some other reviews in the Guardian lately and they were not that informal (even though they were casual).
42
batsofburdenApr 14, 2026
+25
I stopped reading her reviews, since they always seem to be the opposite of my takes on a show.
25
ashleyriddell61Apr 14, 2026
+26
It’s my favourite news source, but the Guardians arts reviewers are famous for not liking good things. Looking at *you*, Bradshaw.
26
AEveryDayIdiotApr 14, 2026
+4
Bradshaw is the worst
4
yetanotherwooApr 14, 2026
+28
He kind of has to play a straight man while Elizabeth Banks gets to go crazy at least through the first six episodes I have watched so far.
28
SynthDApr 14, 2026
+23
Not for the first time, a show may be popular and loved despite Mangan disliking it.
23
equalitylove2046Apr 14, 2026
+13
No offense to the people who enjoyed this in advance.
But I just personally found it way too slow and I’m only on the 2nd episode.
I absolutely love Elizabeth Banks but I think she and the rest of the cast have and can do much better than this.
Again no offense is intended it just didn’t work for me I’m afraid.
13
l8nitefriendApr 14, 2026
+11
I think it would've been a better movie than show. A lot of episodes of nothing happening like so much streaming content these days.
11
yetanotherwooApr 18, 2026
+2
I finished it and also read the short story first. I think the overall arch of the television show is a great improvement and the performers add a lot. However it does take an awful long time to get from point A to point B, then minor spoilers >!episode 9 is a flashback to build even more character background and the main improvement is episode 10 incorporating almost all the characters that brings about a lot of resolution and growth. It helps that they did not make the husband a murderer (only attempted...) in the tv show!< Maybe they could have done this in fewer episodes, cause they really did a good job of making all the characters unlikeable for the majority of the run time and I can understand people not wanting to spend a lot of time with unlikeable characters. This is really a showcase for Elizabeth Banks even though she shares top billing.
2
Idkfwhattoputso5 days ago
+1
It’s definitely slow to start but if you can keep watching it does get better. Made me lol a few times
1
DismalDurian68523 days ago
+1
If you sincerely meant no offense would it have not made more sense to just not say anything ?
There is an old adage that if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing..
Seems like that would have been more apropos instead of announcing not once but twice that you didn't intend to offend anyone.
Sure, you didn't !!!!!!!
1
ramsaylanierApr 14, 2026
+1
My wife and I stopped halfway through the second episode. There wasn’t anything in particular that caused it; we had to pause it to take care of something and when we sat down to play it again she asked “are you into this?” and I just wasn’t so we stopped.
I wanted to like it because the cast is great but it just didn’t click.
1
Affectionate_Bee151Apr 17, 2026
+1
Honestly giving reviews when you haven't watched it all is like walking a few hundred meters of a hike then saying the views weren't good.
1
rheasilvaApr 14, 2026
+18
A lot of the time, if something gets a bad review from the Guardian that's a *good* sign for the thing.
This show seems to have been positively received so I'm guessing that's the case here
18
Unkn0wn77777771Apr 14, 2026
+28
I liked the show
28
Danat_shepardApr 14, 2026
+18
Yeah, it was fun, the whole review is weird
18
poppyginApr 14, 2026
+6
Same - really enjoyed it. Bad review or not, I’m recommending it to others.
6
TheWholeOfTheAssApr 14, 2026
+3
There’s another review which said the show is fantastic. Bottom line: *make up your own damn mind.* A few clicks and you can find any major TV show.
3
Significant_War_2001Apr 15, 2026
+3
Disagree. I loved it.
3
blazingswordApr 14, 2026
+7
Watched the first episode and the guy can't find any investors for his miniaturization tech? Maybe computer chips or any of hundreds of other applications? It's a nonsensical premise that he was desperate but I guess we aren't supposed to think about that.
7
CraydehApr 17, 2026
+3
You missed the real premise. But to argue your point anyways, he couldn't get investors for two reasons: people hated his previous GMO tomato project, and his plan for the miniaturization was to solve world hunger and the investors didn't understand how. That's all explained. The one investor that seen benefits were only because benefits were to his pockets, and he only went for it because his lead scientist agreed it would work for his idea.
3
CrunchyCrochetSoupApr 17, 2026
+4
At the time he didn’t know how to make tho he big again, so with his goal of solving world hunger, you couldn’t do that with a bunch of tiny corn, you need big corn. I do agree tho that the fact there was NO investors was odd but eh it’s fiction
4
Development-FeistyApr 18, 2026
+3
There are so many ways you could solve world hunger by making things tiny. Think of all land that would be recovered if we made all of our trash tiny
Think of the medical miracle that could happen if we could make medical equipment tiny
Think about what would happen if we could really pinpoint what we’re making timing, shrink tumors
Think of how much electricity could be saved if we miniature processing chips for computers
And going back to the miniaturizing radioactive waste, we could use power systems that are currently not considered viable due to the waste product they produce
Doll size explorers, suddenly space travel becomes affordable again
The possibilities are endless
3
Development-FeistyApr 18, 2026
+2
He could take all of the trash and make it tiny
All of the radioactive waste, tiny now
2
Murky_Phone_1385 days ago
+2
I don’t get it either. There are literally millions of applications to making things smaller. Military, medically, computer tech, military again, energy sector, did I mention military?
There would be thousands of investors just trying to throw money at this tech.
Also Elizabeth banks character is like the least likable person on earth.
2
DismalDurian68523 days ago
+1
It's called escapism for a reason. It's not to be taken so literal but a way of enjoying something different.
1
Razzler1973Apr 14, 2026
+4
I've seen two reviews, this and one that's very very positive
4
lIlIllIIlllIIIlllIIIApr 14, 2026
+1
As always the truth is usually somewhere in the middle
1
brbrcrbtrApr 14, 2026
+3
She didn't like Matthew Macfadyen as Mr Darcy? He's THE Darcy imo
3
blazingswordApr 14, 2026
+4
I'd say Colin Firth takes it.
4
ImaginaryHospital101Apr 18, 2026
+2
I quite enjoy the show so far
2
jayz93j5 days ago
+2
This was a poorly written TV article
2
AnonymousTimewasterApr 14, 2026
+1
The Guardian is full of shit takes on movies/TV.
1
dilldoeorgApr 16, 2026
+1
ok so this takes place during winter (xmas thru new year)
so how is there a house fly in the middle of winter in what looks to be a extremely clean house?
1
DismalDurian68523 days ago
Well for starters this could have been in a warmer climate. I live in N.C. and the last several years have been extremely warm at Christmas and New Years and yes flies are dying to get inside at anytime of the year.
They can come in when the door is open.
The cleanliness of the house doesn't prevent them from entering.
You just simply thought you were a brainiac for coming up with this hypothesis.
Things are actually more enjoyable if you don't try to berate them. It was for entertainment value.
0
DismalDurian68523 days ago
And it is Christmas..... !!!!!!!
0
CraydehApr 17, 2026
+1
This is absolutely one of the greatest Peacock series pulls ever. Not even arguably, one of the best. In general this premise, combined with all the conflicting character relationships (basically all of them, literally), should've been hard to pull off - but they did it.
1
CrunchyCrochetSoupApr 17, 2026
+1
I didn’t think it was bad at all. Binged it yesterday cuz I’ve always been a fan of this trope.
The show was weird, a bit unbelievable (even considering the premise) but I think it leans into it. Discovering Les and Lindy’s relationship in the past as the season goes on is heartfelt and sweet. I cringed a couple times and it jumped the shark just a bit at the end but overall I think a 7/10.
No matter how weird I always like to support shows with oddball premises like this because it’s DIFFERENT. It’s trying something a bit wacky and I much prefer that over the stuff Hollywood usually puts out these days. Banks is talented funny as always.
I’d say it’s worth a watch. Does it deserve any awards? Nah. Was it entertaining? Yeah I’d say so.
1
Slow-Desk-2724Apr 17, 2026
+1
Did they skip an episode between episode 3 and 4?
1
AdeptShallot5015Apr 18, 2026
+1
YES I feel crazy going back and forth trying to find these missing scenes lol
1
Slow-Desk-2724Apr 19, 2026
+1
I’m so glad I’m not the only oneeeee! Episode 4 played twice too.. both ep 4 and 5 are the same. I think it was an accident.
1
CHC19086 days ago
+1
It's a tiny Ted Danson
1
Few_Bar87775 days ago
+1
ep 9 was the worse. abit boring.
1
UnwalledStaff15 hr ago
+1
The review is generous if anything, the show is absolutely terrible. If you want to see the idea treated properly then watch the 50s SF classic "The Incredible Shrinking Man" instead.
1
faux_italianApr 14, 2026
-2
Man these critics are ruthless today/yesterday.
HBO getting roasted.
Can’t wait to watch Euphoria and Mini Wife now
-2
AccessHollywoo5 days ago
I’ve not seen him in anything before this but this show was so bad I don’t want to watch him in anything else lol
53 Comments