Netflix has chosen not to renew the supernatural mystery series “The Boroughs” for a second season, pulling the plug on the high-profile project less than a month after its release. Executive produced by Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators behind the global phenomenon “Stranger Things,” the eight-episode freshman drama debuted on May 21 to strong reviews but ultimately failed to maintain the viewership required to justify its massive production budget.

Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, the series followed an ensemble cast of veteran actors including Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, and Bill Pullman. The plot centered on an eerie desert senior living facility where the residents find themselves fighting supernatural forces. According to the official logline, the narrative required the aging protagonists to “band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have… time.”

Despite initial momentum that saw the show enter Netflix’s daily top-10 rankings, audience numbers plummeted rapidly following its opening week.  The decision brings an abrupt end to what showrunners had envisioned as a multi-season narrative arc, with reports indicating that Netflix had explored continuing the series and had already assembled a writers’ room for a potential second season. At one stage, discussions reportedly included filming future seasons back-to-back. However, audience figures failed to sustain early momentum. After drawing 5.6 million views during its opening weekend and rising to 9.5 million in its first full week, viewership fell to 3.7 million the following week, diminishing prospects for renewal.

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