--- title: "Station Eleven: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/station-eleven/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/station-eleven" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Station Eleven (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 11 reviews: 11 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. Every one of the eleven reviews is positive, and they agree on why. This is an apocalypse that is not interested in misery: most critics single out the decision to follow a travelling theatre company and to treat art, memory and community as what survives rather than what is lost. The ensemble draws steady praise, as does the time-jumping structure, which several reviews call elegant, and the sunlit look of the post-plague world. The reservations are small and gather in the same place. The Hollywood Reporter finds the later episodes over-explain themselves, Variety thinks the flashbacks lose their grip on pace, and The Telegraph warns that the multiple timelines ask for real commitment. The Guardian calls it a slow burn that rewards patience. The spread is narrow, from good to very good, with the warmest verdicts coming from the American sites and the British papers a shade more reserved. ## Empire — Al Horner Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2022. The critic finds the series a cathartic and hopeful post-apocalyptic drama that emphasizes art, community, and meaning over mere survival. It stands out for its lush visuals, rich characters, and rebellious philosophy against typical genre tropes. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/station-eleven/) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2021. The review praises Patrick Somerville's adaptation as a stunning and intimate limited series that redefines the end of the world by finding humanity amid extinction. It highlights the striking way the story explores loss and connection through its ensemble and non-linear structure. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/station-eleven-review-hbo-max-series-1234684901/) ## Vulture — Matt Zoller Seitz Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2021. The critic calls Station Eleven a profound television experience and a beautifully wrought piece of storytelling that reaffirms the value of life and human connection. It singles out the elegant time-jumping structure and the way art (music, theater, literature) sustains characters during crisis. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/station-eleven-hbo-max-series-review.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2021. The critic describes it as haunting, hopeful, and mostly well-adapted, excelling at contemplating the aftermath of catastrophe and questions of healing and rebuilding. Strong ensemble performances and a blend of grief and optimism carry the series despite some over-explanation in later episodes. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/station-eleven-review-1235062044/) ## Radio Times — Huw Fullerton Rating 7.5/10. The critic praises the series as a more optimistic apocalypse than most, with an arts scene and layered flashbacks in a clever adaptation. It highlights the sunlit world and focus on thriving through performance rather than just enduring zombies or despair. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-c3symr/station-eleven/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 January 2022. The adaptation of the prescient bestseller is deeply unsettling in its parallels to real events, even where it diverges from them. It is a slow burn that rewards patience with beautiful visuals, filled-in backstories, lighter moments, and questions about art, civilisation and what makes life worth living. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jan/30/station-eleven-slow-burn-vision-plague-ravaged-planet-bestseller) ## The Telegraph — Anita Singh Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 January 2022. The mind-bending drama asks big questions about community, memory, shared history and art but requires commitment due to its multiple timelines and non-linear structure. Life after the apocalypse is portrayed as not so bad, with some humour and a focus on what survives. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/station-eleven-review-mind-bending-drama-makes-wonder-apocalypse/) ## Variety — Daniel D'Addario Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 2021. The critic calls it a flawed but bighearted adaptation that conjures mood effectively through its post-plague world and moving depictions of theatrical performance. It struggles with narrative control and pacing in the flashbacks but suggests the sustaining power of storytelling and connection. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/tv/reviews/station-eleven-review-1235123062/) ## Collider — Carly Lane Rating A+. 13 December 2021. The critic praises the series for its optimistic portrayal of life after disaster, highlighting the enduring power of art and community as key elements that make it compelling and hopeful despite the pandemic theme. [Read the review](https://collider.com/station-eleven-review-mackenzie-davis-hbo-max/) ## The Ringer — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2021. The critic finds the HBO adaptation masterful and insightful, worth watching for its exploration of trauma, memory, storytelling, and survival despite the discomfort of its pandemic theme. She praises its eclectic tone, smart adaptive choices, and empathetic portrayal of different responses to catastrophe. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2021/12/17/tv/station-eleven-show-book-review-hbo-virus-pandemic) ## /Film — Joshua Meyer Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2021. The review highlights the series' blend of humor, humanity, and Shakespearean elements in a post-pandemic world, commending its focus on relationships, art, and what truly matters after societal collapse. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/709099/station-eleven-review-a-colorful-humane-and-shakespearean-post-pandemic-miniseries/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/station-eleven.md