The Boroughs Review
Director: Augustine Frizzell, Kyle Patrick Alvarez and Ben Taylor
Date Created: 2026-05-21 15:29
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The Boroughs Review: Directed by Augustine Frizzell, Kyle Patrick Alvarez and Ben Taylor, Netflix’s new supernatural mystery drama stars Alfred Molina as Sam Cooper alongside Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters and Jena Malone in major roles. Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, this is an 8-part series which combines sci-fi horror, mystery, and heart-warming drama into a compelling and surprisingly moving narrative. Although it is obvious that the series borrows some stylistic elements from the plot of Stranger Things, what makes the drama work is the emphasis it puts on human emotions, especially the pain of growing old.
The Boroughs Review
In the very beginning of the Netflix series The Boroughs, we see Sam Cooper, perfectly portrayed by Alfred Molina, entering the retirement home known as “The Boroughs” after having lost his wife, Lily, only a few months before. In the opening episode, it is made quite obvious that Sam has no place here emotionally. Lily had always dreamed of living in this community in their golden years, but now, without her, Sam is left to fend for himself amidst people he barely knows, who are constantly reminding him of what he has lost. His resentment quickly becomes one of the most defining emotional elements of the show.
Netflix’s The Boroughs, at first glance, seem very ordinary. The inhabitants have parties, games, gossip about each other, and freely talk about their health issues as though they are weather reports. Boroughs is an attractive community with brightly colored houses and golf cars, with everything in place. However, the strangeness begins creeping up gradually beneath the surface.
This becomes evident after Sam discovers that Edward, the former occupant of his home, is now residing in the assisted living facility of the community named The Manor. Edward begins to rant incessantly about a monster existing somewhere inside the walls of his house, and everybody assumes he is insane. However, the show has begun piecing together small, inexplicable mysteries into larger puzzles. These include unusual sounds coming from nowhere at night, bizarre thefts of objects made of quartz, and birds dropping out of the sky.
The reason why this series works well is because of the slow process of uncovering secrets, as opposed to disclosing everything all at once. Each episode brings more information about the secrets buried within the retirement home. While one episode shows how residents have found out about their blue-colored blood after a frightening experience, another episode reveals photographs that bring up frightening facts about some of the residents who seem never to age.
As Sam begins his investigation, he gradually assembles an odd team of people, which includes not only him but also Jack, Renee, Judy, Art, and Wally. Their chemistry really seems to become the core of the entire series. Rather than teenagers riding their bikes, we have elderly residents in golf carts looking for the solution to the paranormal conspiracy. It sounds utterly absurd at first glance, but writing is convincing.
Jack, played by Bill Pullman, for instance, is particularly notable since he always provides a touch of warmth and laughter whenever the plot seems to get a bit too serious. Unlike Sam, who is headstrong, Jack is amiable, positive, and social, thus offering some wonderful pairing opportunities between the two actors. Another actress who gives the audience some interesting moments is Geena Davis in the role of Renee as she gradually opens up about her personal conflicts and issues. Furthermore, Alfre Woodard and Clarke Peters deliver excellent performances as married couple Judy and Art.
It should also be noted that the Netflix The Boroughs series succeeds in its approach to the process of ageing. Here, the elderly are not portrayed as frail beings doomed to die. On the contrary, their age is presented as something that makes them adventurous, curious, romantic and rebellious at heart. Yet at the same time, it does not neglect the bitter aspects of growing old. There is an abundance of plots related to sickness, forgetfulness and fear of dying alone.
Without going into much detail regarding any spoilers, both the monster and the conspiracy that lies behind The Boroughs have a strong connection with the notion of time being stolen from individuals. Ageing and being made to feel invisible because of that process is a theme which is frequently explored in the series, using horror elements as a medium for doing so.
On the other hand, however, the elements of horror remain quite effective. Firstly, the monsters look scary, but not in a clichéd way, while the program does not overdo anything, avoiding too early revelations and showing off its scary elements. Secondly, the main source of fear lies in uncertainty rather than in shock effects. The feeling of fear is created by episodes when people use underground tunnels and rooms and have nighttime meetings.
Pacing is not always going to be everyone’s cup of tea, though. Given that the characters and their connections take some amount of time to build, those who are looking for continuous horror might be a little bored in the early episodes. There is also the issue of certain middle episodes being repetitive before progressing the story further. Personally, though, I enjoyed the slow pace as it enabled proper emotive scenes.
On the visual side, this is definitely one helluva show. Having the bright suburbia coupled with the sinister subterranean mysteries in the background adds to the stark contrast seen throughout the entirety of the season. The retirement community setting itself has a rather eerie atmosphere, with a hint of cosiness thrown in for good measure.
Netflix The Boroughs Review: Summing Up
Overall, The Duffer Brothers’ The Boroughs was able to pleasantly surprise me for all the right reasons. This seemingly odd supernatural thriller gradually becomes something else altogether: an emotional tale of grieving, friendship, and facing death. It successfully combines comedy, drama, and tension in ways that I never thought possible, and the acting by everyone involved makes the story that much more believable. There are some minor problems with pacing, but the whole thing is very gripping nonetheless.
