‘I STARTED ONE EPISODE… AND SUDDENLY IT WAS 3AM’ — NETFLIX’S NEW 80S-INSPIRED MYSTERY IS BEING CALLED AN ‘ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE’ AFTER JUST DAYS ONLINE

Executive produced by The Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things, Wayward Pines), the sci-fi show is set in a seemingly perfect retirement community and centres around Sam (Alfred Molina), a grieving newcomer.

Denis O'Hare as Wally, Alfre Woodard as Judy, Alfred Molina as Sam and Clarke Peters as Art in The Boroughs© COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Denis O’Hare as Wally, Alfre Woodard as Judy, Alfred Molina as Sam and Clarke Peters as Art in The Boroughs

When Sam experiences a monstrous encounter, he’s inspired to join a misfit crew of unlikely heroes who uncover a dark secret that proves their “golden years” are more dangerous and formidable than anyone expects.

Dubbed as Stranger Things for the older generation, the drama has also been compared to The Thursday Murder Club and is perfect for sci-fi fans who can’t resist an unlikely group of people binding together to face otherworldly beings. Plus, with a stellar ensemble cast including Geena Davis, Bill Pullman and Denis O’Hare, it’s sure to be one of Netflix’s latest binge-worthy hits.

What have viewers said about The Boroughs?

While the show only landed on Netflix on Thursday, it has been met with a warm welcome from viewers. One person on Rotten Tomatoes wrote praised: “An absolute masterpiece, a must-watch. The Duffer Brothers definitely know how to choose a story. I can’t wait to see what they do with this series, I’d like them to continue the story.”

The series has also gone down a storm with critics, with Variety penning: “Boasting a fantastic cast that brings this ensemble of intricate characters to life, The Boroughs turns a familiar genre on its head, allowing audiences to consider from a different vantage point the constraints of the human experience, what it means to be fearless and the finality of death.”

Geena Davis plays Renee© COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Geena Davis plays Renee

Meanwhile, The Guardian wrote: “A retirement village Scooby gang of heroes take on a horrific creature in a series that is funny, tender, wise,” while The Times added: “Part Thursday Murder Club, part Stranger Things, The Boroughs is an unexpectedly entertaining mix of adventure and wonder, drama and humour.”

What is The Boroughs about?

The eight-part series is set in a seemingly idyllic retirement village, located in the sun-drenched expanse of the New Mexico desert.

The synopsis reads: “But for new arrival Sam Cooper, paradise feels more like a prison. Everything changes when a terrifying nighttime encounter reveals that something monstrous is stalking the manicured cul-de-sacs.

The Boroughs has already been hailed as a masterpiece© COURTESY OF NETFLIX
The Boroughs has already been hailed as a masterpiece

“Dismissed by the powers that be as just another confused old man, Sam finds unlikely allies in a band of neighborhood misfits: a sharp-witted former journalist, a spiritual seeker, a cynical music manager and a brilliant doctor running out of options.

“Overlooked and underestimated, these unlikely heroes must band together to unravel the dark truth at the heart of The Boroughs before their time runs out.”

Who stars in The Boroughs?

Alfred Molina (Spider-Man: No Way Home, Three Pines) leads the series as Sam, while Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own) plays Renee and Alfre Woodard (Clemency, Salem’s Lot) is Judy.

Rafael Casal as Neil, Alfred Molina as Sam, Jena Malone as Claire Cooper, Eldon Jones as Cody and Emilia Faucher as Ella © COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Rafael Casal as Neil, Alfred Molina as Sam, Jena Malone as Claire Cooper, Eldon Jones as Cody and Emilia Faucher as Ella

They’re joined by Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story, This Is Us) as Wally, Clarke Peters (The Wire; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) as Art and Bill Pullman (The Sinner, Independence Day) as Jack.

What have the creatives said about The Boroughs?

The series comes from showrunners and executive producers Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), who explained that the show is a culmination of their childhood dreams.

Alice Kremelberg as Anneliese Shaw, Beth Bailey as Kayleigh, Seth Numrich as Blaine Shaw, Anisha Adusumilli as Phyllis, Moses Jones as Reed © COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Seth Numrich plays Blaine Shaw

“When Jeff was a child, all he did was draw monsters. And when Will was a child, he started planning for his retirement,” they told Tudum. “So a show about a group of retirees who fight monsters really plays to both our strengths. The result is an adventure about a group of unlikely heroes that we can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with.”

All eight episodes of The Boroughs are available to watch on Netflix.