Duffer Brothers series ‘The Boroughs’ cancelled by Netflix after one season despite strong reviews

The supernatural drama reached Netflix’s Top 10 and earned critical acclaim before its abrupt end

Netflix has cancelled The Boroughs after just one season, bringing an early end to the supernatural mystery series backed by Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer.

The decision comes less than a month after the show premiered on the streaming platform. Despite earning strong reviews and appearing in Netflix’s Top 10 rankings, the series will not return for a second season.

Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, The Boroughs centred on a group of retirees living in a New Mexico retirement community who uncover a sinister mystery threatening their peaceful surroundings. The cast featured Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Bill Pullman, Clarke Peters and Denis O’Hare.

The series combined science fiction, horror and comedy while focusing on older protagonists, offering a different perspective from the younger cast featured in Stranger Things. The Duffer brothers served as executive producers on the project.

Reports indicated that additional seasons had been discussed, with the possibility of filming seasons two and three consecutively. However, those plans were ultimately abandoned.

According to industry reports, lower than expected viewing figures played a role in Netflix’s decision. Although the platform reported that more than two million viewers watched the series, the numbers apparently were not enough to justify continuing production.

Critical reception for The Boroughs remained highly positive. The series received a 97% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a strong audience rating. Acclaimed author Stephen King also publicly praised the show, describing it as an “absolute delight.”

The cancellation sparked disappointment among viewers on social media. Many fans argued that the programme offered a fresh concept and deserved more time to build an audience. Others suggested Netflix failed to adequately promote the series before and after its launch.

Some viewers, however, felt the first season delivered a complete story and believed another instalment was not essential because the main narrative had reached a natural conclusion.

The Boroughs represented one of the most high-profile projects linked to the Duffer brothers since the global success of Stranger Things. The cancellation adds to ongoing criticism from subscribers who have repeatedly questioned Netflix’s strategy regarding short-lived original series.

For now, the first and only season of The Boroughs remains available to stream on Netflix, allowing audiences to experience the complete story despite its unexpected ending.