Station Eleven

A pandemic! Cults! Found families! And a post-apocalyptic traveling Shakespeare theater troupe?! Oh my!

If watching a series about a pandemic has you feeling less than thrilled, I understand. For me, this watch was still worth it. Based on the best-selling novel by Emily St John Mandel, this series explores the reasons why humanity loves life and insists on surviving. The series jumps around in its own timeline, but the bulk of this series takes place 20 years post pandemic. Taking place primarily in Chicago and around Lake Michigan, this series follows one young woman who survived the flu as a girl. She and her found family, consisting of a traveling theater troupe, make their seasonal trip around Lake Michigan, celebrating the human spirit and art in their renditions of Shakespeare's best. We see how she survived and who she survived with, all while exploring the threats facing her family, both during and after the pandemic. It also illustrates how one work of art, in this case an in-world self-published graphic novel, can inspire its readers in a variety of ways.

The best way I can describe this is breathtaking. It explores the deep depths of fear, loss, and paranoia that comes with the pandemic, and explores the beauty of life, the strength of human connection, and the power of art. At times frightening, devastating, and uncertain, and other times warm, inspiring, and miraculous. If for nothing else, check out this series to enjoy the breathtaking scenic backgrounds, inventive costumes, perfect acting, and unsettling music.