20 TV Show Pilots That Are Totally Flawless
9. 1:23:45 - Chernobyl
HBO's phenomenal miniseries detailing one of history's greatest disasters, Chernobyl holds nothing back in its first episode, taking audiences inside the titular power plant on the day it was destroyed and recounting the lead-up to its tragic demise with both harrowing and engrossing testimony.
Beginning with a shocking suicide before taking a deep dive into the origins of the disaster, 1:23:45 goes step-by-step in explaining what happened in Chernobyl on that fateful day in 1986, and how it was allowed to get so out of hand. The results make for a frustrating and enrapturing viewing experience.
Whether it's digging into the flaws of chief engineer Anatoly Dyatlov (played by the late, great Paul Ritter) or detailing the heroics of those doomed by the explosion, the intensity, visual beauty and unrelenting horror of the episode makes it a viewing experience you're not likely to forget.