In 2021, HBO Max releasedStation 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. FromThe SopranostoSuccession,the company has put out some of themost popular TV showsof 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 fordystopian sci-fi series, there are several clear winners. For example,The Last of Uswas 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 likeDune: Prophecyalso stand out, alongside older series likeTorchwoodandDoctor Who.Yet, even with all this success,there are still sci-fi series on HBO that are not getting the attention they deserve, includingStation 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 howStation Elevenis 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 becauseStation Eleventells 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.
10 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows That Are Based On Books
Many sci-fi shows effectively transform their book source material, imagining worlds with no bounds on human possibility, space, or technology.
Of course, now that five years have passed since our very real pandemic,it is much clearer thatStation Eleven’srealism is part of what makes the story so good.Based ona sci-fi bookby 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.AlthoughStation Elevenis 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 outStation Eleven.Although HBO boasts countless strong sci-fi entries,Station Elevenis 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 Elevendeserves to be rediscovered.
Station Elevenhas a 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In particular,those who loveThe Last of Usshould check outStation 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 Elevenisn’t quite as scary asThe Last of Us,but many of the same themes are there, just in a more whimsical packaging. All in all,Station Elevenis the hidden gem that all HBO lovers must pick up.
