--- title: "The Boroughs: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-boroughs/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-boroughs" critics_score: 72 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Boroughs (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 72 from 8 reviews: 6 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to The Boroughs, with praise clustering around its older ensemble and its treatment of ageing, grief and loneliness. Alfred Molina and Alfre Woodard draw particular approval, while the retirement-community setting gives familiar supernatural adventures a perspective the reviews largely welcome. The humour, tenderness and reflections on mortality often prove more persuasive than the monsters. Reservations centre on uneven plotting, pacing and world-building, with several critics finding that the series struggles to distinguish itself from Stranger Things. The spread is fairly wide, though the balance remains positive rather than divided: Variety finds a captivating adventure whose characters give its themes weight. The Hollywood Reporter offers the clearest dissent, arguing that a dull mystery takes time away from the ensemble, while still crediting the performers with keeping it watchable. The broad agreement is stronger on the people than on the machinery of the sci-fi story. ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2026. The review calls the series a captivating sci-fi horror that delivers a delightful and intriguing adventure centered on unexpected elderly heroes, highlighting its examination of grief, aging, and time through strong characters and themes. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/tv/reviews/the-boroughs-review-duffer-brothers-netflix-1236755286/) ## The Telegraph — Anita Singh Rating 4/5. 21 May 2026. The review calls it a cheerful, warm-hearted supernatural horror like The Goonies for seniors, with a retro Spielberg-esque adventure full of fun and silliness as retirees battle monsters. It notes the plot's lightness but warns the monster elements may drag for some. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-boroughs-netflix-review/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2026. The Netflix series is a sci-fi adventure about seniors in a retirement community that thoughtfully grapples with what the boomer generation owes those who come after them. It excels in tone, ensemble depth, and melancholy reflections on mortality and purpose, though it has familiar Netflix flaws like uneven world-building. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-boroughs-netflix-series-review.html) ## The AV Club — Saloni Gajjar Rating B. 21 May 2026. The series benefits from centering older protagonists grappling with aging, loneliness, and legacy, anchored by strong performances from Alfred Molina and Alfre Woodard. It offers fun and nostalgia but falls short of Stranger Things in plotting and engagement. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-boroughs-review-netflix) ## Empire — David Opie Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2026. The critic finds the Duffer brothers-produced series more than a simple 'Stranger Things' retread with pensioners, praising its focus on an older ensemble's perspective and strong performances from Alfred Molina and others, while noting some pacing issues, early reveals, and underwhelming effects. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/the-boroughs/) ## Radio Times — Louise Griffin Rating 3/5. 21 May 2026. The review finds the series charming and heartfelt thanks to its ensemble cast and themes of aging and love, but criticizes its failure to establish a distinct identity or deliver compelling monsters compared to Stranger Things. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/the-boroughs-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2026. The critic describes it as a clunky geriatric spin on Stranger Things with a great cast undermined by a dull plot and misallocated time on mystery over ensemble moments, though it remains watchable thanks to the performers. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-boroughs-review-alfred-molina-duffer-bros-netflix-1236602497/) ## The Guardian 21 May 2026. The critic praises the witty, star-packed series set in a retirement community as funny, tender and wise, with an intelligent script that channels Spielberg's storytelling and emotional truth while nodding to monster tropes. The fine cast and focus on human fears like loneliness and death are highlighted as strengths. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/21/the-boroughs-review-netflix-monster-show) ## Collider — Greer Riddell Rating 7/10. 21 May 2026. The series is a thought-provoking sci-fi mystery that honors classic genre elements while putting older characters at the center of the action. The critic praises the ensemble cast led by Alfred Molina and the exploration of aging and grief but notes that some narrative complexity around the monsters diverts from a clearer hero-villain setup. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-boroughs-netflix-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-boroughs.md