Station Eleven - HBO Max

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember reading the book and liking it a lot but now watching the show I can't recall the major plot elements at all, except that it was about a traveling Shakespearean troupe and there was some scary cult-like figure with his supporters on the road up ahead.

Anyone else slightly jealous because the plague has dissipated and these people's lives are hard but they don't have to worry about wearing masks and getting sick? Feels weird but that keeps crossing my mind.

I haven’t seen the show yet (it’s on my list), but in the book the flu’s fatality rate was 99%. There was a vivid description of a character dying from it. So, I’d rather take masks.

Oh no question about that! But watching the players travel around the lake not having to worry about getting sick from a pandemic is really something. Of course they're worrying about a lot of other things in a world where civilization has collapsed but they don't have to worry about getting too close to each other. I know it's crazy but it makes me a little jealous.

It’s 20 years into the future after the flu.

[Anonymous]

I at once find the series interesting - I’m semi binging this week while off work - and disturbing. Like the Hulu Handmaids Tale series, it cuts close to home and is scarily prescient.

[Anonymous]

I watched the latest episode, which I thought was really good. We don't get any Kirsten backstory in the book so this was welcome for the series. I was also VERY happy to not have a captured woman rape threat going on.

At this point we have pretty much diverted from the book entirely. I read and loved the book, so I am just letting go of the plot of the book. The sneak peek for next week introduces and entirely new subplot, which I'm not sure I like. One of the things I liked best about the book was the airport, so changing that up is kind of going for a pretty standard apocalyptic trope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched the latest episode, which I thought was really good. We don't get any Kirsten backstory in the book so this was welcome for the series. I was also VERY happy to not have a captured woman rape threat going on.

At this point we have pretty much diverted from the book entirely. I read and loved the book, so I am just letting go of the plot of the book. The sneak peek for next week introduces and entirely new subplot, which I'm not sure I like. One of the things I liked best about the book was the airport, so changing that up is kind of going for a pretty standard apocalyptic trope.

I haven't read the book so may do that after watching the whole show. I loved Clark so much in the earlier airport scenes, that Im really interested in returning to that thread and finding out what played out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched the latest episode, which I thought was really good. We don't get any Kirsten backstory in the book so this was welcome for the series. I was also VERY happy to not have a captured woman rape threat going on.

At this point we have pretty much diverted from the book entirely. I read and loved the book, so I am just letting go of the plot of the book. The sneak peek for next week introduces and entirely new subplot, which I'm not sure I like. One of the things I liked best about the book was the airport, so changing that up is kind of going for a pretty standard apocalyptic trope.

I loved this last episode, it’s finally gelling together for me.

[Anonymous]

We just started watching this weekend and whoo it's rough going. Really good, and just wrenching. We're three episodes in so far.

[Anonymous]

I have just ordered the book. Yay!

[Anonymous]

The last episode was so intense.

[Anonymous]

I watched Episodes 8 and 9 last night. Still processing them (ish).

I feel like everything is wrapping up a bit too neatly, but they've kept it tight. I still don't like what they've done with Clark's character and how he's become a villain almost all the way through. And his motivation for being the way he is is not clear to me. I get that the whole "survival is not enough" theme is running through the entire series and Clark is kind of the anti-that, but I'm not sure I guy that he had this iron grip on this place for two decades.

Interesting adaptation of the Jeevan story. I think they might have done the best job with adapting his story and rounding out his character. He and Frank may be my favorite characters, the way they take on nurturing and educating Kirsten. I didn't care for the place he ended up being kind of a wacky apocalyptic trope, but he kind of ends up where he is in the book.

All in all, two good episodes in the lead up to the finale.

[Anonymous]

I’m enjoying the season but definitely loved the book more. I liked episode 9, Jeevan’s story, although was sad that he and Kirsten left things so poorly with one another and didn’t get a true goodbye.

Not sure I care for the airport adaptation. It was such a bright spot in the novel and it’s much more sinister in the show. Interested to see what the finale brings.

[Anonymous]

I love this show and am so sad there is only one episode left. I assume there will only be one season.

I am on the edge of my seat for a Jeevan and Kirsten reunion. I watched the director’s comments after the last episode where he explains his interpretation of the evolution. Of Jeevan and Kirsten’s relationship over year 1 and it made me like Jeevan even more. Jeevan and Frank are my favorite characters by far. I also love that they ended the episode with a Tribe Called Quest song (not Excursions like Frank rapped but I still noticed the reference to Tribe in episode 9).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched Episodes 8 and 9 last night. Still processing them (ish).

I feel like everything is wrapping up a bit too neatly, but they've kept it tight. I still don't like what they've done with Clark's character and how he's become a villain almost all the way through. And his motivation for being the way he is is not clear to me. I get that the whole "survival is not enough" theme is running through the entire series and Clark is kind of the anti-that, but I'm not sure I guy that he had this iron grip on this place for two decades.

Interesting adaptation of the Jeevan story. I think they might have done the best job with adapting his story and rounding out his character. He and Frank may be my favorite characters, the way they take on nurturing and educating Kirsten. I didn't care for the place he ended up being kind of a wacky apocalyptic trope, but he kind of ends up where he is in the book.

All in all, two good episodes in the lead up to the finale.

His motivation is he is an actual loser - his acting career stalled, he had a major drink problem and he watched as his friend (Arthur) had a huge career and monetary success. When he takes over as "leader" at the airport he is finally playing King Lear for real - and he rallies everyone into some kind of order. As time passes, that order is disintegrating, people are less interested in him and his ideas. He is returning to being a loser again and he cannot handle it.

[Anonymous]

I remember liking the book ok but not loving it. Found it a bit slow given the subject matter and never felt all that attached to any of the characters. Watched the first ep of the show and thought it was ok but not all that gripping. Probably won’t finish. I liked her second book more though - the Glass Hotel I think. Again, didn’t feel too attached to any of the characters but found the story a bit more interesting. I think the author is good at painting some beautiful but melancholy elements - like the concept of Dr Eleven and in the Glass Hotel, the ship and sea motifs. But her characters are kind of impenetrable so it’s hard to really identify or empathize with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two episodes in, and I'm kind of bored.
What am I missing? What other shows are comparable?

Same here.

[Anonymous]

So far I have found many streaming shows to be slow but for the most part interesting characters. I think we’ve been spoiled by action movies and expect every show to move at a fast pace. It also seems most of the slow stories are written by the British.