The HBO Max mini-series station 11 begins with a highly contagious and deadly virus wiping

out 99% of humanity.

Now that might not sound like comfort viewing, but hear me out.

It's a show about loss and grief, sure, but it's also about resilience, empathy, humor,

and how difficult it can be to figure out what to keep and what to leave behind as we all

move collectively into an uncertain future.

I'm Glenn Weldon, and today we're talking about station 11 on Pop Culture Happy Hour

from MPR.

Joining us today is Ingo Kang.

She's the TV critic at the Washington Post.

Welcome back Ingo.

Greetings from the future.

Absolutely.

Also with this is writer Katie Presley, Howdy, Katie.

Howdy.

Station 11 is based on Emily St. John Mendel's best-selling novel, though showrunner Patrick

Somerville and the writers do make significant changes.

The net effect is to round down many of the book's sharper edges, its more bleak aspects,

in favor of mining its humanity and its humor.

Over the show's 10 episodes, we follow several different characters as their individual

stories intersect, both in the 100 days after the virus hits, and 20 years later, as civilization

attempts to rebuild.

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