The Boroughs (2026) Review

There is something undeniably refreshing about The Boroughs, Netflix’s latest supernatural mystery series from the creative minds of the Duffer Brothers. While comparisons to Stranger Things are inevitable, The Boroughs doesn’t merely imitate the formula. Instead, it cleverly flips it on its head. If Stranger Things is about a group of kids navigating extraordinary dangers, The Boroughs asks a simple question: what happens when the heroes are retirees instead?

The answer is surprisingly delightful.

In many ways, The Boroughs feels like Cocoon meets Stranger Things. In fact, one could easily nickname the series Older Things. It captures the same sense of mystery, camaraderie, and adventure that made the Duffer Brothers’ breakout hit such a cultural phenomenon while replacing bicycles and middle-school drama with golf carts, retirement homes, and decades of life experience.

Set within a seemingly peaceful desert retirement community, the series follows Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina), a recently widowed retired aeronautical engineer who reluctantly relocates to begin the next chapter of his life. What he expects to be a quiet retirement quickly turns into something far stranger as mysterious events begin unfolding around the community.

Soon Sam finds himself reluctantly joining forces with a colorful group of fellow residents. There’s Renee (Geena Davis), a former rock-and-roll music manager whose rebellious streak remains fully intact. Alfre Woodard shines as Judy Daniels, a retired journalist whose curiosity and investigative instincts refuse to fade with age. Clarke Peters provides warmth and wisdom as Judy’s deeply spiritual husband Art, while Denis O’Hare delivers one of the show’s most moving performances as Wally Baker, a retired doctor facing terminal cancer with humor and dignity.

Rounding out the ensemble are Bill Pullman as the endlessly charismatic Jack Willard, Jena Malone as Sam’s daughter Claire, Carlos Miranda as security guard Paz Navarro, and Seth Numrich as the mysterious CEO Blaine Shaw, whose true motivations remain one of the show’s central questions.

What makes The Boroughs work so well is its cast. The series wisely understands that audiences aren’t simply tuning in for supernatural mysteries; they’re showing up to spend time with these characters. Every member of the ensemble brings decades of acting experience to their role, and the chemistry between them feels authentic and effortless.

Much like Stranger Things, the series thrives on the relationships between its central group. However, the perspective here is entirely different. These aren’t children experiencing adventure for the first time. These are people who have lived full lives, suffered losses, experienced triumphs, raised families, and accumulated enough wisdom to approach danger from a unique perspective.

The result is a dynamic that feels both funny and heartfelt.

The show also benefits from a tone that remains consistently accessible. While the first episode establishes legitimate stakes and introduces an intriguing mystery, the Duffer Brothers continue a storytelling trend that became increasingly apparent in the later seasons of Stranger Things. Despite the dangers surrounding the characters, the series largely keeps its core cast protected from truly devastating consequences.

For some viewers, that may lessen the sense of danger. Yet for many others, it becomes part of the show’s charm.

This isn’t a grimdark thriller interested in traumatizing its audience. Instead, The Boroughs functions as a comfort mystery—one where viewers can enjoy tension and suspense without constantly worrying that beloved characters are about to meet a tragic end. The balance feels intentional. The threat is ever-present, but the show never becomes oppressive or emotionally exhausting.

That approach allows the series to focus on what it does best: entertaining.

The mystery itself unfolds at a satisfying pace, revealing enough clues to keep viewers invested without rushing toward answers. The supernatural elements are intriguing, and the show’s desert setting provides a unique atmosphere that distinguishes it from the forests and small-town Americana of Stranger Things.

Equally important is the humor.

The Boroughs frequently finds comedy in the everyday realities of aging without ever becoming mean-spirited. The characters may have aches, medications, and retirement community politics to navigate, but they are never treated as jokes. Instead, the comedy emerges naturally from their personalities and interactions.

Geena Davis, in particular, appears to be having an absolute blast as Renee, stealing scenes with sharp wit and fearless confidence. Bill Pullman similarly injects energy into every scene he occupies, while Molina anchors the entire series with a grounded, emotionally resonant performance.

Thematically, the show has more on its mind than monsters and mysteries. Beneath the supernatural plot lies a story about purpose, aging, grief, friendship, and the idea that adventure doesn’t have an expiration date. The series quietly argues that growing older doesn’t mean becoming irrelevant. If anything, the experiences accumulated over a lifetime can become a person’s greatest strength.

That message gives The Boroughs an emotional weight that elevates it beyond being merely another mystery box series.

Visually, the production looks excellent. Netflix clearly invested in the project, and the effects work blends seamlessly with the show’s practical locations and grounded performances. The Duffer Brothers once again demonstrate their knack for creating compelling worlds that feel both familiar and slightly off-kilter.

Ultimately, The Boroughs succeeds because it knows exactly what kind of show it wants to be. It isn’t trying to reinvent television. It isn’t interested in shocking audiences every episode or chasing prestige-drama darkness. Instead, it delivers a warm, funny, suspenseful supernatural adventure anchored by an exceptional cast of veteran performers.

Think Cocoon. Think Stranger Things. Then imagine those worlds colliding in a retirement community filled with unlikely heroes.

The result is The Boroughs, or perhaps more accurately, Older Things.

And that’s a compliment.

Gordo’s Score: 8/10