Netflix viewers have been captivated by the Duffer Brothers' latest sci-fi series, The Boroughs, which has quickly risen to number one on the streaming platform's top 10 list. Following the controversial conclusion of Stranger Things and other projects like Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen and Stranger Things: Tales from '85, this new show has made a significant splash.
Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, The Boroughs is described as 'Stranger Things for pensioners.' It follows grieving widow Sam Cooper, played by Alfred Molina, who reluctantly moves to a desert retirement community and discovers something sinister lurking beneath its perfect surface. The series also stars Geena Davis, Alice Kremelberg, and Bill Pullman.
Fans have taken to social media to express their enthusiasm. One user, Gimlee, wrote, 'Safe to say I am HOOKED. The Duffer Brothers have a good one with this show.' Another, Michael Long, shared, 'If you like Steven Spielberg-esque sci-fi and Stranger Things, The Boroughs on Netflix is amazing.' Dibia declared that the show, along with recent releases like Legends and Man On Fire, has 'justified the subscription.'
Critics have also praised the series. Empire Magazine called it 'more than just a spiritual successor to Stranger Things,' while the Los Angeles Times described it as 'sentimental, sincere, sweet, a little silly, not overly concerned with making perfect sense.' The Times dubbed it 'unexpectedly entertaining,' and TV Insiders called it a 'supernatural romp that quickly sets a tone of terror tinged with humour.'
However, Metro's Senior TV Reporter gave a three-star review, noting that while the cast brings charm, the material feels thin and the mystery loses its grip. Despite this, the show holds a 95% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Co-creator Will Matthews shared with Deadline how the series came about: 'We thought: "Alright, this is it. We've got to do a show that you could only do with the Duffer Brothers behind you, super arty and weird." It was so pure. We were like: "Jeff loves monsters, and I identify as an older person." So we put those together.'
The Boroughs is available to stream on Netflix now. Its future beyond the first season has yet to be announced.
