New Duffer Bros. Series The Boroughs’ Parallels To Stranger Things Detailed By Stars & Creators: “Golf Carts Instead Of Bicycles”

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The Boroughs cast and creators break down the parallels with Stranger Things.

The new science-fiction series is already being compared to Stranger Things because of similarities in the story and shared creative talent. Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of Stranger Things, are also executive producers on The Boroughs, which centers around a group of seniors investigating a strange and dangerous supernatural mystery within their retirement community.

During an interview with ScreenRant about The Boroughs, the cast and creators discussed comparisons to the show Stranger Things. Geena Davis acknowledged the similarities, noting that the main characters drive golf carts instead of bikes. Denis O’Hare also pointed out shared elements in the music, visual design, and overall fictional world. Here’s what Davis and O’Hare had to say:

I think it’s reasonable to make that comparison. It’s a group of unlikely characters who team up to rescue others, which is similar. The creators, the Duffer Brothers, even acknowledged it, saying it’s comparable but with golf carts instead of bicycles. I think that’s a great way to put it.

I think the show has a similar vibe to the pop music and design of a specific time period. Even the set itself – we’re on it now – feels like a blend of old and new. It’s got a comparable atmosphere, and maybe even uses similar colors. It all contributes to creating a consistent, recognizable world.

Alfred Molina, who stars alongside Davis and O’Hare, believes the comparisons between the two shows are only skin deep. He points out that while both series share some similarities, they’re fundamentally different in scale. Stranger Things features characters traveling the world and to other dimensions, whereas The Boroughs keeps its focus primarily within a single community. Molina also feels that labeling the new series as “Stranger Things for old people” unfairly diminishes its unique qualities.

Alfred Molina acknowledges the show gets the basic premise right – it’s about a group fighting a monster, created by the Duffer brothers, and features a good soundtrack. However, he feels that’s where the similarities end, and these are only on a surface level.

Once you really start watching, it’s a very different experience. Stranger Things was groundbreaking, reaching a global audience and exploring multiple worlds. Our story is much smaller in scope, focusing primarily on this one community – a retirement village – and rarely venturing beyond it. There are occasional trips to the desert, but that’s about the extent of it. It’s a much more contained and focused narrative, and I understand why people might compare it, because I’ve made that comparison myself.

I’ve gotten a lot of questions about what the show is about. I used to say it was like ‘Stranger Things’ for older viewers, but I stopped because I realized that didn’t really do it justice. Ultimately, viewers will interpret the show in their own way, and we can’t tell them what they should take away from it. If someone enjoys it and sees similarities to ‘Stranger Things’ with an older cast, that’s perfectly fine with me.

As a big fan of both shows, I found it really interesting to hear Jeffrey Addiss, one of the creators of The Boroughs, talk about their connection to Stranger Things. He thinks it’s partly because he and the Duffer brothers came up around the same time, loving a lot of the same stuff. He also pointed out that both shows are basically about kids growing up and finding themselves, even if the characters in The Boroughs are a bit older. Will Matthews, the other co-creator, added something I totally agree with: both shows feel real, not like they’re trying to be cool or ironic. They just tell a genuine story.

Jeffrey Addiss believes the show’s creators share similar tastes and grew up with a lot of the same influences. They envisioned their series as an adventurous tale with relatable, underdog characters. The show explores the idea that people wouldn’t believe a monster sighting regardless of who reports it – whether it’s a child or an adult. Ultimately, it’s a coming-of-age story, but one that focuses on characters at a different stage of life.

You know, I really believe “Stranger Things” is just… real. It doesn’t feel like it’s winking at the audience or trying to be cool by being ironic. I think setting it in the ’80s is a big part of that – it feels like a time before everything was drenched in irony. And I get that same feeling from “The Boroughs,” too – it’s just genuinely good storytelling.

Unlike the first season of Stranger Things, where all the kids already lived in Hawkins, Indiana, The Boroughs starts with Sam Cooper (Molina) moving to a retirement community after his wife, Lily (Jane Kaczmarek), passes away. This means the show immediately explores themes of grief, which Stranger Things doesn’t focus on as heavily until later in the series.

Barbara Davis and Michael O’Hare star as Renee and Wally Baker, a couple living in the retirement community at the heart of the story. They join forces with Judy Daniels (Alfred Woodard), Jack Willard (Bill Pullman), and Art Daniels (Clarke Peters) to face a mysterious supernatural danger. Key supporting characters include Sam’s daughter Claire (Jena Malone), the community’s CEO Blaine Shaw (Seth Numrich) and his wife Anneliese (Alice Kremelberg), head of security Hank Williams (Eric Edelstein), and security guard Paz Navarro (Carlos Miranda).

Since Stranger Things concluded, the Duffer Brothers have also worked as executive producers on other Netflix series, including Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen and the animated spin-off Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. The creators of The Boroughs, Addiss and Matthews, are also known for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Although it was canceled after one season, that show won an Emmy Award and received high praise, with an 89% rating from critics and a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

All episodes of The Boroughs come to Netflix on May 21.

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2026-05-21 05:49