Credit: Netflix

Well, well, well. Can’t believe Netflix has pulled the plug on The Boroughs, and if you are wondering whether you read that correctly, yes, you absolutely did.

The sci-fi drama from the Duffer Brothers, the very same duo who turned Stranger Things into a global obsession, has officially been cancelled after just one season. Not after three seasons. Just one! Now that’s just sad.

And here is the thing that makes the whole story even more eyebrow-raising. Season two wasn’t some far-fetched dream living in fans’ heads. Behind the scenes, conversations about another season had already begun. A writers’ room had reportedly been opened. Ideas were being discussed. According to reports, one proposal even involved filming seasons two and three back-to-back.

Now? That’s all heading straight to the television graveyard. Ouch! And for anyone who hasn’t caught up with the series yet, The Boroughs had a premise that practically sold itself. It began with a retirement community where residents discover an otherworldly force stealing the one thing they can’t afford to lose: time.

It’s a brilliant hook when you think about it. The show was frequently described as Stranger Things for an older generation, and it’s not difficult to see why. Instead of schoolchildren fighting supernatural horrors, audiences followed a group of senior citizens facing a threat that was every bit as mysterious.

And the cast! You were getting Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters and Bill Pullman. What’s better?

Which is precisely why this cancellation feels so surprising. The reviews were good. Critics praised the performances, and the concept was also out of the box.

So what happened? Well, welcome to the streaming era, where reviews are lovely, but viewing figures pay the bills. The Boroughs opened with 5.6 million views during its first weekend. Not disastrous… But not Stranger Things-good. Then came a boost to 9.5 million views during its first full week, which suggested the show might be building momentum. Fans probably looked at those numbers and breathed a sigh of relief.

Then the drop arrived. The following week, viewership fell to 3.7 million views. And that, friends, is what changed the conversation. Because The Boroughs wasn’t a cheap show to make. Science-fiction series rarely are. Special effects cost money. Large cast and crew cost money. Netflix weighs those expenses against audience demand, and the maths clearly didn’t work in the show’s favour.

Then again, the series had another challenge hanging over it from day one. The Duffer Brothers weren’t just launching a new show. They were launching a new show after Stranger Things. That’s a tough act to follow. In fact, calling it a tough act might be underselling it. Stranger Things became one of the biggest television series of the last decade. Any project connected to the Duffers was always going to arrive carrying enormous expectations.

Perhaps that’s what makes this cancellation sting a little more. By all accounts, The Boroughs wasn’t a failure. It earned positive reviews. Yet none of that proved enough to secure a second season. And that, dear readers, might be the most fascinating part of the story.

Brutal business, isn’t it?