Station Eleven Rewatch: Episode Five
“Your celebrity is a little less relevant in a post-apocalyptic context.”
This post contains spoilers for the fifth episode of Station Eleven, but no spoilers for future episodes. You’re invited to join the conversation in the comments and chat. You’re also invited to be part of our final Zoom discussion, which is happening next Wednesday, December 18. All paid subscribers are welcome (8-10pm ET) as we talk through episodes 6-10.
Episode Five takes us to the airport—Severn City, Michigan to be exact. This piece of Station Eleven focuses on Clark, Tyler, and Elizabeth. We see Clark step into a leadership position and we learn more about Tyler, who is Arthur’s son.
I mentioned Clark and leadership. Power is at the heart of Episode Five—who gets it and how. Adjacent themes include fame, jealousy, charisma, truth, and confidence. In my mind, this episode is also about origin stories. We get Tyler’s and—though he’s further down the road—it feels like we’re seeing one for Clark as well. If not an origin than certainly a new chapter. We’re introduced to Agent Roker too!
Moments I Noticed
Clark: “Holy shit.”
Nun: “God has a plan.”
C: “Uh-huh. Let’s hope so.”
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Why does Clark suddenly have sunglasses on inside the airport? Does this represent a shift? Famous people tend to be the ones who wear shades indoors.
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“She won’t be very famous if everyone on the fucking planet dies.” —Clark, talking about Elizabeth (Subtitle Nominee)
A Thought
Fame is selfish and yet it relies on other people.
Civilization
“Civilization is a complex, self-correcting mechanism, as complex as a person… only self-aware to a degree.” —Clark, talking to Tyler (Subtitle Nominee)
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My Favorite Scene in Episode Five
Clark: “Your plane’s not coming.”