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Season 1 – The Boroughs

Play trailer 2:28 Poster for Season 1 – The Boroughs May 2026 Drama Adventure Mystery & Thriller Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 69 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don't have, time.
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The Boroughs — Season 1

The Boroughs — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

The Boroughs exudes excellence through its wonderfully plotted sci-fi trappings, star-studded cast, heartfelt narrative, and genuine ingenuity; a new classic through-and-through.

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Audience Says

A slightly addictive sci-fi, creature-driven mystery, The Boroughs isn’t just for Boomers -- it’s a rewarding, star-studded binge steeped in atmosphere and corny charm, with broad appeal.

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Critics Reviews

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David Bianculli NPR Jun 4
It's all good fun, even when it scores some serious points and has some serious scenes about death and dementia and loneliness. The cast is more than up to it all, and there are younger cast members contributing, too. Go to Full Review Peter Travers The Travers Take May 29
3/4
It’s been called ‘Stranger Things’ for seniors, but it’s so much more as Geena Davis and Alfred Molina lead a cast of A-listers as retirees who take on aliens, aging and a society that sees them as invisible. Go to Full Review Wenlei Ma The Nightly (AU) May 28
The Boroughs makes literal the fears we all have about obsolescence and the end of life – that we’ll all be shunted and hidden away in a special place when we’re no longer of any use, just waiting to die. Go to Full Review Louise Griffin Radio Times 1d
3/5
In between the missteps and monsters, The Boroughs is ultimately a heartfelt and charming series that poses a fair few questions about life, ageing and death – and asks just how far you’ll go for the ones you love. Go to Full Review Laura Fernández El Pais (Spain) 1d
To say that The Boroughs, as has been said, is a Stranger Things “for adults”...is to oversimplify a show that...nonetheless explores an interesting and practically untouched territory for the contemporary (horror) genre. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Neely Swanson Beverly Hills Courier 2d
The writing is tight, the pace is heart-quickening, and the acting is superb. “The Boroughs” cleverly intersperses the outlandish with the real-world frustrations of being discarded after a certain age, interweaving the real with the surreal. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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James H @Flatscreenfocus 7h Entertaining. Good acting See more Dinty M @Dinty 15h Not perfect but given the state of the world, harmless. I am enjoying each episode especially as many of the cast are my generation See more Pat M. @Patmbaseball 21h The writing was actually some of the worst I have seen for a tv show. The finale didn’t make sense. I was constantly saying “Why would they do that”. See more Matthew D. @dalymatt16 22h Family and I really enjoyed it - many shows try and do the same thing but fail someway in the middle. This was entertaining start to finish See more Hugh R @RT28758373 1d An intriguing concept and one of the best title sequences I've seen in years... By my god, if this isn't the cheesiest, most lazily-written dialogue I've seen in ages. Sam Cooper, a grieving husband who doesn't want your help, doesn't want your apology and doesn't even want your thanks. Wife and I were scoffing with each clichéd line. See more Martin C @MTC0618 1d Absolutely awful, had great hopes it would get better but ended up wasting about 6 hours of my life. Honestly how can anyone give this *****? If The Boroughs is a 5 what would Breaking Bad be? See more Read all reviews
The Boroughs — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Bill Pullman

Actor

Jena Malone

Actor

Alfred Molina

Actor

Geena Davis

Actor

Clarke Peters

Actor

Alfre Woodard

Actor

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 21, 2026 Welcome to the Boroughs When grieving widower Sam Cooper reluctantly moves to a desert retirement community, he discovers something is lurking beneath its perfect surface. Details Episode 2 Aired May 21, 2026 The Mourning After Still reeling, Sam seeks answers close to home; Renee gets a break in the case of the missing minerals; Judy and Wally face up to painful realities. Details Episode 3 Aired May 21, 2026 A Pyramid Sam and Wally decide to take a risk; Renee and Paz's investigation brings them closer together; Art seeks answers in the desert. Details Episode 4 Aired May 21, 2026 Forbidden Fruit Art savors the fruits of his explorations; Blaine warns Sam that curiosity comes with consequences; Renee makes a shocking discovery. Details Episode 5 Aired May 21, 2026 Another Beautiful Day Sam, Judy and Wally uncover a new side of the Boroughs; Renee and Paz go on a road trip; Blaine tries to convince Claire to take action. Details Episode 6 Aired May 21, 2026 The Grey Rebellion With the entire gang under Blaine's thumb, Sam desperately seeks a way out; Art and Judy hit a breaking point; Wally gets a taste of a new life. Details Episode 7 Aired May 21, 2026 Time to Go As the anniversary party approaches, Anneliese reveals a painful secret; the gang gets in gear for a high-stakes rescue mission at the Manor. Details Episode 8 Aired May 21, 2026 Triple Audible With Blaine and Anneliese desperate to capture Mother, Sam and his friends put it all on the line to save their neighbors and set things right. Details
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The Boroughs — Season 1

The Boroughs: Season 1 Teaser - Welcome to the Boroughs The Boroughs: Season 1 Teaser - Welcome to the Boroughs 0:30 The Boroughs: Season 1 Featurette - Welcome to The Boroughs The Boroughs: Season 1 Featurette - Welcome to The Boroughs 3:47 The Boroughs: Season 1 Trailer The Boroughs: Season 1 Trailer 2:28 The Boroughs: Season 1 Teaser The Boroughs: Season 1 Teaser 1:48 View more videos
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The Boroughs — Season 1

The Boroughs View more photos

Season Info

Director
Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Screenwriter
Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 21, 2026