The Boroughs – Television review by Andrea Carnevali

Denis O’Hare, Alfred Molina and Geena Davis in The Boroughs

The Boroughs ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This new Netflix series is entertaining, eerie, heartfelt, and just clever enough to keep you hooked from one episode to the next.

It has the fingerprints of the Duffer Brothers all over it, tapping, once again, into that same 80s-shaped nostalgia they do so well, evoking those iconic Amblin films and TV series many of us grew up with. Even the soundtrack itself seems to have been ripped straight from Back to the Future.

The biggest influence is certainly Ron Howard’s Cocoon (1985).

Like in that film, the premise here sees a group of older people living in a retirement community, and just like in that film, the themes of ageing, decline, and the end of life run underneath everything. All of which gives the series an emotional weight deeper than your average mystery show. It’s not just about the strange village and a (possible) monster lurking in the background, but it’s also about what happens when people feel forgotten and when time starts closing in (in fact, that’s the best part of the series).

The first thing that strikes you from the first episode (there are 8 of them, by the way) is the incredible cast. From Bill Pullman to Alfre Woodard (remember her in Desperate Housewives?) to Geena Davis, who looks about 20 years younger than she actually is (though she had so much done to her face that her mouth barely moves and she talks through her teeth most of the time).

Alfred Molina is the big revelation here, finally in a role where he can really show his acting chops.

Denis O’Hare is also superb: he’s been one of those great character actors who’s always left a mark even in his tiniest roles, so it’s a pleasure to see him finally given a role this substantial.

The script is very, very sharp, and that’s probably what makes the series work better than it has any right to. The writing doesn’t just keep the pace moving but balances humour and melancholy perfectly. The story about older people being pushed into this ‘perfect village’ and slowly realising something is off is delicious and intriguing enough to keep you hooked and carry you through the sillier elements.

Because yes, there are flaws. The part of the story with the ‘villains’ doesn’t work as well as the stuff with our main ‘heroes’, and some of the monster stuff, especially towards the end, just about holds together, but is done with tongue-in-cheek to let you know that even they know it’s silly.

It’s when the show allows itself to slow down and sit with these older characters that it really shines and becomes a much more affecting affair than you might expect.

The last episode probably feels a bit rushed. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it could honestly have done with maybe an extra episode, just to let everything breathe a little more and give the final developments more room to land properly.

Still, overall, I thought this was an incredibly addictive and very well-crafted series that gets by on atmosphere, smart writing, strong performances, and a surprisingly tender heart. And that’s more than enough to make it worth the watch.

Streaming on Netflix.

Andrea Carnevali is a Bafta winning film maker who lives in Chiswick, and a co-creator of the Chiswick In Film festival.