Kyle Patrick Alvarez

In The Boroughs (2026), Alfred Molina and Alfre Woodard make the older heroes worth following even when the monster mystery becomes a chore. We warmed to the series because it takes those people seriously and lets its performers make the adventure matter. Alvarez directs episodes, so the credit for that warmth cannot sensibly be his alone. Still, it is a useful introduction to a director whose attention to actors is among his chief strengths.

His independent features began with literary adaptations: Easier with Practice (2009) drew on a GQ article, and C.O.G. (2013) on a David Sedaris story. He wrote and directed both before making The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015). In the latter, camera placement and gradually widening shots create tension within confined spaces. That gives us something specific to value in his direction: he thinks about how the space around people can make their predicament feel uncomfortable to watch.

Television followed, with episodes of 13 Reasons Why in 2017–2018, Counterpart (2018) and Tales of the City (2019). He then directed all of Homecoming’s second season (2020). The long takes and split-screen expanded the programme’s visual style, evidence of a director willing to make conspicuous choices within an established series. It is worth remembering that side of his work when praising his handling of actors: he is also thinking about how a scene is arranged and how long we are made to watch.

He returned to features with the science-fiction film Crater (2023), then directed episodes of The Boroughs. The latter earns our recommendation, with a reservation about the plotting that good performances cannot quite remove. We would welcome more of its patience with the older characters, provided the adventure gives them enough interesting things to do. Start there for Molina and Woodard; patience with the mystery will help.