Mysteries of the Abandoned Season 1 Episode 3 Phantoms of Chernobyl
- TVPG
- April 27, 2017
- 42 min
-
7.3 (49)
In Mysteries of the Abandoned season 1 episode 3, entitled Phantoms of Chernobyl, viewers are taken on a haunting journey through the deserted nuclear city of Pripyat. The episode explores the aftermath and impact of the Chernobyl disaster, which occurred in 1986, through visits to abandoned buildings, amusement parks and other structures in Pripyat.
The episode begins by providing viewers with details surrounding the Chernobyl disaster, including the explosion of reactor number four at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the evacuation of Pripyat, a city home to over 50,000 people, located just three kilometers from the site. Viewers are given a glimpse into the desolate and eerie landscape of Pripyat that has remained untouched for over three decades since the disaster occurred.
The first abandoned location explored in the episode is the Pripyat amusement park, which was set to open to the public on May 1st, 1986, just days after the disaster. The episode explores the dilapidated structures of the amusement park: the rusting ferris wheel, bumper cars, and carousel all covered with a thick layer of dust, vines, and decay. A surreal sense of silence fills the air as the camera moves from one rusted ride to the next, heightening the eerie factor.
Next, the episode delves into the reactor itself, showing viewers the abandoned control room where the catastrophic explosion took place. The investigation highlights the theory that the disaster was caused by human error and design flaws, and the chilling footage of the abandoned control room contrasts sharply with the intense activity that took place in the room at the time of the explosion.
The episode then moves on to explore the abandoned buildings of Pripyat, including apartment blocks and schools. The buildings stand eerily empty, with everything from classroom furniture to kitchen utensils still in place. The atmosphere is one of quiet reclamation, of nature slowly beginning to reclaim the spaces that were once created by civilization.
The episode also includes interviews with experts on the disaster and the surrounding landscape, who provide unique insights into the long-term environmental impact of the explosion, as well as the challenges involved in rebuilding the surrounding area. The episode highlights the lingering impact of the disaster on the people who once lived in Pripyat and the wider region, and how the abandoned city of Pripyat has become a reminder of the scale of the disaster and the need to learn from it.
Overall, Mysteries of the Abandoned season 1 episode 3, Phantoms of Chernobyl, is an emotional exploration of the long-term impact of the Chernobyl disaster. Through its haunting and evocative footage, the episode provides a unique glimpse into the abandoned city of Pripyat, reminding viewers of the enduring impact of this disaster on both the environment and the people who were affected by it.