Netflix has cancelled ‘The Boroughs,’ the sci-fi drama from ‘Stranger Things’ creators Matt and Ross Duffer. The show will not return for a second season.
The cancellation comes less than a month after the show’s premiere. It is the latest example of Netflix moving quickly on shows that fail to build a large audience.
About the show
‘The Boroughs’ was set in a retirement community in the New Mexico desert. The story followed Sam Cooper, a grieving newcomer who discovers the community hides a dark secret. He joins a group of fellow residents to fight an otherworldly threat.
The show was often described as ‘Stranger Things’ with senior citizens. It shared a similar mix of small town mystery and supernatural danger, but swapped out kids for retirees.
Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews created the series. They also served as showrunners. Matt and Ross Duffer were executive producers.
The cast
The show featured a well known cast. Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters and Bill Pullman led the ensemble. Carlos Miranda, Jena Malone, Seth Numrich and Alice Kremelberg also appeared.
How it performed
‘The Boroughs’ premiered on Netflix on May 21. It opened with 5.6 million views in its first weekend. That number grew to 9.5 million views by the end of its first full week.
The following week, viewership dropped sharply to 3.7 million. That drop signalled the show was unlikely to build long term audience growth, a key metric Netflix tracks for renewal decisions.
Even so, the show stayed in Netflix’s weekly Top 10 every week since its release. At one point it ranked eighth among all English language titles on the platform. Across its first 18 days, the series drew close to 19 million total views.
Critics responded well to the show. It held a 97 percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 79 percent score from audiences.
Why Netflix cancelled it
Reports suggest renewal talks were underway before the decision changed. A writers’ room had already opened for a potential second season. One plan under discussion was to film seasons two and three back to back, with the show originally planned as a three season story.
Sources point to cost as a major factor. The series relied on heavy special effects to support its sci-fi storyline, and combined with its large cast, that made it an expensive show to produce. Despite decent viewership, the budget appears to have outweighed the numbers in Netflix’s decision.