Two weeks after Netflix took an ax to The Boroughs, it’s seen a viewership surge.
Per Nielsen ratings obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, the sci-fi series was the top streaming series from May 25-31 for overall series and streaming series. After opening in second place the previous week, it had 1.74 million minutes worth of viewing time. Up 45 percent week-to-week, the biggest contributor to that rise came from the over-50 crowd.
Netflix canceling a show before it’s found time to build an audience isn’t new, it’s what they’re known for. Still, the news caught some by surprise given it was executive produced by Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer. (Despite their leaving for Paramount, the Duffers left their old home with three shows they EP’d, including a Stranger spinoff.) Adding to the shock was the writers room preparing to break season two just before the cancellation hit.
As is, what’s happened with The Boroughs is a small bit of irony. But this isn’t the first time Netflix has unintentionally jumped the gun: remember that mystery series The Residence? It too was well-liked by critics and viewers, and gutted after a single season…after which, it was nominated for several 2025 Emmys, including Uzo Aduba for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy. We’ll have to wait to see if Boroughs gets any Emmys attention, but it sadly won’t change things, or the fact that it probably could’ve gone further if it had gotten to stretch its legs a little further.
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