Before Stranger Things season 5 even arrived on Netflix, the biggest question many couldn’t help themselves from asking was what show could replace the series and become the next breakout hit for Netflix.
While we all know there will never be another Stranger Things, as the show was one of those rare lightning in a bottle series that blazed its own trail, Netflix is not a one-trick pony. This is a streaming giant who is always on the lookout for the next big thing, and we knew a replacement would eventually emerge to help give Netflix its next big win.
For many, the speculation was that it would be the Duffer Brothers who would help Netflix to find its Stranger Things replacement. This was an understandable and safe bet. Sure, Stranger Things was coming to an end, but the Duffers had a series of additional projects in the pipeline at Netflix, and the expectation was that one of these new projects would become the show that succeeded Stranger Things as the next big hit for Netflix.
Enter The Boroughs. The series immediately caught the attention of fans and critics alike with comparisons to Stranger Things courtesy of its supernatural elements and an unlikely group of heroes at the center of the project. Add in an incredible cast that included Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters, Bill Pullman, Jena Malone, Carlos Miranda, Seth Numrich, and Alice Kremelberg, and it seemed like Netflix had indeed already found its Stranger Things replacement. While the show impressed the critics, it sadly did not resonate as strongly with the viewers.
The Boroughs canceled after 1 season at Netflix as show fails to reach Stranger Things-level success
Less than a month after its release on May 21, Netflix has pulled the plug on The Boroughs and opted not to move forward with a second season.
While The Boroughs earned rave reviews, with many praising the show as being Stranger Things with seniors and the show securing a 97% fresh score, the show’s viewership figures were nowhere near those for Stranger Things. In its first week, The Boroughs drew 5.8 million views, which was a solid opening, but nowhere near the 59.6 million views Stranger Things season 5 pulled in its first week of launch in November 2025.
The soft viewership totals seem to be enough to tip the scales in favor of cancellation, and it likely did not help at all that the show featured an all-star cast or that, like Stranger Things, the show has a lot of special effects. These come with hefty price tags, and the lower viewership and costs seem to have been too much for Netflix to overlook.
Interestingly, Deadline reports that Netflix has been considering a renewal for the show, with a writers' room for season 2 having already been open. In fact, there were even discussions about a two-season renewal for the show, with the plan being to cut costs by filming the two seasons back-to-back.
Now that The Boroughs has been canceled, it seems Netflix's search for its Stranger Things replacement will continue.
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