The Boroughs

While the Hollywood industry fixates on young heroes, The Boroughs makes a bold move by placing characters over 70 at its center, following their battle against a supernatural threat that seeks to steal their time. Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, the creators behind Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, use this original Netflix project to treat aging not merely as a backdrop, but as the story's central motif.

The series' screenplay begins with the residents of an apparently flawless retirement home seeing their routine lives upended by mysterious supernatural events. Yet The Boroughs offers a far richer narrative than a simple monster-hunt story. The script blends the physical limitations that come with old age against the wisdom earned through lived experience, giving rise to unexpected heroes. The metaphor of time — the one thing the characters don't have enough of — being stolen deftly explores how modern society views the elderly and the sense of exclusion they feel.

Bringing together seasoned performers such as Alfred Molina, Denis O'Hare, Alfre Woodard, and Clarke Peters, The Boroughs amounts to a masterclass in acting. Molina displays the same charisma and depth we know from his iconic Doctor Octopus role, channeling it fully into this new character. Woodard brings the weight of her Oscar-nominated experience to bear on her character's emotional layers. From the younger generation, Carlos Miranda and Jena Malone strike a perfect balance in their interactions with the older cast members.

The creators' skill at building fantastical worlds — honed during the Dark Crystal project — is very much in evidence in The Boroughs. The transitions between the sterile corridors of the retirement home and the dark atmosphere of the supernatural realm are visually striking. The series' budget constraints do make themselves felt in certain CGI sequences, yet the emphasis on practical effects and the care taken in crafting atmosphere more than compensate for those shortcomings.

In terms of cinematography, the series makes masterful use of the retirement home's enclosed spaces. Narrow hallways, dimly lit rooms, and the repetitive rhythms of daily routine visually embody the monotony in which the characters are trapped. Shifts in the color palette during transitions to supernatural elements guide the viewer back and forth between reality and the fantastical realm.

The Boroughs carries a particular resonance for Turkish viewers as well. Because we share a similar cultural foundation when it comes to respect for the elderly and family values, the series' emotional layers find a deeper echo in us. The emphasis placed on the characters' memories reflects the nostalgic bond we feel toward our own past.

On the behind-the-scenes front, one of the most intriguing details is that the creators deliberately sought out actors with strong theatrical backgrounds when casting the series. Clarke Peters, following his iconic performance in The Wire, delivers a different kind of character depth here. Denis O'Hare, after the wide-ranging variety of American Horror Story, inhabits a more stripped-back character in this project.

The series' sound design is atmospheric and minimal. The sound effects used in the supernatural sequences are in perfect harmony with the visuals, though the score could have been pushed further forward in certain dramatic moments.

Given the global reality of an aging population demographic, the first episodes of The Boroughs arrive as an exceptionally timely piece of work, with real potential to shift the way we think about the elderly. Streaming on Netflix, the series stands as a quiet act of resistance against the platform's algorithm-driven focus on younger audiences.

Ultimately, The Boroughs breathes fresh air into the classic supernatural horror-thriller genre. Despite some technical limitations and pacing issues, it stands out for its original story, powerful ensemble cast, and courageous thematic choices. This is a series that views old age not as a vulnerability but as a source of strength — one that entertains and provokes thought in equal measure. It is absolutely worth trying for viewers looking for a different kind of experience in the Netflix catalog.