HBO Max's 10-Part Sci-Fi Reentering the Streaming Charts Is Aging Remarkably Well

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Mackenzie Davis in face paint and a top made of gloves, a serious expression on her face in Station Eleven.

Published Feb 5, 2026, 3:36 PM EST

Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.

She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 126 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.

In this era, we're being treated to some of the best sci-fi programming that's ever been made, but there are a lot of shows that haven't necessarily held up very well in current times. Some series, such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, Heroes, Logan's Run, and Westworld feel completely different upon re-watching now. Whether these shows suffer from cheesy aesthetics or outdated storylines, it's a difficult task for a series to truly stand the test of time. That's why it's so impressive that one HBO Max sci-fi show from 2021 manages to be even more perfect when viewed today.

What Is 'Station Eleven' About?

Station Eleven is a 2014 bestselling novel by Emily St. John Mandel. The book, later adapted as a 10-part series, was oddly prescient at the time, since it explores a world that has been ravaged by a pandemic, years before we all lived through a very real one ourselves. The story follows several characters as they fight to survive after a deadly virus creates an apocalyptic event. We see the beginning stages of the collapse of society through the eyes of eight-year-old Kirsten (Matilda Lawler) and the kind man, Jeevan (Himesh Patel), who takes her under his wing.

Station Eleven would have been captivating enough if we just watched these characters struggle to accept these terrifying circumstances, but the series also depicts what transpires 20 years later, as Kirsten (now portrayed as an adult by Mackenzie Davis) finds herself living with a band of artists called the Traveling Symphony. Danger continues to lurk behind every corner for the survivors, including a mysterious cult leader who introduces an enigmatic, yet threatening vibe to the storytelling. By utilizing alternating timelines, it's easy to see how the fight for survival can manifest differently in an unraveling world.

Station Eleven unfolds as a heartwrenching examination of the human spirit, while still providing enough plot twists to always keep you glued to the screen. Collider's review noted at the time of its release that the series is "an unexpectedly compelling watch" and an "indelible triumph of television," and even years later, it has an impressive 98% Rotten Tomatoes score. The show also found some Emmy love with seven nominations, including a nod to Patel's soulful and vulnerable portrayal of Jeevan. While it would make sense that Station Eleven was relevant during our own COVID-19 outbreak, what's even more notable is how the series has somehow become just as captivating now. In fact, Station Eleven is currently surging on the streaming charts despite being released years ago.

MacKenzie Davis reading the Station Eleven comic book

'Station Eleven' Is Even More Poignant Today

The brilliance of Mandel's storytelling has much to do with her ability to write themes that will always be significant, especially our fears related to the breakdown of society, the lawlessness of humans, and the deep connections that can be made during stressful times. But somehow, Station Eleven is even more fitting in 2026. We're experiencing a multitude of worries about living in dystopian times, and the possibility of a society in peril is much closer to reality than it's ever been. World events make it seem more likely that we could find ourselves in a technology-free, primitive environment, just like the characters do. Sure, we've lived through a pandemic, but there's always the horrifying prospect of another one around the corner. But Station Eleven isn't just doom and gloom. There's also a touching thread about the importance of found family that is always timeless. There are many moving connections between these characters, especially between Kirsten and Jeevan, that remind us that love can be found in the most unlikely of places if we're open to finding it.

All of these themes come through clearly because of the incredible writing and acting performances, especially by the supporting cast that consists of Danielle Deadwyler, Gael Garciá Bernal, and Lori Petty. But Station Eleven is also a masterpiece because of the directing and cinematography. Every moment you spend watching the series will allow you to feel instantly transported into this strange, crumbling world, and much of this has to do with the haunting tone set by director Hiro Murai. It would be amazing if Station Eleven didn't feel relevant, since that's certainly a scary sign of the times, but there's no denying the series is still completely worthy of a binge-watch today.