Station Eleven: Hidden Credits Dialogue Changes Episode 7’s Ending

The ending of Station Eleven episode 7 is completely changed by hidden credits dialogue. The HBO Max limited series tells the story of an apocalyptic plague from two vantage points: the initial collapse of global human civilization, and 20 years later, at the beginning of a new society that the survivors have cobbled together. Both periods are shown through the eyes of Kirsten (Mackenzie Davi), an actor who survived the beginning of the pandemic as a child.

In Station Eleven episode 7, “Goodbye My Damaged Home,” the young Kirsten tries to get Frank Chaudhary (Nabhaan Rizwan), one of the two brothers who saved her life at the beginning of Station Eleven‘s pandemic, to come with her and the other brother, Jeevan (Himesh Patel), when it is time to leave Frank’s apartment. Kirsten waits beside his door, asking him to make the journey with them, not realizing that Frank has been killed on the other side of that door. Twenty years later, however, the older Kirsten understands what she did not when she was a child. At the end of the episode, Kirsten finally allows herself to let go of that piece of her past, saying aloud, “Goodbye, Frank.”

However, Kirsten has one more thing to say at the end of the credits which gives a new meaning to Station Eleven episode 7’s ending. Attuned viewers may have noticed that Kirsten adds to her message to the past, saying, “Thanks for letting me stay here.” Even though Frank is long gone, Kirsten reconciles her survivor’s guilt with the gift of a second chance at life that Frank and Jeevan gave to her when they took her in. What for the longest time was self-loathing and pain is finally translated into love and gratitude, evidenced by her acknowledgment after the credits.

For 20 years, Kirsten blamed herself for Frank’s death. She believed that if they had left a day sooner, Frank might still have been alive. With the wisdom that comes with time, Kirsten releases her guilt, recognizing that Frank likely never would have survived outside of the apartment. Frank’s war injury made it difficult for him to travel long distances, and it is probable that he would have succumbed to the elements soon after leaving.

What makes Station Eleven so heart-warming (and heart-wrenching) for audiences are the loving relationships formed not by blood relations, but by the deeply ingrained shared experience of survival. Humans are brought together by adversity, and when times are hard, the lives of the people who choose to help a stranger are enriched. Frank enriched his life by taking in Kirsten, and hers was enriched by his kindness.

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Station Eleven releases new episodes Thursdays on HBO Max.

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