Ben Taylor

In The Boroughs (2026), Alfred Molina and Alfre Woodard make the older heroes worth following even when the monster mystery grows tiresome. We warmed to them because the series takes their adventure seriously. Taylor directed multiple episodes, and that attention to people fits the strength we value in his work. He can make room for humour without treating a character’s feelings as something to hurry past.

His early television work included Cardinal Burns (2012) and Cuckoo (2012–2014), before Catastrophe (2015–2017) established his reputation for sharp comedy-drama. He favours energy, pace and handheld camerawork, alongside performances that feel natural while remaining funny. For Sex Education (2019–2021), he helped give British material a John Hughes-inspired American high-school look. Some viewers found it too American, an understandable response to such a conspicuous choice. We value the way those stylised surroundings support the warmth of Laurie Nunn’s characters.

The period adventure Renegade Nell (2024), written by Sally Wainwright, and his feature debut Joy (2024) broadened the work beyond his established television comedies. We would follow him into those forms for his work with performers, rather than expect another variation on the earlier programmes. The useful question is whether the actors still get room when there is an adventure to organise.

For us, The Boroughs is a qualified success on that score. Its older heroes are taken seriously, and the pleasure of their company gives the adventure a reason to matter. The mystery becomes a chore, however, and we would not recommend the series chiefly for the puzzle. Molina and Woodard deserve much of the credit, and our enthusiasm for Taylor here rests on how well the performances hold our interest. Start there for the people, with patience for a mystery less engaging than its heroes.