Chernobyl , Now (2019) The horror of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster has never been explored on TV with such poignancy. HBO’s harrowing, propulsive drama (which won nine Baftas and 10 Emmys) follows the catastrophe from the moment of explosion, when firefighters and scientists worked to keep the blaze contained, to the days following when politicians deflected blame to avoid international humiliation, to the decades-long suffering by those effected by the radiation. It stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson and Paul Ritter in some of their most emotional performances to date, while writer Craig Mazin’s meticulous attention to detail gives the series a dark yet respectful tone.
And though the scenes of the meltdown make for edge-of-your-seat TV, it’s the political fallout and devastating effects of the radiation long after the event that really stick with you. Five episodes The Undoing, Now (2020) If the words “Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, warring couple, murder mystery” don’t make you want to watch The Undoing then I don’t know what to tell you. As silly as it is addictive, this David E Kelley series is in the same vein as his most famous export, Big Little Lies , and follows the breakdown of high-flyers Grace and Jonathan Fraser’s marriage after the latter’s mistress is murdered.
It might seem like a by-the-numbers thriller from the outside, but each episodes features an unexpected twist – I promise you won’t see the brilliantly melodramatic fi.