Emmys 2019: HBO's 'Chernobyl' bags award for Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series
'Chernobyl' added a second Emmy in its kitty. This time for 'Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special'. The historical drama television miniseries was created and written by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck for HBO. It follows the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of April 1986 and the unprecedented cleanup efforts that followed. The gripping series received nineteen nominations and acting nominations for Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson.
Mazin thanked the stars, the creators and the crew for their tireless efforts. "A thank you to the incredible cast, HBO and Sky" he added. The creator also added that the award was a tribute to the people who were unfortunate victims on the night of April 1986.
Johan Renck also picked up the Emmy for directing in a limited series or movie.
The gripping true-life drama has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with the critical consensus reading: "Chernobyl rivets with a creeping dread that never dissipates, dramatizing a national tragedy with sterling craft and intelligent dissection of institutional rot". On IMDb, over 300,000 users gave the show an average rating of 9.5 stars out of 10, making it the second-highest rated TV show on the platform. Such was the impact the series had that even Russia doffed its hat. Vladimir Medinsky, the Russian culture minister, whose father was one of the Chernobyl liquidators, called the series "Masterfully made" and "filmed with great respect for ordinary people".
Other nominees in the category included, 'A Very English Scandal' (Russell T. Davies), 'Escape at Dannemora- Episode 6' (Brett Johnson, Michael Tolkin), 'Fosse/Verdon' (Steven Levenson, Joel Fields), and 'When They See Us- Part Four, (Ava DuVernay, Michael Starrbury).