In 2021, HBO Max released Station Eleven, a sci-fi series about a catastrophic pandemic that hit way too close to home, but considering it four years later, the series can be considered one of the platform’s very best sci-fi projects to date. Over several decades, HBO has established itself as a premier television service. From The Sopranos to Succession, the company has put out some of the most popular TV shows of this generation. Notably, though, some genres stand out more than others on the streaming service, and one of those is sci-fi.
Looking at what Max has to offer for dystopian sci-fi series, there are several clear winners. For example, The Last of Us was and continues to be a massive hit for HBO, earning a stellar 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and a new season coming this year. Other new series like Dune: Prophecy also stand out, alongside older series like Torchwood and Doctor Who. Yet, even with all this success, there are still sci-fi series on HBO that are not getting the attention they deserve, including Station Eleven.
Station Eleven Was A Difficult Watch When It Released
Station Eleven’s Realism Is Part Of What Makes It So Good
Today, it is easy to see how Station Eleven is one of HBO’s best and most underrated sci-fi series, but when it was first released in 2021, this was harder to admit. Mainly, this is because Station Eleven tells the story of a pandemic that wipes out nearly all humankind, creating a horrifying apocalypse. Over the course of several timelines, audiences see how this plague affected different characters, for better and for worse. Premiering nearly a year after the COVID-19 pandemic, it was understandably hard to become invested in such a series.
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Of course, now that five years have passed since our very real pandemic, it is much clearer that Station Eleven’s realism is part of what makes the story so good. Based on a sci-fi book by Emily St. John Mandel, the story is not just about disaster and illness, but about humanity and love. Through the show’s ensemble cast, viewers get to see how art, optimism, and memory can keep people sane in unprecedented times. Although Station Eleven is undoubtedly dark, it is also a series about hope.
If You Like HBO & Sci-Fi Shows, Station Eleven Is A Must Watch
How Station Eleven Compares To Other Max Sci-Fi Shows
Ultimately, those who tend to enjoy HBO’s content, and are also interested in sci-fi, should definitely check out Station Eleven. Although HBO boasts countless strong sci-fi entries, Station Eleven is by far one of the best. The series merges sci-fi elements with captivating drama, and has amazing visuals and outstanding performances. From start to finish, viewers will be invested in this dark and strangely relatable story in a way that other HBO series simply cannot do. Now that time has passed since the pandemic, Station Eleven deserves to be rediscovered.
Station Eleven has a 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In particular, those who love The Last of Us should check out Station Eleven. Not only do both shows delve into pandemics and the apocalypse, but they also share themes of human connection and community. Of course, Station Eleven isn’t quite as scary as The Last of Us, but many of the same themes are there, just in a more whimsical packaging. All in all, Station Eleven is the hidden gem that all HBO lovers must pick up.
Station Eleven
- Release Date
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2021 – 2021
- Network
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HBO Max
