After years of disappointments, it seemed like we were finally free from the dark days of the streaming era. Platforms have been embracing traditional TV models more readily, some releasing shows week-to-week instead of the tried-and-tested binge model. The scope of shows in the pipeline has also felt a little more diverse lately, more in line with the kind of stories coming out of streaming’s Golden Age.
Netflix’s The Boroughs felt like an especially promising addition to that new wave. Produced by the Duffer Brothers, the creators of Stranger Things, the original series could have just been a retread of the latter, only set in a retirement community. But The Boroughs ended up being so much more: Inverse’s own Dais Johnston rated it the best sci-fi thriller to grace the small screen this year, and a warm critical reception elsewhere seemed to agree. Even if it followed the misadventures of a group of retirees, characters who assume they’ve only got a few years left in them, The Boroughs had the potential to be the next major sci-fi saga for Netflix. Unfortunately, the streamer doesn’t seem to agree.
