Highest-rated IMDb series ever: Have you heard about HBO's 'Chernobyl'?
What's the story
HBO has many great shows in its collection. They range from real-world dramas like The Wire to sci-fi spectacles like Westworld and cult series like Game of Thrones. Since GoT ended, people have been searching for a similar (or better) show to satiate their entertainment needs. Enter HBO's Chernobyl, an ongoing mini-series that has the highest IMDb rating ever. Here is all about it.
The Disaster
A historical drama about the 20th century's worst man-made disaster
On 26 April 1986, a catastrophic nuclear accident occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near the city of Pripyat (Ukraine), which affected millions of people for years to come. The series depicts the disaster, how it was caused, its effect and the subsequent unprecedented cleanup. It's based on the memories of the survivors and takes inspiration from the book, 'Voices from Chernobyl'.
Actors
The show boasts of an inspiring star cast
The lead character is played by Jared Harris, who is famous for his roles in Mad Men and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. It also features Oscar-nominated actress Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård (Pirates of the Caribbean, Thor), Paul Ritter (Quantum of Solace), and Jessie Buckley, among others. It's a co-production between HBO and Sky UK and has been strongly praised by critics everywhere.
Rating
Rated higher than 'Game of Thrones' and 'Breaking Bad'
Written by The Hangover Part II writer Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, the series has been rated by 74,000 people on IMDb averaging an impressive 9.6. Breaking Bad and GoT are both rated 9.4. Chernobyl's first four episodes have had more than a million views each. The fifth/final episode will premiere on June 4 and can be watched on Hotstar.
Manipulation
Do IMDb ratings matter?
Yes and No. IMDb has its own rating system based on user reviews and critics' evaluations. It has been manipulated in the past though. Hindi film Gunday was once rated worst in the world because of being spammed with negative reviews by Bangladeshi people who were upset with its historical inaccuracies. However, incidents like that are rare and Chernobyl is a genuinely good show.