The Boroughs Review: The Duffer Brothers Prove They’re More Than Stranger Things

The Boroughs Review: The Duffer Brothers Prove They’re More Than Stranger Things

When Netflix announced The Boroughs, the new supernatural mystery series from The Duffer Brothers, it was hard not to wonder if lightning could strike twice.

After all, these are the creators behind the global phenomenon Stranger Things, one of Netflix’s biggest original series of all time. Expectations were sky-high, and if we’re being honest, there was a legitimate concern that anything following Stranger Things might feel like a lesser imitation of their own success.

Surprisingly, The Boroughs isn’t that.

It’s stranger, slower, and far more mysterious than expected.

The series takes its time getting started. The opening episodes move deliberately, focusing on atmosphere, character development, and the growing sense that something isn’t quite right beneath the surface. Some viewers may find the pacing slow at first, but those willing to stick with it are rewarded with a fascinating mystery that gradually expands into something much bigger.

What makes The Boroughs interesting is that it feels almost like the kind of story that could have existed inside the original anthology concept that Stranger Things was once rumored to become. While the Duffers have made it clear this is not connected to the Stranger Things universe, there are enough similarities in tone, mystery, and supernatural dread to make fans feel immediately at home.

The biggest strength of the show is its cast.

Geena Davis delivers a performance that is impossible to ignore. Her character is intriguing, mysterious, and often difficult to read. There are moments where her delivery feels unusual, almost as if she’s speaking with very little jaw movement, which creates a strange presence that somehow fits the show’s unsettling atmosphere. Whether intentional or not, it makes every scene feel just a little bit off in the best possible way.

And yes, for many viewers of a certain generation, The Boroughs may also serve as a reminder of exactly why Geena Davis was such a massive star. Seeing her back in a major genre project is one of the show’s biggest highlights.

The standout performance, however, might belong to Alfred Molina.

Molina brings a level of gravitas and emotional weight that anchors the series. Every scene he’s in feels important, and he manages to balance vulnerability, intelligence, and curiosity in a way that makes him one of the most compelling characters on screen. It’s another reminder why he’s one of the most reliable character actors working today.

The supporting cast is equally strong, featuring performances from Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, and Carlos Miranda. Together they create a world that feels lived-in, layered, and filled with secrets.

The biggest criticism?

Questions.

Lots of questions.

By the end of the season, viewers are left wondering what exactly is happening beyond the veil of the story. Is this an alien invasion? Interdimensional beings? Ancient gods? Parallel worlds? Some entirely new mythology? What happened to the mothers? What is really driving the events unfolding throughout the series?

The show provides enough answers to keep viewers engaged while simultaneously opening dozens of new mysteries.

Thankfully, Netflix has already renewed The Boroughs Season 2, meaning the Duffer Brothers will have an opportunity to expand the mythology and hopefully answer some of the questions that linger after the finale.

Overall, The Boroughs is not the Stranger Things clone many feared it might become. Instead, it’s a unique supernatural mystery that stands on its own while still carrying the DNA that made the Duffer Brothers famous.

It’s atmospheric, intriguing, occasionally frustrating, and full of unanswered questions but it’s also one of the more interesting original series Netflix has released recently.

If you’re a fan of Stranger Things, supernatural mysteries, science fiction, horror, alternate dimensions, unexplained phenomena, or character-driven mysteries, The Boroughs is absolutely worth your time.

More importantly, it reminds viewers that the Duffer Brothers may have more worlds left to build after all.