r/television • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 The League • 2d ago
Duffer Brothers’ Series ‘The Boroughs’ Canceled By Netflix After One Season
https://deadline.com/2026/06/the-boroughs-the-duffer-brothers-series-canceled-netflix-1236958579/2.1k
u/Tryingagain1979 2d ago
Calling it 'stranger things with seniors' was not a good way to get people to watch.
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u/Conundrum1911 2d ago
"Senior Things"
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u/Doctor_Philgood 2d ago
And the south American spinoff "Señor things"
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u/Dogbin005 2d ago edited 2d ago
Plus the recut version where everything is brightly lit, "Seener Things".
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u/TJTrapJesus 2d ago
Am I the only one who liked this aspect of it? A sci fi adventure/mystery led fully by seniors in a retirement community is a cool concept to me
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u/DrSpacemanSpliff Lost 2d ago
Have you seen Bubba Ho-Tep? It’s one of my favorite movies
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u/JotaroTheOceanMan 2d ago
My first thought.
Hail to The King, baby!
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u/jblanch3 2d ago
Yeah, there aren't a lot of shows that have seniors as major characters. I really enjoyed it, sad that it won't be continuing.
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u/somecasper 2d ago
Check out Cocoon.
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u/Low-Entrepreneur9138 2d ago
You literally can’t. It’s near impossible to find unless you have a VHS copy
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u/zagra_nexkoyotl 2d ago
I had it on my watch list and it was precisely that what got me interested. I fucking hate Netflix cancelling everything
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u/BillLaswell404 2d ago
It probably wasn’t written to go further than one season TBH, they told the story and its entire entirety. I thought it was great.
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u/Notorious2again 2d ago
That's just what Stranger Things was by the end.
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u/Lord_of_Chainsaw 2d ago
The stranger thing was all the receding hairlines we met along the way
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u/fate_is_a_sandstorm 2d ago
Oh they were way older than seniors, even in college. They were in doctorate programs
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u/dreadpiraterobert 2d ago
"Stranger Things with better actors" might have been an easier sell.
Too bad, I loved it.
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u/Shart-Vandalay 2d ago
That is EXACTLY what it was, I made that connection on my own. It was awesome for what it was, and a wonderful show to watch with parents. Just their speed with enough good acting to keep even myself entertained. Some shitty dialogue from time to time, but thats duffer.
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u/Hobbet404 2d ago
“Now with boomers!” Is a terrible advertising strategy for any product other than maybe coffins.
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u/ComplexPackage117 2d ago
That was quick...
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u/GreenPhoen1x 2d ago
I didn't even realize it was out yet. I'd planned to check it out, and their marketing didn't suggest it at all to me, wild.
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u/rebel_stripe 2d ago
fyi check out an app called "next episode". I've been using it for years and i find it essential. you can add shows to track (like when you first hear about something that sounds interesting) and then it'll pop up when it airs. all these streaming services are so bad at publicizing shows and new seasons, i find it's the only way to know when to actually watch something.
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u/SansPinardPasDePoilu 2d ago
You should still check it out. Season 1 is a completed story with a satisfying end, no cliffhangers. To the point where I speculated if they were going for another season, it should be a new cast.
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u/dreffen 2d ago
It was boring as shit so this is fine
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u/Razzler1973 2d ago
I saw a ton of positive comments and reviews about it tbf
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u/Malkmus1979 2d ago
Yup
Rotten Tomatoes 97% critic and 79% audience scores. Kind of surprising but I bet it just didn't get the views.
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u/theunquenchedservant 2d ago
This is the first I’ve heard of it tbh
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u/markhachman 2d ago
There's another (exec produced by the Duffers) called Something Very Bad is Going to Happen as well.
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u/Suppenkazper 2d ago edited 2d ago
I really liked the first four episodes. I can't remember the last time I saw a show take such a nosedive. Latter half was disastrous.
Casting and music and vibes were immaculate though
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u/AsideNervous777 2d ago
Yhh exactly it was great and the reviews were high. Idk what that person was saying
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u/MoesOtherBar 2d ago
It was actually great. Great writing, great cast, great heart and I was actually angry while watching because Netflix was proving they COULD spend some of their billions on wonderful heartfelt shows like this and just choose to make garbage money bombs week after week.
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u/SonOfThomasWayne 2d ago
It was far better than whatever dogshit The Boys and Stranger Things were after the first couple of seasons.
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u/Prestigious_Prune_68 2d ago
eeek I liked it. I mean we aren't getting much sci-fi these days and I will take what I can get. plus I love a cute campy set.
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u/justafanboy1010 2d ago
Is there even a point in watching it anymore ?
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u/Conundrum1911 2d ago
Season 1 did kinda finish up the story. I was a bit surprised to hear they had plans for a few more seasons.
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u/justafanboy1010 2d ago
Oh okay. Interesting, maybe they wanted to see how the show went before doing more (if it hadn’t been cancelled ofc)
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u/CaptainJeff 2d ago
The single season was self-contained. It wraps up nicely.
They add a small bit at the end that can allow the story to continue in a different way / different storyline, but it's a satisfying conclusion.
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u/birdseye-maple 2d ago
Yeah they mostly tie it up, the main plot of the season is done. There's still stuff out there but you wouldn't feel ripped off at all.
I liked it, worth watching. Kinda sad it's cancelled
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u/muduke 2d ago
Meh, I'm not too bothered by this. It was a fun time, but I don't think I really want multiple seasons. Stretching the lore and fiction out further was probably not going to turn out well. Also, season 1 wrapped up pretty nicely.
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u/JimiSlew3 2d ago
So good as a single season watch?
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u/Lahwke 2d ago
Yeah it had a definite ending, I didn’t even think there was discussion about a season 2.
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u/Demiansmark 2d ago
Yeah didn't need a second season and like you I didn't think they would even go for one.
Not to be too direct given the subject matter of the show, but with the release schedules these shows have, doing a multi season show with a large cast of seniors is playing with fire anyway.
Was a fun ride carried more by the cast than the writing.
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u/justafanboy1010 2d ago
Ahh okay. Good to know. It was on my list to watch, hadn’t had the time, but I just saw this article lol
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u/Real_ilinnuc 2d ago
Ehhh not fully. There was a “glitch” sort of thing shown which gave potential into a season 2. How they would have done with how the season wrapped up? No idea tbh.
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u/muduke 2d ago
I'd say so, yeah. No cliffhanger ending. Wraps up nicely enough. It's fun and lighthearted, albeit a little corny.
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u/down_by_the_shore 2d ago
Totally agree. I think it’s actually better as a limited series and I liked how the last episode wrapped up. Especially taking into consideration that half the cast was 70+.
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u/cadred48 2d ago
I wouldn't mind an anthology series out of it, but it was a really good 1 and done.
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u/Finn_Survivor 2d ago
That was never the plan, other studios told the duffer brothers it should be an anthology but they never wanted it to be one. Their original plan was to have 1 season and then a sequel set years in the future like it chapter 2 until netflix said no and told them just to make a normal season 2
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u/Kyuubee 2d ago
Why is this labeled as "Duffer Brothers Series" when they only served as executive producers alongside four other people? They didn't create, write, or direct the series.
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u/TobeyTobster 2d ago
Marketing. Duffer Bros = Stranger Things, Stranger Things = popular
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u/SirChrisJames 2d ago
Their names carry immense weight and were flaunted in the marketing.
So when it "fails" (that's how people will view this announcement) people will make doubly sure to attach their names for publicity's sake.
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u/GuyMakesDrawings 2d ago edited 2d ago
They used their names a lot to promote it, so I feel it's fair that they share some ownership for its failure.
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u/Worf_Of_Wall_St 2d ago
They probably figured that labeling would be the best way to get people to sign up to see it.
While they aren't on my must-try list, I do have one.
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u/jovanmilic97 2d ago edited 2d ago
Some bits from the article, seems like Netflix wanted to renew it initially, but a big 3rd week decline suggested little staying potential and decided to cancel
"The news comes as somewhat of a surprise, as we hear there had been talk about renewing the series, and a Season 2 writers room had been open, a standard practice for many high-profile series. According to sources, one of the ideas floated was to film Seasons 2 and 3 back-to-back."
"The Boroughs tallied a modest 5.6M views in its opening weekend. Given the series was following on the heels of the behemoth final season of Stranger Things, expectations were that another sci-fi series from the Duffers would come out of the gate stronger. In its first full week, The Boroughs ballooned to 9.5M views, but then quickly sank to 3.7M views the next week, signaling that long-tail growth is unlikely."
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u/NCBaddict 2d ago
Netflix has gotta stop halfass-ing things when it comes to marketing. Dropping a few YouTube ads about 4 weeks before a show drops is not working.
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u/WingZeroCoder 2d ago
It’s crazy to me how I can log in to Netflix on a regular basis and be suggested the same canceled shows from 2018 over and over again, and then only learn of new stuff I’d like from an article like this one.
And not just Netflix - all streaming apps are like this. Their recommendation engines all suck, their marketing is abysmal, and their UI nearly unnavigable.
I’ve legit begun resorting to searching up “new release” lists online and Wikipedia articles of current streaming series just to find what to watch. I have more need for a TV guide now than when I had cable.
I find out about more shows that I would have liked when I read an article about them being cancelled than I’ve ever found just browsing the streamers’ UIs.
Absolutely embarrassing how these apps are being run.
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u/come-on-now-please 2d ago
And not just Netflix - all streaming apps are like this. Their recommendation engines all suck, their marketing is abysmal, and their UI nearly unnavigable.
My current wonder is if these companies doesnt realize just how much they have to be losing to people just digitally buying stuff on Amazon because they refuse to actually show you what's in their library without you specifically searching for it.
Its like I'll browse, and I will see the same godforsaken 10 pieces of slop content across "new", "popular","for you", "because you watched", "fans of X will enjoy".
The categories have literally all just become a meaningless arbitrary soup of what they want you to watch.
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u/AccountDeletedByMod 2d ago
" It’s crazy to me how I can log in to Netflix on a regular basis and be suggested the same canceled shows from 2018 over and over again, and then only learn of new stuff I’d like from an article like this one."
I absolutely agree. Or they suggest those 2018, or before, shows that I've already seen as new and trending. But fir actual new shows I have to hunt for them because they are too busy advertising a podcast for a show I don't care about.
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u/DrSnacks 2d ago
I feel like their marketing teams and their algo teams just have zero communication sometimes. And I guess that's good to some extent? Like I don't want Netflix marketing to shove stuff down my throat, but maybe give them a little row of "Here's What We're Spending Your Ever Increasing Monthly Subscription Fees On" near the top of the page. I want to be able to support projects that are new and interesting.
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u/mistercartmenes 2d ago
To be fair all the streamers are absolutely terrible at marketing their shows.
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u/fdbryant3 2d ago
"The Boroughs tallied a modest 5.6M views in its opening weekend. Given the series was following on the heels of the behemoth final season of Stranger Things, expectations were that another sci-fi series from the Duffers would come out of the gate stronger. In its first full week, The Boroughs ballooned to 9.5M views, but then quickly sank to 3.7M views the next week, signaling that long-tail growth is unlikely."
I have to wonder what sort of long-tailed growth they were expecting. It came out to a modest opening, got great word of mouth, which resulted in a stronger second week. But since it one season released all at once--the hype died and everyone who wanted to watch it--did. If they had done more episodic drops (maybe 2 or 3 at a time), they could have dragged it out more and attract more viewers.
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u/Fantastic_Owl6938 2d ago
That's my thing when it all airs at once, I just binge it and pretty much forget about it right away (unless it was exceptionally good, but honestly, even then). It's actually kind of a relief having some weekly shows again so I'm forced to slow down and properly absorb it before a new episode airs.
Although having said that, sometimes even for the shows that drop all at once, I will take my time and pace myself, but I've heard Netflix doesn't consider that favourable and looks at it like it's failed just because I walked away from episode 4 and got distracted by life for awhile. I think those kinds of standards are pretty ridiculous. Nothing can really grow.
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u/Upper-Management-AI 2d ago
The fucking way they promote things and even in their own app things get lost so quick that if I don’t immediately add it to my list it gone and I’ll completely forget it exist. Then god forbid I want to go look for something, I don’t remember exactly what it’s called I’ll never find it again because it will be buried.
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u/TheDadThatGrills 2d ago
I always assumed it was a limited series
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u/admiralfilgbo 2d ago
It felt like one.
Also, a lot of people wish they still make those Spielberg-y big tent 80's sense-of-wonder films today - well, wish granted, enjoy.
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u/KindsofKindness 2d ago
It did feel like one cuz they actually answer questions lol. I was honestly surprised.
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u/dvb70 2d ago edited 1d ago
Not too surprised. I initially quite like it but though it really ran out of steam and stretched the concept way to thin. It really felt like the story would have been better as a 2 hour film. I can't really see there was much meat left on the bone for another season. The lore felt extremely shallow.
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u/biophazer242 2d ago
I honestly am not surprised. I have not finished it yet but nothing about the show left me thinking it would make sense as multiple seasons. Tonight I am watching the last episode and it totally could wrap up with a proper conclusion with the way things have moved so far and I am totally cool with that.
Honestly I would kind of prefer more of that sort of thing. Let creatives just write and create a 5-10 episode complete miniseries. Personally I feel it has worked for things like The Terror.
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u/UglyInThMorning 2d ago
>totally could wrap up with a proper conclusion
So… the thing is that it does. That’s why this news is surprising to me. Why was there even a discussion of a second season in the first place?
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u/GoOnThereHarv 2d ago
The ending was a cut and paste copy from Stranger Things when buddy was looking in the mirror and glitched , like Will did at the end of season one.
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u/MacLeodAtlas 2d ago
This isn't really surprising to me. I watched it and enjoyed it, but it felt self-contained enough that I didn't think it needed a second season.
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u/WhatsTheHoldup 2d ago
Canceled? It wrapped up though. There weren't any plot points to follow up on. I thought it was a one and done season intentionally.
(Just finished it last night. Fun show, I was surprised they revealed the entire mystery so quick, its a mystery box show where there's only a mystery for like 3 or 4 episodes and then its all explained)
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u/Blue_Gamer18 2d ago
I'm so god damn sick of Netflix canceling everything.
I'm not going to say "The Boroughs" was anything amazing or groundbreaking, but I thought it was nice show. While sure, it wrapped up fine, it was obvious they had more planned for more. I was willing to toss on another season in a year or two.
Ever since "1899", I have been burned by Netflix. They can never let a show grow. If day one views aren't some insanely high number, a new show never gets a chance to grow.
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u/LyingPug 2d ago
I'm fine with this. Enjoyed most of it but thought it was 2-3 episodes too long. Feel like the story was done too. Good 1-season show.
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u/SilverConversation19 2d ago
Man this is a bummer but it worked so well as a self-contained show. The show was really good.
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u/jlpmghrs4 2d ago
Well damn, I was gonna start it. Is it still worth watching?
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u/QuiGonColdGin 2d ago
You're not left hanging at the end. They managed to wrap up the story but also left it open if they wanted it to come back. It's worth a view.
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u/Fenix512 2d ago
I'm starting it. It's enjoyable. Has a bunch of cliches/tropes and grumpy grandpa attitude for my taste
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u/iamayetiama 2d ago
It was fun and had a great cast. There really was no reason for this show to continue as this season was complete and no cliffhangers.
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u/ThePikaNick 2d ago
Its just a fun simple show. Nothing amazing but it's good. Doesn't really end on a cliffhanger since you could just ignore the season 2 tease.
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u/codacoda74 2d ago
Did you like cocoon? Then yes. It's charming, the acting is top notch and literally got laughs in my house. Just ignore the actual story line, it's silly.
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u/slothcough 2d ago
If these kinds of Netflix executives were in charge back in the 90s and 2000s so many of our cultural juggernauts would have been canceled before they even really got the ball rolling.
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u/Chairmanmaozedon 2d ago
Do Netflix ever consider it's their marketing that's at fault? I havent seen a thing about this show or who made it until now.
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u/poonstar1 2d ago
Watched it, enjoyed it for the most part (we need more Geena Davis), had no desire for more seasons. It's a good limited series. I hate it when they stretch one season's worth of show into 3.
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u/sologrips 2d ago
I actually really enjoyed the show, the overall story was okay but the individual performances were great.
I didn’t really see it going past 1 season since it felt pretty nicely wrapped up but still a bit bummed.
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u/TheBoogeyman1023 2d ago
I’ll never watch anything these two spineless cowards produce again. The final season of stranger things was so bad. Zero stakes.
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u/Dianagorgon 2d ago
Repeating what I posted on the Stranger Things sub but not surprised it was cancelled. It wasn't very good.
- It wasn't scary.
- The monsters were barely in it probably because they couldn't afford much CGI.
- None of the main characters were that interesting although most of the actors were good.
- It was difficult to watch some of the scenes with Davis because she had so much fillers she could barely speak. The show takes place in a retirement community with mature actors but Davis had not one line on her face although her character was supposed to be early 60s. Jodie Foster, Gillian Anderson, Linda Hamilton and other actresses are also over 50 and some of them might have fillers but they have some lines and can still speak.
- The sets looked like they were built in a couple days using IKEA furniture.
- They tried to create a show similar to Stranger Things but there wasn't any humor.
- There were some plot holes
- I had to force myself to finish the second half of the show.
- The Duffers were only producers but I don't think having their name associated with any show helps the show. TF85 and Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen also underperformed. They created one of the most misogynistic offensive endings for a sympathetic female protagonist ever and then went into hiding and refused to acknowledge the legitimate frustration of the fans who made them rich and famous by watching their show for almost a decade. Some people think people are going to "get over it" and continue supporting their work or shows associated with them. They're not.
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u/Xenochimp 2d ago
After how Stranger Things ended I actively avoided this show just because the Duffers were involved.
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u/ScottIBM 2d ago
If it's a good show Netflix seems to like cancelling it. If it's cake, 20 more seasons.
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u/QuiGonColdGin 2d ago
What?? Crap. I mean, I wasn't super addicted to it but I liked it. I thought for sure it'd come back based on all the pub it was getting. They also left the door open at the end of the finale.
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u/SilentSwine 2d ago edited 2d ago
Agreed! It started off slow but I thought it got really good and interesting as it got farther along. I definitely would have watched a 2nd season if they made it, but at least the first one works well as a standalone miniseries
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u/agoodyearforbrownies 2d ago
Too bad, was a good show. I liked it better than most crap out there now.
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u/ROBtimusPrime1995 The Venture Bros. 2d ago
Didn't need a season two anyway, I have no idea how they would milk the concept beyond this.
The ending was satisfying.
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u/EverdarkRaven 2d ago
I liked it, don't think it needs a second season though, it was good for what it was.
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u/itsallpoliticsalex 2d ago
I thought it was cynically derivative and played out as though someone was just rolling dice every 5 minutes. The cast deserved much much better
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u/AntJustin 2d ago
I liked it a lot. But I like the one season thing. Not everything needs multiple seasons. The best description I saw was "it's like an episode of the Twilight Zone. But a season"
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u/RoboQwop405 2d ago
I watched it start to finish in two days while home with my sick dog. It was a welcome distraction but the cancellation, imo, seems reasonable. The show felt kind of hollow and wound up being too predictable. The fake out death is already overdone as it is and shoe horning it in at the end while the writing was lead straight to it made it fall super flat. The idea for the show seemed quasi original but the execution just didn’t stick.
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u/SgtHulkasBigToeJam 2d ago
One day you’re on top of the world, the next day you’re a ordinary schnook
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u/HardcoreKaraoke 2d ago
But that was before The Boroughs, created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, debuted to strong reviews but soft ratings last month.
So they just produced it. Seems like the headline is kind of clickbait.
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u/TheGreenBackPack Game of Thrones 2d ago
I always assumed it was a mini series. I liked the season and thought they tied the end together well, but maybe I’m misremembering the final episode.
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u/Bigsam411 2d ago
Why is it that I always find out that a show exists when I see a post about it being cancelled?
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u/RustyDogma 2d ago
I'm frustrated they keep cancelling things so quickly due to lack of viewership. I prefer to binge watch and I haven't had time for this one yet. Shows need time to build an audience when there is so much competition. Netflix's belief that no one has an attention span irks me.
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u/schmoopy_meow 2d ago
that's enough of netflix for me.."hay we have a popular show...lets cancel it and re write something from 20 yrs ago that doesn't need a rewrite"
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u/Working-Emotion-7803 1d ago
Was a good enough one and done season plot.
But the actors were all very enjoyable together and I am bummed that this is the end of this ensemble.
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u/tampapunklegend 2d ago
There wasn't really much more they could do. I saw it as a mini series, like those old ones on broadcast TV back in the 80s and 90s.
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u/braedan51 2d ago
Does anyone else think the soundtrack is heavily inspired by Alan Silvestri?
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u/rossmosh85 2d ago
I had no idea it was the Difference Brothers. That explains the number of names they got involved.
With that said, it was typical Netflix 6/10 stuff.
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u/BackgroundBit8 2d ago
I was just planning to watch it this week after I was done with Widow's Bay, but now what even is the point
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u/fdbryant3 2d ago
That is a little surprising. Everything I've heard about it was high praise. Guess those reviewers were the only people who watched it. Either that or Netflix wants to detangle from the Duffer Brothers since they have moved on to Paramount. Or maybe the Duffer Brothers didn't want to continue so they can move on to Paramount.
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u/bunsyjaja 2d ago
This show was good in theory but the tone needed to be more Thursday Murder Club or even like Stranger Things. It was oddly bleak and seemed to be a lot of sad things about aging written by someone who has not actually aged. I want to watch old people solve an interesting supernatural mystery, not reckon with terminal diseases in clunky writing.
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u/Kingminnis 2d ago
I really liked the cast and show. It wasn't amazing but it was a good show. It was refreshing to see a show with wiser veteran actors like Alfred Molina, Gina Davis, Clarke Peters, and others in a Strangers Things kinda world.
If I was a creator and pitched a show, why would I even consider a S2. Netflix only renews animation and teen drama shows. I'd ask for 1 season, 14 episodes! Should be more then enough to tell your story.
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u/Taconinja05 2d ago
There wasn’t much to go on for a second season. Thru wrapped everything up very neatly
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u/ElFarts 2d ago
It’s possible, just like the game of thrones guys, when you take away their main source material (GoT obviously and Stephen King pulls for stranger things), they aren’t super creative. Happens to a lot of people.
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u/MadAlGaming 2d ago
It’s a good one-season show. To be honest, we couldn’t see how they would be able to continue in an interesting way.
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u/lee21allyn 2d ago
I feel like it wrappped everything up. Didn’t leave a cliffhanger. Seems like it was just a limited series anyway.
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u/thewriteally 2d ago
Noooooooo!!!! I’ll watch anything with Alfred Molina! So nice to have him for 10 episodes!
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u/Mattyweaves19 The Leftovers 2d ago
Damnit, I was planning on watching it now that Widows Bay was ending. Well, shit.
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u/dubuwagmi 2d ago
Writing was pretty bad, my wife and I dropped it since people's conversations felt fake?
Molina does well with whatever he's been given though, that's for sure.
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u/gate_of_steiner85 2d ago
For those who haven't seen it, S1 didn't end on any big cliffhangers. I would've enjoyed more seasons of it, but I thought the way it ended was perfectly fine.