TV cancellations during strong streaming ratings are rare. Unfortunately, that was the case for The Boroughs, the Duffer Brothers’ Netflix series. It was announced on a Wednesday that the sci-fi series was axed by Netflix one month after its premiere and a few days before the Emmys. The Boroughs had support from a star-studded cast including Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, and Bill Pullman. The Duffer Brothers, producers of Stranger Things, also backed this project. (Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews of Off Franklin Productions are the creators of the show.) Another positive element of The Boroughs is that it targeted senior citizens. (Cocoon is a good comparison.)
The Boroughs was successful
In its first four days, The Boroughs landed in second place on netflix cancels popular series the residence Top 10 English-language TV Shows with 5.6 million views. During its first full week, it became number one with 9.5 million views. It kept the momentum going for the next week, landing in fourth place with 3.7 million views. Between June 8 and June 14, The Boroughs received 2 million views, landing it in the 8th spot. It was officially canceled on June 17, one day after Netflix released the fourth week viewing stats.
Today, Nielsen published its streaming charts for the first week of The Boroughs and ranked it at #2, behind only Nemesis, another Netflix series. (Nielsen’s streaming ratings are reported four weeks after the initial air date).
The series scored big with critics too. The Boroughs’ Rotten Tomatoes score is at 97% (with 91% coming from “Top Critics”). (So, not all of them are big fans; The Hollywood Icon’s own Angie Han said The Boroughs is a “clunky geriatric spin on Stranger Things” but still said the series is “perfectly watchable”). The audience score is 79%.
“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,” said the logline for The Boroughs.
The 5 Boroughs
The Boroughs’ picturesque retirement community brings in new residents, new families and new friends. The official synopsis calls The Boroughs a retirement community that, “promising its residents the time of their lives.” But, “paradise” feels like a “prison” for new arrival Sam Cooper the 5 boroughs (Molina). “Everything changes” after Sam has a “terrifying nighttime encounter” with “something monstrous” stalking the “manicured” streets of the cul-de-sac. After dismissing Sam as “just another confused old man,” the “powers that be” realize they have an army of “neighborhood misfits” on their hands. This army is made of a “sharp witted,” former journalist, a “spiritual seeker,” a “cynical” music manager and a “brilliant doctor” that is “running out of options.” Together, this “band of heroes” will have to be “overlooked” and “underestimated” to “unravel” the mysteries of The Boroughs before their time runs out.
The time on this series has quickly ran out. Why?
According to two sources, The what are the 5 boroughs of nyc production budget was extremely high, and that is true. The Boroughs’ budget is said to be “around” ten million a piece. The real number is, “materially higher,” said a second source. Netflix has a rule of thumb where they weigh cost against viewership while considering renewals and cancellations. The Boroughs’ viewership was good, but not “Wednesday” good.
The apparent, not-so-private opinion from the first source during the Hollywood Reporter interview is that high-level Netflix executives viewed Matt and Ross Duffer signing a four-year deal with Paramount as a betrayal. The source described the state of relations as “difficult” since the Duffers “shamed” the company when they left. This claim is being denied by a source closer to Netflix, who said it is being blown out of proportion and that the deal was purely a business call.
The current management at netflix cancels popular series the residence is not the group that approved The Boroughs. The original project heads were Peter Friedlander and Blair Fetter, who have since moved to Amazon MGM Studios. Former Netflix executives Cindy Holland and Matt Thunell are now at Paramount and are delighted about working with the Duffers. The Duffers’ deal at Paramount encompasses TV, film, and (linear and digital) streaming. Just before the breaking news of The Boroughs being canceled, Paramount had set an official release date for Matt and Ross’ secret event movie for November 3, 2028. This is not the reason the news of The Boroughs cancellation came out when it did.
In fact, on June 15, Netflix also let the contracts for The Boroughs cast members expire. This decision finalized the cancellation of the series. The same multiple sources confirmed that The Boroughs is not being revived. Being both the studio and the platform means that The Boroughs is completely owned by Netflix and they are not going to sell it to a competitor like Paramount.
Multiple projects in development at Netflix with the Duffers still good relationship with the source close to the Duffers.
