Station Eleven is one of the best post-apocalyptic series to have aired recently, focusing not so much on the apocalypse itself, but on the ability of those in the aftermath to rebuild their lives. One of the show's greatest strengths, in fact, is its characters, all of whom are people that demonstrate that the human spirit cannot be so easily quelled.
What’s more, they all show various shades of likability, as they deal with the fallout from a flu that has killed almost everyone in the country. Even in the aftermath of the apocalypse, people still are capable of kindness.
Miranda
Though she only appears in a few episodes of the series, Miranda makes quite an impression. She has a steeliness to her that makes her difficult to understand but, at the same time, she also emerges as a likable character in her own right.
In large part, this stems from the fact that she has an artistic genius that allows her to create the novel Station Eleven, which becomes a key text for everyone who manages to survive the flu.
Clark Thompson
Clark is one of the characters that contributes to this being one of the best science fiction dramas of the past couple of years. He is also something of a contradiction, for while he is very subtle and clever, there’s also a harshness to him that, at times, makes it difficult to like.
At the same time, he also shows a softer side, particularly in his relationships with his partners, which demonstrates that, beneath his often ruthless exterior, he has a soft heart.
Tyler/The Prophet
For most of the series, the man known as the Prophet is something of an enigma, hovering at the edge of the story. It gradually becomes clear, though, that he has endured quite a lot of trauma in his life and that this helps to explain his ruthlessness.
Nevertheless, the fact that he is so determined to destroy everything that has been rebuilt from the old world makes him one of the series’ least-likable characters, since he is willing to sacrifice almost anyone on the altar of his vision for what the world should look like. He gradually emerges as a very smart science fiction villain.
Kirsten
Mackenzie Davis has been in many great roles, and Kirsten is absolutely among her best work. Like many of the others, she has endured quite a lot during the course of the pandemic.
At the same time, she shows that she’s a relatively likable character, particularly since she plays such a prominent part in the Traveling Symphony. She also demonstrates that she can be quite ruthless when the need arises, as when she stabs the Prophet out of fear that he will steal away her friend, Alexandra.
Sarah/ The Conductor
There are few characters in Station Eleven quite as strange as Sarah, also known as The Conductor. She is the creative genius behind the Traveling Symphony, and as such she is one of those most responsible for its continued success.
She also shows that she is one of the series’ most likable characters because, despite the fact that she can be demanding and imperious at times, she still opens up the Symphony to anyone who is willing to them (most notably Kirsten, whom she finds alone and wandering in the wilderness).
Elizabeth
At the beginning of the series, Elizabeth is a bit cold and distant but, as the story goes on, she shows that she is also a very appealing character. She remains very loyal to her troubled son, Tyler, and she also demonstrates that she is able to change as the post-pandemic world unfolds.
Unlike Clark, who refuses to change in the face of different circumstances, Elizabeth reveals that she has a softer side when it comes to the residents of the former airport, as well as toward the Traveling Symphony.
Jeevan Chaudhary
Every science fiction series needs its heroic and good characters, and Jeevan is one of this series’ heroes. He shows this in particular by the fact that he takes in Kirsten after the play and, afterward, gives her a place to stay at his brother’s opulent apartment.
Though he has his issues and his flaws, the fact remains that he is one of the series’ most likable characters and that, when push comes to shove, he’ll be the type of person that will always fight for those that he loves.
Frank Chaudhary
Like his brother, Frank Chaudhary is a contradiction. On the one hand, he is a very smart and comionate person but, in other ways, there’s a cynicism and darkness in his spirit that he sometimes struggles to overcome.
Ultimately, he demonstrates that he is one of the most likable characters because he is willing to sacrifice his life so that both Jeevan and Kirsten can escape from the apartment and make a new life for themselves. His presence continues to cast a shadow on them, even after they escape.
Arthur Leander
Gael Garcia Bernal has been in a number of great movies and TV shows, and it’s clear that Station Eleven will be among some of his best work.
Even though he only appears sporadically, there’s something intrinsically likable about Arthur Leander, an actor who is determined to make a life on his own . What’s more, he demonstrates that he is one of those people who manages to charm anyone who comes into his orbit, which helps to explain why it is that he is such a successful movie star.
Alexandra
Alexandra is one of the first generation of children that were born after the pandemic. Though she is one of the series’ minor characters, she consistently shows that she is also one of its most likable.
She has an infectious enthusiasm about the world, both the one that came before and the one that she currently inhabits. And, while she might be a bit rebellious at times, that ultimately contributes to her appeal and her innate charisma.