The first episode of Chernobyl provided a very mysterious, intense start to the semester. I had learned about this historical event through history and environmental science courses, yet it was very interesting to see it portrayed through film. This initial episode narrated the escalation of events that led to Chernobyl. The visual and auditory cinematographic effects utilized were brilliant. A dark color scheme was present throughout the episode, creating a very dark atmosphere overall. The background music and sound effects were also truly powerful and anxiety-provoking. If I could use a word to describe this episode, it would be frustrating. The plot showed a major conflict between science and politics, and how the government officials tried to hide the magnitude of the event, while the situation became increasingly worse. The feelings of denial and confusion reminded me of our country’s situation with COVID-19, where countless people today still deny the gravity of the virus and refuse to listen to scientists and government officials.