The ‘Burbs Defies “Woke” Criticism to Become Streaming Hit on Peacock

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Despite some negative reactions calling it overly politically correct, the new series based on the Tom Hanks comedy The ‘Burbs is already proving popular on Peacock, less than a day after its release. The original 1989 film, directed by Joe Dante, starred Hanks as a man who believes his neighbors are hiding something sinister. This updated version reimagines the story as an eight-episode series and features Keke Palmer in the role originally played by Hanks.

Since its debut on February 8th, The ‘Burbs has quickly become Peacock’s most-watched show, surpassing even Season 9 of The Office: Superfan Episodes. It’s performing better than other popular series like The Traitors, Love Island: All Stars, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and the entire One Chicago universe – including Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Fire.

What Is ‘The ‘Burbs’ About?

Fans of the original The ‘Burbs movie will notice the new series is quite different. The film starred Tom Hanks as a man enjoying a staycation, but the series features Jordana Brewster as a lawyer who moves with her family to her husband’s quiet hometown of Hinkley Hills for a break from city life. The show emphasizes how out of place her character, Samira Fisher, feels in this new environment.

When a strange new neighbor moves in next door, Samira starts to question the peaceful life she thought she knew, especially after learning about a local girl who vanished years ago. Teaming up with her unusual neighbors, she and the group begin to investigate, revealing hidden secrets and dangerous threats that destroy Hinkley Hills’ image as a safe haven.

‘The ‘Burbs’ Is Being Called “Woke Garbage”

So far, the new series The ‘Burbs is getting mixed reactions. Critics generally like it, giving it a 77% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but viewers seem less impressed, with a score of 64%. One viewer, Chris D, called it “complete woke garbage,” claiming the writers focused too much on including progressive themes. Another Rotten Tomatoes user, Lee S, also expressed frustration with what they saw as an overemphasis on representation in the series.

It seems like this piece of writing is deliberately checking off diversity boxes – a mixed-race couple, a gay character, an Indian friend, and even a lesbian neighbor are all included. However, it feels forced and stereotypical. Black characters are often depicted negatively, while white characters are either foolish or villains. The story constantly highlights race and skin color, which feels unnatural and heavy-handed.

One viewer strongly disliked the movie The ‘Burbs, calling it “the worst, most unwatchable garbage” they’d ever seen. However, not everyone feels that way. Some people found it “worth watching,” “unique,” and “intense.” User Krys L specifically responded to negative reviews criticizing the film’s perceived wokeness, stating:

Honestly, seeing all the complaints about the show being ‘woke’ made me realize something. It feels like those people are finally getting a tiny taste of what it’s been like for people of color – constantly seeing stories and shows that just weren’t made for us, for decades. It’s time everyone moved past this and just enjoyed the show, because it’s actually pretty good.

It’s still unknown whether The ‘Burbs will be back for another season. However, you can watch all eight episodes of the show’s recent update right now on Peacock and decide for yourself.

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2026-02-09 18:33