The Boroughs – The Film Buff Review the next big thing from Netflix

In a year full of big streaming releases, Netflix may have just delivered its most unexpected hit of 2026.

The Boroughs — the new eight-episode sci-fi series executive produced by the Duffer Brothers — is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about shows on the platform. Blending mystery, heart, and creature-feature thrills inside a deceptively perfect retirement community, it’s being called everything from “Stranger Things for adults” to a heartfelt long-form movie in TV form.

In this Film Buff Review, I break down why The Boroughs stands out: the incredible veteran cast led by Geena Davis, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, and more; the strong character-driven storytelling; and that perfect mix of suspense, humor, and emotion that makes it so addictive.

If you’ve been hearing the buzz and wondering whether to dive in — this review will tell you everything you need to know.

[00:00:01] The video opens with a casual, behind-the-scenes style introduction featuring multiple actors including Geena Davis, Alfred Molina, Bill Pullman, Dennis O’Hare, and Alfre Woodard. The speaker mentions these names to highlight the notable cast presence, pointing out that some names might not be familiar to all viewers. There is an emphasis on unexpected elements in the production, with a lighthearted tone about the surprises in casting and projects involved.

[00:00:45] The discussion transitions toward the new Netflix series called The Boroughs (2026), described as an informal “Stranger Things replacement.” It is an eight-episode series executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, famous for creating Stranger Things. The podcast host notes the show’s appeal lies in how well it captivates the audience, comparing the series more to a long-form movie than a traditional episodic show. The pacing is deliberate, focusing less on plot and more on character development, which the host views as a strength.

[00:01:28] The host summarizes some key narrative elements: the show includes monsters, shifting allegiances among characters, and complex relationships that challenge initial impressions of solidity. The ending is yet to be revealed by this point in the transcript, as the host is watching the last episodes concurrently with the podcast release schedules being irregular. The speaker apologizes for timing inconsistencies but aims for a concise, targeted episode about the series.

[00:02:57] A personal anecdote is introduced to contextualize the value of connection and storytelling. The host shares a recent experience with a relative of their fiancé who recently moved in with a partner in the city. This intelligent individual—who struggles socially, especially with relationships—has found happiness, which the host finds heartening. The emphasis is on human connection, friendship, and family-like dynamics, illustrating how storytelling and viewing shared experiences often bond individuals and communities.

[00:04:11] The same couple discusses The Boroughs and describe the show as “crazy” and “awesome.” This peer approval prompts the host to verify if they are indeed discussing the same show, confirming its broad appeal across different viewers, even those outside typical audiences. Once home, the host and fiancé watch the show and find themselves pulled in, particularly by Geena Davis’s performance.

[00:04:45] Geena Davis’s role is highlighted as a standout element of the series. The host praises her career longevity and natural screen presence, noting she has avoided many of the negative experiences common in Hollywood, especially for women as they age. Davis is said to “look as beautiful now as she ever has” and deliver a compelling, likeable performance that anchors the show. This contrasts with typical industry issues around ageism and fading careers, signaling a hopeful shift.

[00:05:32] The host references Cutthroat Island to further stress Davis’s longstanding talent and upcoming discussions on that film in a separate episode of the Film Vault podcast. The message is that Davis’s return in The Boroughs is a refreshing reminder of the enduring appeal of established actors who remain relevant and captivating, lending credibility and emotional weight to the story.

[00:06:09] Additional veteran actors also enrich the series, including Dennis O’Hare, Clark Peters, and Alfre Woodard, each contributing likeability and depth. A specific scene is recalled where three characters—played by Woodard and others—are hunting a monster beneath a cul-de-sac using makeshift weapons. Woodard’s character, Judy Daniels, is noted as the “smart one” with a gun. This scene evokes the feel of Stranger Things by mixing suspense, camaraderie, and imaginative problem solving.

[00:06:47] The monster hunt scene is praised for its tension and emotional pull, reinforcing the show’s ability to engage viewers through character-driven moments rather than relying solely on plot complexity. The host notes that the show’s introduction through community (friends and film buffs) rather than traditional media channels demonstrates the power of shared discovery. This organic way of finding new shows is seen as more rewarding than passive consumption or social media trends.

[00:07:25] More general reflections on the Film Buff podcast community follow. The host appreciates how the group discovers and recommends films, shows, and documentaries to each other. This community-based approach fosters richer engagement and more thoughtful consumption of media compared to simply following mainstream social or trade media. The Boroughs (2026) is positioned as an exemplar of this type of viewing experience.

[00:08:02] The host underscores that The Boroughs is difficult to categorize simply as a TV show due to its format and tone; it works better thought of as a “long-form movie” across its eight episodes. Despite uncertainty about renewal status, the speaker is enthusiastic about the production and eager to complete watching the season. The episode closes with an expression of affection for the audience and excitement about upcoming content.

Summary Table of Key Details

Key Insights

• The Boroughs leverages character development over plot to engage viewers deeply, resembling a long-form cinematic experience rather than episodic TV.
• The involvement of the Duffer Brothers serves as a key marketing and creative link to Stranger Things, although the show offers its own unique tone and style.
• Veteran actors like Geena Davis and Alfre Woodard bring gravitas and a likeability factor that is crucial to the show’s immersive quality.
• The podcast community’s role in discovering and recommending content reinforces the value of shared cultural experiences beyond mainstream channels.
• The show’s monster-hunting elements and covert tensions evoke nostalgic comparisons while establishing its own identity.

Conclusion

The Boroughs (2026) emerges as a standout new Netflix offering that skillfully balances nostalgia with fresh storytelling through an ensemble cast of celebrated and compelling actors. Its format as a long-form cinematic journey facilitates audience immersion by prioritizing characters and emotional resonance over traditional plot mechanics. While comparisons to Stranger Things are inevitable, the series distinguishes itself through nuanced performances and a storytelling style that invites viewers into a mysterious, character-rich world. The podcast hosts’ personal engagement and the community-driven discovery process underscore the series’ position as a notable cultural moment in 2026 streaming content.

The transcript of this podcast episode is right here.

00:00:01
Quiet on the set. >> Camera speed. Down production. Take one. >> Action. >> I did not have this on my bingo card at all. AKA Powders. Gina Davis again. Cuz we were just recently talking about Alfred Molina. Bill Pullman and Dennis O’Hare. Uh I know some of these names are not familiar to any of you guys. Here’s Here’s something else I I didn’t have on my bingo card. Oh, and also, too, Alfre Woodard. I didn’t have on my bingo card cuz, you know, we’re we’re doing the the stick

00:00:45
again. AKA Powders. And welcome back. It’s It’s the Film Buff podcast. And you know what? Clark Peters. Another name I have on my bingo card. What I didn’t have on my bingo card was The Boroughs, 2026 Netflix. Uh walking in as everything we like about Stranger Things and right now on social media throughout everything, you will see The Boroughs is, you know, produ- executive produced, which is right like a flighty credit, but executive produced by the Duffer brothers, The Boroughs of Netflix. Eight episodes is the

00:01:28
Stranger Things replacement. This is the new Stranger Things. A lot of that is true. Uh I cannot deny how much fun, how great, uh how well this show moves. This show pulls you into a world that you gradually uh you know, as I feel a a long-form movie cuz that’s really what this is. What a long-form movie should do. It should slowly pull you in through one thing. And it’s not plot. Uh plot’s meaningless. So it’s so much it pulls you in through character and the characters of this world.

00:02:13
And holy crap, we even have D. Wallace in this show. Now, we can go back and forth of the plot. Here we go, right? Oh, we got monster. We have characters that we think are good that turn. Uh we have relationships that we think are solid that aren’t. We have an ending that I have yet to see. Uh I’m about two episodes. I’m I’m watching the final two episodes tonight. I wanted to bring you guys this one by 8:00 p.m. on Thursday uh or Wednesday. I I forget what day it is. Uh our our releases right now are just

00:02:57
upside down. So I do apologize. But here’s something to take away. And I And I’m targeting this to be a little bit more of a of a streamlined short episode. This past Memorial Day, uh I spent time with you know one of my fiance’s cousins. Uh this individual he he moved in with a girl into the city. Uh like you know like someone I I I I want to say troubled cuz the guy is uh immensely intelligent, but uh in my view always had trouble with with girls and it’s just thrilling uh to to see

00:03:33
something like this to you know where something blossoms. So we decided uh you know just a like not really so much as a family. Sometimes this group that I I’m pulled into it’s it’s so much of it just feels like friends and friendship. Uh and you know if you have a family dynamic that touches on that, you are among the lucky. So, we we went to this dude’s place. A little bit of a impromptu surprise pop-in, but we just ended up sitting at his outside patio with his girlfriend that he moved in with. And like I said,

00:04:11
I can’t be happier. She’s fantastic. And, you know, we kind of like round-robin questions and and and Q&A’s. And what we’re watching always comes up. And the two of them said this. They honed right in on it. They said, “The Burrows is crazy. It’s awesome.” And I’m just like, “Really?” And they’re like, “Yeah.” And I looked it up real quick just to make sure we were talking about the same thing because, you know, a little bit common. And then my my you know,

00:04:45
my fiance and I, we got home and we put it on. And I will tell you what pulls me into this is the performance of Geena Davis. She for No, and and we’re we’re critical with what Hollywood does to old faces. This girl has stayed out of all of the mess. She looks as beautiful now as she ever has. Recently, I was watching Cutthroat Island. So, there’s there’s a Cutthroat Island recorded episode for the Film Vault out there. We’re coming to you sometime soon. And it’s so great to have a talent like

00:05:32
hers disappear for a little bit and then come back in something like this where you just say to yourself, man, like maybe the maybe the world maybe Hollywood maybe all of of the weirdness that we hear about now. But maybe the industry is is a little bit better with a talent like Geena Davis because she looks like a million dollars. But her performance and the way you just like her. And that’s a missing element for a lot of these shows where uh you need a likeability factor relatively quick. We

00:06:09
get that with Dennis O’Hare. We get that with Clark Peters. We get that with Alfre Woodard. And we get that with Alfre Woodard where there’s a moment in this show where three of these characters are in a tunnel underneath underneath a cul-de-sac uh like just like a street. And they’re trying to hunt down a monster. And you know, each one has a silly weapon. Uh Alfre Woodard uh Judy Daniels, that’s her character, has a gun that’s only smart one in the room. And they’re just

00:06:47
trying to >> [laughter] >> like outsmart this thing, track it down, and get it. And it really like that moment there just makes you think and feel Stranger Things. Uh I love how this show got introduced to me in life because again, we Yeah, everyone, the AK Pod Army, all the film buffers out there. We’ve discovered film and shows and cartoons and animation and all this all this wonderful stuff, documentaries, all all the great things that we talk about. We discover them through each other. We

00:07:25
don’t just see what’s on social media or read the trades or just doom scroll. We’d like to know what people are into. And we we test it. We measure it. And I think we’re better for it. The Borrowers 2026 from Netflix is one of the shows now but I don’t even know if it’s renewed or not. It’s one of the shows >> [laughter] >> it’s hard to call it a show uh right now. But let’s just call it a long-form movie. It’s an eight-episode movie and it is

00:08:02
great. I can’t wait to watch the final two episodes tonight. I love you guys. Rock and roll. >> Okay, that’s a wrap.

PETER A DELUCA AKAPD

AKAPAD is a versatile thinker known across Philadelphia, Europe, and even in the vast Multiverse as The Electic One. By day, he excels as an IT Mastermind, assisting individuals, both big and small, with a wide range of simple and complex solutions. In contrast, he is also a talented illustrator, a passionate comic book enthusiast, a creative content creator, and an active live streamer. Additionally, his podcast, “AKAPAD The Film Buff Podcast,” boasts an impressive catalog of over 500 episodes available on nearly every major platform.