Netflix series The Boroughs is a fun exciting watch with plenty of heart
- Carla Davis
- Jun 12
- 3 min read
Matt and Ross Duffer (more commonly known as simply The Duffer Brothers) came to fame through their massive hit Netflix series Stranger Things. That series placed its focus on a group of kids (now young adults) who are having a 1980s blockbuster movie-type adventure involving a strange creature. With their new Netflix series The Boroughs, the Duffers, Jeffrey Addiss, and Will Matthews stick with a similar storyline, but they have taken a very different direction with the characters.
The Buroughs also features a group of best friends – only this time around, the friends are senior citizens living in a retirement community. What is great about the premise is that focus isn’t placed on these characters being feeble or sickly (though one has terminal prostate cancer). Instead, they react in much the same way the kids in Stranger Things, The Goonies, and ET would. They hatch a far-fetched plan, then set out to make it work.
Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina) is a recent widow, deeply grieving the loss of his wife Lilly (Jane Kaczmarek) due to a stroke. Prior to her death, Lilly had convinced Sam to move them to a community called The Boroughs, which is intended for senior citizens. Their home was already purchased when she passed away, so Sam is taken to his new place by his daughter Claire (Jenna Malone) and her husband.
Not at all happy with the idea of living in The Boroughs alone, Sam tries to cancel his contract with the owner Blaine, but is talked out of it (at least for now). The neighbors in his cul-de-sac are an interesting and friendly group. There’s fun playboy Jack (Bill Pullman), retired doctor Wally (Denis O’Hare), who has terminal cancer, married couple Art and Judy (Alfre Woodard and Clarke Peters), and former music manager Renee (Geena Davis).
Soon after arriving, Sam wakes up late one night to an alarm going off at one of his new friends’ homes, and gets a not-so-nice surprise when he walks over to check it out. He sees a terrifying looking creature bent over the neighbor’s now dead body.
Best friends always stick together in The Boroughs
Of course, nobody believes him at first. But just as those friend groups in those 80s movies would have, they eventually agree to help Sam figure out what is going on, and end up having quite the adventure in the process.
The Boroughs has an extremely solid cast, and each of the actors plays their part to round out characters you root for and care about. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the performances of Seth Numrich as Blaine Shaw, CEO of The Boroughs, and Alice Kremelberg as his wife Anneliese. Numrich has the smooth face of a Ken doll, a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and it’s pretty damned creepy.
There is plenty of adventure and scary excitement in The Boroughs, and I was fully invested in the story, as well as the characters. It’s nice to see older characters who are not portrayed in the stereotypical manner, who are ok with crawling through tunnels, and who are fully capable of out-smarting the evil folk who are manipulating everyone around them. Geena Davis is even given a romantic storyline involving a much younger security guard named Paz (Carlos Miranda).
The ending of The Boroughs leaves it open for a second season, and that’s something I am definitely on board with. In short, The Boroughs is a fun binge.
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