After delivering five seasons of the revolutionary sci-fi series and cultural phenomenon Stranger Things, The Duffer Brothers’ next big series, The Boroughs, has finally arrived on Netflix. While it’s not as groundbreaking, the show’s intriguing premise and highly-talented cast make it a follow-up that’s tough to pass on.
Oddly enough, the first big hook of The Boroughs comes through the set-up of its titular retirement community. Shortly after losing his wife Lilly (Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle), engineer Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina, Spider-Man 2) is sent to the idyllic retirement community The Boroughs – where an endless supply of comfort and activities makes those final years truly golden. On paper this place really does have an easy, euphoric aura that immediately gets your wheels turning about what’s really happening there. It’s not long until Sam and his fellow neighbors discover monstrous secrets and a wider conspiracy within that forces them to discover the truth before they succumb to a darker force. The Boroughs has such a great set-up that viewers will immediately immerse themselves into and evokes the Duffer Brothers’ distinct talent for tapping into nostalgia.
The Boroughs’ ever-present ‘50s-clad alien-conspiracy undertones truly feel ripped from a pivotal era of sci-fi stories – with some modern underpinnings, of course. John Paesano’s Amblin-inspired score sews in this curious sense of fantasy. The surrounding desert gives major Roswell vibes. Hell, all we need is some black-and-white and this series would be fully ‘50s sci-fi at its finest.
As we meet our central batch of elderly protagonists, the chemistry and personalities of the cast become irresistibly charming. Molina is such a perfect lead as he portrays Sam’s cold, calculated, and damaged persona flawlessly. It’s funny how Sam doesn’t want to be at The Boroughs initially and tries to go through hoops to leave while delivering snarky remarks that’ll make you snicker. He can be cold to new things, especially without Lilly by his side anymore, and struggles to accept both his aging and this inescapable chapter in his life.
Yet, you quickly grow to love how capable he is as this alien threat enters the picture. Molina leads this burning curiosity for the truth you easily latch onto. Even better, he’s able to eke out an emotional core full of heartache. Every flashback or reminder of Lilly creates a tender warmth and his arc within the series as a caring hero is something viewers will love. It’s an excellent performance from Molina, and he’s surrounded by equally amazing generational talent.
It’s super refreshing to see the likes of Geena Davis, Bill Pullman, Alfre Woodard, and Clarke Peters play around in this world and fuel emotional threads that offer a genuine heart and adventurous spirit. It’s a generation of talent we don’t see together as often in a big-budget series anymore, and they honestly kill it with the charming lines and bonds they build. And too, it’s a total treat to see Denis O’Hare in a non-Ryan Murphy project.
It’s also pretty great how the series’ focus on older characters adds surprisingly unique thematic layers to its sci-fi, some parts coming of age narrative. Whether it’s how these characters are disregarded because of their age or basically treated like a manipulatable food source by an under-the-surface antagonist, the series definitely builds a perspective surrounding what it means to live in those later years. It’s a different type of coming of age narrative that most will resonate with. There are also huge emotional scenes, especially between Sam and Lilly, that leave you misty-eyed and other personal stories are layered in to keep things somber.
It’s what makes The Boroughs instantly stand out, and these thematic threads weave perfectly into the slow-developing mystery. Right from the opening sequence that teases the series’ main alien threat, you love trailing every breadcrumb that appears and can’t help but want to fall deeper down the rabbit hole. Every discovery is a satisfying step toward the truth, and some simplistic world-building that makes you feel like you can really sink your teeth into the lore and history of this conspiracy. Plus, there are good twists and turns that keep you on your toes and stunning visuals that instill some awe-inspiring fantasy – especially when it comes to these terrifying, yet awesome-looking creatures.
Frankly, The Boroughs has all the makings of a great follow-up to Stranger Things for the Duffer Brothers – but not without some drawbacks. The pacing drags quite a bit throughout each episode as the mystery doesn’t develop as fast as you’d want. Despite some great performances, the storylines tied to Sam’s cohorts and their character development lack depth. Most of the time, they just come off like filler or are saddled with “older character” tropes like May-December romances or fracturing marriages. Since the series doesn’t do much with them anyway, assigning these tropes prevents them from leaving a lasting mark. Maybe if The Boroughs is renewed for more seasons they could become something special, but right now they just keep us from the bigger, better mystery at hand.
Yet, even when the series has a good emotional pull on you, it’s not reaching its full potential. For instance, there’s a heart-to-heart between Sam and his neighbor Jack (Pullman) about not living in the past. It feels real and comes after an overwhelming moment for Sam that cuts deep. But, it slowly devolves into less serious dialogue about golf that takes away from some of its impact. There are lots of moments like this throughout, and while it still gets the general point across, the series often misses out on reaching a greater depth with its bigger ideas.
So, is The Boroughs the next great thing after Stranger Things for the Duffer Brothers? No, mainly because some lackluster threads and pacing will keep it from being truly great. However, The Boroughs is undeniably special for the old soul it provides through its characters and hooky sci-fi mystery. Molina and company give heartwarming performances that viewers will easily adore, and there’s something below the surface that keeps you wanting more.
