This 98%-Rated HBO Masterpiece Is the Most Overlooked Dystopian Sci-Fi Show of the Decade

In the realm of dystopian sci-fi shows, full of zombies, mutants, and machine-gun-wielding marauders, discovering a project that provides a unique perspective on the end of the world is a stroke of luck.

HBO's Station Eleven isn't about the traditional struggle for survival, but rather about humanity's efforts to preserve culture and art after a mysterious flu wipes out most of the population.

Rather than showing people fighting for food and weapons, Patrick Somerville invites us to immerse ourselves in the world of traveling actors performing Shakespearean tragedies.

What Is 'Station Eleven' About?

The plot unfolds across two intertwining timelines. It begins with a production of King Lear at a Chicago theater. The renowned actor, Arthur Leander, suddenly dies of a heart attack onstage.

That same night a deadly flu epidemic sweeps the world and wipes out civilization in a matter of days. 20 years later, survivors attempt to rebuild society. A group of actors calling themselves the Traveling Symphony perform Shakespearean plays for scattered settlements.

Among them is Kirsten, a young woman, who during the outbreak witnessed Arthur's final moments.

'Station Eleven' Masterfully Uses Theatricality as a Metaphor

The main distinction of Station Eleven from other post-apocalyptic series is its striking theatricality – Somerville transforms the entire world into a stage and the survivors into actors performing their roles.

Each episode resembles a separate act of a play, and the constant references to Shakespeare – Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear – become more than just props, they become a way to understand the events.

The traveling actors wear bizarre rags, and their horse-drawn carriage seems anachronistic in a world that was recently brimming with technology. This contrast creates an atmosphere reminiscent of Terry Gilliam's movies, where fantasy and reality intertwine in a bizarre dance.

At its best, Station Eleven plays like a tragicomedy hit from the independent film festival circuit: colorful and absurd yet consistently sad, hiding deep disillusionment behind a cheerful facade.

'Station Eleven' Is Much More Philosophical Than You'd Expect From a Dystopian Show

Station Eleven is less a story of survival than a question of what remains of a person when everything familiar is taken away.

In her original novel, Emily St. John Mandel sensitively describes the details of the old world that we've come to consider ordinary, such as electricity, cars, phone calls, and the ability to simply lie down in a soft bed.

This theme also resurfaces in the show but serves as a backdrop to a more complex conversation about how art helps us cope with trauma. Here, Shakespeare's plays aren't just entertainment, but a means of understanding one's suffering and finding universal meaning in it.

The characters repeat lines from Hamlet, not because they are theater buffs, but because these words help them to understand their own pain. Station Eleven shows that even in a destroyed world, people continue to search for beauty and meaning – and that may be what makes them human.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Station Eleven'?

• Station Eleven has 98% from critics and 75% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.5/10.

Where to Watch 'Station Eleven'?

Station Eleven is available to stream on HBO Max.