Here’s ‘why’ Netflix cancelled The Boroughs after a month, despite plans for two more seasons

The Duffer Brothers’ Stranger Things follow -up, The Boroughs, has been cancelled after just one season despite plans for more, so here’s why.

Earlier this year, the Duffer Brothers wrapped up their magnum opus- the five-season coming-of-age sci-fi series Stranger Things. But not long after, they followed it up with The Boroughs, a series about a quiet, communal town with something sinister hidden beneath the surface. It’s been marketed as Stranger Things but for older people, and it seems to be quite successful.

The Boroughs has officially been cancelled after only one season

So it was a massive shock when Deadline reported the series has been cancelled less than a month after its release. According to sources close to the project, there were plans for a second season, and even a third filmed at the same time. But this has all been scrapped as Netflix has let their darling showrunners go.

Claims that a second season was seriously considered before the cancellation are supported by statements from the brothers themselves and co-creator Jeffrey Addiss.

“We have a very specific three-season plan, and we think we know the last shot of the last scene of the last episode,” he said in an interview with IGN.

“How we get there might change a little, but we have the answers to all the questions, and a plan of how and when to answer those.”

Here’s the likely reason why The Boroughs was cancelled

Then, why was it cancelled? Well, Netflix have started cutting down on the big-budget genre shows they’ve been known for – like Stranger Things. We don’t have a public budget amount for The Boroughs, but considering the ensemble cast, New Mexico filming location, VFX, and more, it’s likely costing them millions per episode. This type of investment for a company like Netflix is only worth it if it translates into millions tuning into the show, new subscribers being gained, and people actually completing it.

After the news of the series’ cancellation, many people on social media have shared their reactions. Thousands said they never watched the show or never finished it, even though it had really good reviews. The marketing as a series for fans of Stranger Things kind of backfired – many in the Stranger Things fandom are still grieving the end of the show, and some still think there’s going to be a secret final episode.

The Boroughs joins the club of many series cancelled by Netflix way too soon. But who knows, maybe if there’s enough public outcry, they’ll walk back their decision.

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Featured image via Netflix