For decades, science fiction has depended on familiar heroes to battle aliens, monsters and supernatural threats. Audiences have viewed numerous adaptations of the one formula: fearless soldiers, scientists, or groups of teenagers. The Boroughs goes a different route, putting the spotlight on a group not often considered action heroes: senior citizens.
Season 1: Sam Cooper, a recently widowed retiree, moves into a quiet retirement community, The Boroughs. What appears to be a quiet place to spend his twilight years soon becomes a series of strange and unsettling events. As the strange events keep piling up, Sam joins forces with fellow residents Judy, Art, Wally and Renee to uncover the truth behind the unfolding mysteries in their community.
The idea strikes one straight off. It’s a supernatural mystery set in a retirement community, which feels fresh, and the show plays that angle well. It takes a while to introduce the characters and the setting of the story, but the story gradually becomes a compelling adventure, full of secrets, discoveries and unexpected twists.
One of the smartest things the show does is eschew the typical “everyone works together from day one” structure. Instead, the characters often go off on their own leads and investigations, creating multiple story lines that eventually come together. This way the story can keep moving while giving the viewers a taste of a variety of mysteries instead of just one main story.
The mysteries themselves are one of the season’s strongest points. There are missing things, unexplained deaths, hidden passages, mysterious artifacts and underground secrets that all contribute to an atmosphere that is both intriguing and entertaining. The series throws in suspense moments here and there, without getting too dark, which creates a balance between being accessible and keeping a sense of mystery.
But it’s the characters that really lift The Boroughs. The residents become so much more than simple archetypes over the course of eight episodes. You get different motivations, flaws, emotional depth to each person that make them easy to get into.
Alfred Molina is terrific as Sam Cooper, a man dealing with grief who slowly finds purpose and friendship again. His journey is the emotional core of the series. The rest of the cast, including Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters and Carlos Miranda, are equally strong, making the ensemble a genuinely likable group.
Standout performances include Denis O’Hare as Wally, a retired doctor with terminal cancer. O’Hare offers a terrific warmth and authenticity to the role, walking the line between humor, optimism and vulnerability. His character becomes increasingly important as the season progresses, and has some of the most memorable emotional moments of the show.
Interestingly, despite focusing on older protagonists, the series never becomes a heavy-handed commentary about aging. There are some passing references to society ignoring senior citizens but the story is more about adventure and character growth. The show proves that heroism knows no age, allowing its characters to confront dangerous situations while realistically addressing the physical limitations of aging.
Fans expecting dense science fiction mythology may be left wanting more. The series has some interesting supernatural elements but too often doesn’t answer major questions. The otherworldly beings and their origins are shrouded in many mysteries, some only partially explained, especially in the final episodes. Viewers are therefore asked to fill in a lot of the gaps themselves.
Fortunately, the show makes up for the lack of scientific detail with emotional storytelling. Rather than focusing heavily on lore and exposition, The Boroughs instead focuses on relationships, friendship, loss and personal growth. These themes are the heart of the series, and the things that set it apart from other sci-fi adventures.
By the end of its first season, The Boroughs proves that offbeat heroes can make for good television. It’s always a fun to see a bunch of retirees outsmart mysterious powers, break into forbidden places and put themselves in danger for the sake of others. Season 1 is a fun and surprisingly heartfelt sci-fi adventure that deserves attention, as well as strong performances, engaging mysteries, and plenty of charm.## Judgment
The Boroughs Season 1 succeeds thanks to its singular premise and endearing cast. While the sci-fi could have been explored more, the fun mysteries, emotional character arcs and a refreshing focus on older heroes makes this a fun and memorable series. It’s a smart mix of mystery, humor and heart that feels fresh and not like the usual genre formula.
Rating: 4 out of 5