Duffer Brothers Series ‘The Boroughs’ Cancelled by Netflix After Just One Season
That was quick. After just one season, Netflix has cancelled the Duffer Brothers produced sci-fi series, ‘The Boroughs’.
Ouch.
Despite the Duffer Brothers creating one of Netflix’s biggest hits in “Stranger Things” (you could argue THE biggest), Netflix has already cancelled sci-fi series “The Boroughs“, executive produced by the duo, after just one season, reports Deadline.
In The Boroughs, in a seemingly perfect retirement community, a grieving newcomer’s monstrous encounter inspires him to join a misfit crew of unlikely heroes who uncover a dark secret that proves their “golden years” are more dangerous, and they are more formidable, than anyone expects.
The cast includes Alfred Molina (Spider-Man: No Way Home, Three Pines) as Sam, Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise, Beetlejuice, A League of Their Own) as Renee, Alfre Woodard (Clemency, Salem’s Lot) as Judy, 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, The Serpent and the Rainbow) as Jack.
Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews created the show dubbed as “Stranger Things with seniors”.
The outlet notes “in its first full week, The Boroughs ballooned to 9.5M views, but then quickly sank to 3.7M views the next week, signaling that long-tail growth is unlikely.”
Of course, this comes after the Duffers left Netflix for a new deal at Paramount. So maybe the relationship isn’t exactly tip-top there. Still, the cancellation speaks to a larger issue I have with the state of television these days. Regardless of big names like the Duffers attached, a star-studded cast, and positive reception, so few titles are given time to grow an audience now.
Think about it. “The Boroughs” premiered on Netflix on May 21st. Less than a month ago. Hardly the amount of time a series used to be given to build word of mouth. Perhaps some of you weren’t even aware of it. And apparently, it’s good! But that doesn’t matter. If it’s not an immediate mega hit, it’s nothing. That’s unfortunate. It’s sad. And it creates a sorry ecosystem for television that has traditionally benefitted from gaining popularity over time.