Hunter Ingram

Nick Antosca’s episodic take is both maniacal and psychological. Frenzied but heady. With extra time, it lives more deeply in that uncertainty of what exactly to fear in the world — for better or worse. .... Bardem is giving a masterclass in re-interpretating a classic like Cady.

“The Boroughs” may feel like “Stranger Things” meets “Coccoon,” but that oversimplification is a disservice to what viewers get here. Even in moments that are shaggier than the 1960s carpets in their homes, the experience of this cast matters in carrying multiple genres at once.

He has a stacked cast perfectly capable of taking these characters, battle scars and all, to the next level. But based on the three episodes of eight provided for review, it looks like he’s squandering the stars that aligned their busy schedules for this on repurposed old habits from the past.