Netflix’s The Boroughs Abruptly And Inexplicably Cancelled

You know what makes even less sense than an elongated spider-human monster emerging from your oven to suck on your brain-juice while you’re asleep? It’s cancelling a heavily hyped show from your top talent that’s performing really well and could have lasted longer. Netflix announced this evening that The Boroughs is no more.

The show was among a handful of post-Stranger Things projects to be produced by the Duffer Brothers for Netflix (PRODUCED, not written or directed…there’s a clear distinction; it means other people made most of the creative decisions). The series was about a bunch of senior citizens, led by new neighbor Alfred Molina, who investigate a weird alien conspiracy lurking below their seemingly peaceful retirement community.

The cancellation makes zero sense. The Boroughs is STILL in the Top Ten on Netflix’s menu. Other shows haven’t performed nearly as well and gotten renewed — I seriously doubt The Four Seasons has the audience size of The Boroughs. Here are the stats, which for once, are out there: 5.6 million views in the first weekend, 9.5 million views in its first week, and 3.7 million views in its second week. Sounds like a winner to us but what do we know. It’s possible the expense of all those stars and special effects played a role here.

So as it is, is The Boroughs still worth watching or will it leave you hanging? No, it will not. The first season told a complete story, explained everything and toppled the evil forces. There was a little “maybe this means something, maybe it doesn’t” moment, but it’s nothing that will haunt your waking dreams.

Deadline, who broke the story, says a writer’s room had been assembled to explore a possible Seasons Two and Three. The hope was for a double renewal, which they did not get. Since the other Duffer-produced show, Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen, was a miniseries and ended at one season intentionally, this means the only currently running Upside Down Productions show on Netflix is Stranger Things: Tales From 85. Go figure.