10 TV Shows Like the Boroughs That You Should Watch in the Future.
Forty-one years ago , The Golden Girls taught us to appreciate older people who still have a lot to offer; that same year, Ron Howard’s Cocoon taught us the importance of using alien eggs to achieve eternal youth. The latter is perhaps a bit more relevant to the sci-fi thrillerDistricts , though it feels like a while since retirees took center stage on television. In the new Netflix series, a talented and instantly recognizable cast (Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, and Geena Davis, among others) encounters a series of strange mysteries in their seemingly idyllic yet utterly remote retirement community. It’s time for a little nostalgia. It’s been so rare lately that I couldn’t put together a comprehensive list of senior-themed horror/sci-fi/mystery shows I’d like to (and would) watch, but there are still a few great atmospheric shows that take us to various creepy small towns where we hopefully find old people going about their business.
Widow’s Bay (2026 – )
Another recent addition to the atlas of failed vacation spots is Widow’s Bay, an isolated New England island trying to shed its reputation as a provincial resort and become a Martha’s Vineyard-like tourist destination—but, alas, the timing couldn’t be worse. Cozy and idyllic at first glance, Widow’s Bay is, according to some more observant locals, “waking up.” Mayor Tom Loftus (Matthew Rhys), a relative newcomer, isn’t going to stand for it—at least until a killer clown and a soaking wet woman come for him, convincing him to join forces with local eccentric Wick (Stephen Root), who seems to be up to no good. The series is often funny, but also genuinely scary. Watch Widow’s Bay on Apple TV .
Stranger Things (2016–2025)
At first glance, Stranger Things and Neighborhoods don’t seem to have much in common beyond their sci-fi/horror themes (and the presence of the Duffer brothers, who created one and executive produced the other), but the tone is oddly similar. Both series pay homage to 1980s genre films, and each is indebted to Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard—though one is set in the past and the other in the present, both could easily exist in the universe of E.T. or Cocoon . You’re probably already familiar with Stranger Things , but just in case: an ensemble cast of mostly children uncovers dark goings-on in their small Indiana town after a mysterious girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) appears, displaying psychokinetic powers.Watch Stranger Things on Netflix.
The Midwich Cuckoos (2022)
You almost certainly know this story as “Village of the Damned,” a title it’s already been adapted for film twice. It’s not exactly a perfect adaptation of John Wyndham’s darkly satirical sci-fi novel, but it’s probably the closest we’ve found to the original, capturing the novel’s eeriness without quite capturing its sense of humor. A power outage in the English village of the same name causes everyone to lose consciousness for 24 hours, and anyone who could have become pregnant ends up pregnant. The emotionally detached children are positively creepy, even more so than is typical for children, and the situation becomes even more disturbing when they develop telekinetic abilities. As in “Districts,” the young people can’t be trusted. Watch “The Midwich Cuckoos” on AMC+ .
Inside Man (2024–)
There are no weird aliens or horror stories, but there are a few stars from beloved movies, a setting in a retirement home, and a hint that “old” doesn’t mean “irrelevant.” Ted Danson plays Charles Nieuwendyk, a down-on-his-luck retired professor and recently widowed man who heeds his daughter’s plea for something to do. He answers an ad from a private investigator looking for someone to go undercover and moves into a San Francisco retirement home in hopes of finding out who’s stealing jewelry from the residents. As he develops empathy for the people he investigates (and lies to), his job becomes increasingly difficult. Sally Struthers, Margaret Avery, Susan Ruttan, Veronica Cartwright, and Clyde Kusatsu are among the recognizable supporting cast, joined by Mary Steenburgen for the second season. Season three is on its way.Watch Inside Man on Netflix.
They (2021–2024)
Unlike many other series, Them focuses less on generational conflict and more on telling a story of horror in a seemingly idyllic, perfectly livable place. The series begins in the 1950s and explores the Second Great Migration, when millions of Black people left the South for Northern cities and suburbs in search of opportunity and eschewing overt racism in favor of… slightly more subtle racism. The Emory family (led by Deborah Ayorinde and Ashley Thomas) moves from North Carolina to the all-white neighborhood of East Compton, and each family member is eventually haunted by their own ghost. Picket fences and smiling white faces hiding malevolent intent are far more terrifying than any ghost. The second and final season takes us to Los Angeles in 1991, a time when some things have changed, while others remain eerily unchanged. Watch Them on Prime Video .
Frog (2024)
After his wife’s death, Young-ha (Kim Yoon-seok) simply wants a quiet life in the secluded town where he lives, renting out the neighboring house as a vacation rental—though he’s not thrilled about the idea. (The series gets bonus points for its plot concision, thanks to a sullen loner who inexplicably finds himself in a situation where he has to deal with people.) All is well until a young woman shows up with her son, the same woman who suddenly leaves behind bloodstains and—even more disturbingly—a baby. While it’s a bit of a spoiler, this very leisurely and cinematic thriller unfolds across multiple time periods—a clever storytelling technique, given the series’ unchanging setting.Watch “Frog” on Netflix .
Castle Rock (2018–2019)
The short-lived series plunged us into Stephen King’s favorite place (well, maybe on par with Derry)—the seemingly idyllic Castle Rock, Maine. Several storylines intertwine here, but Sissy Spacek’s Ruth Deaver is one of the first season’s main characters, taking center stage in the episode “Queen,” told from the perspective of the unstable Ruth, a character with progressive dementia. It was one of the best and most existentially terrifying series of the year. “Neighborhoods” plays with the idea that young people don’t take the elderly seriously, even when they’re fully conscious, while Ruth’s character still has many important things to say, even as her own sense of reality weakens. The cast of both seasons is superb, including Bill Skarsgård, a creepy character not named Pennywise. Watch Castle Rock on Disney+ , Hulu , andNetflix .
Hannibal (2022 – )
Another remote, charming town with deep, dark secrets (the most important of which is hinted at rather blatantly in the title), “Hannibal” tells the story of Daigo Agawa, a big-city cop played by Yuya Yagira. After personal troubles, he takes a job in the charming (and, of course, remote) village of Kuge. The town is more or less owned by the charming Goto family, who welcome Daigo and his family. Everything seems fine—until a mysterious man gives Daigo’s daughter a severed finger, and his wife, Yuki, discovers “Run” written on the door of their new home. These are just a couple of reasons why I prefer the town. Watch “Hannibal” on Disney+ and Hulu .
Wayward Pines (2015–2016)
Based on Blake Crouch’s trilogy of novels, this film follows Secret Service agent Matt Dillon as he investigates the disappearances of two of his colleagues in Wayward Pines, Idaho. Events unfold rapidly: he awakens from a car accident to discover that one of his coworkers (Carla Gugino), his ex-girlfriend, has settled in this seemingly idyllic town—and she’s 12 years older than she was when he last saw her a few weeks ago. To make matters even more dramatic, the local sheriff (Terrence Howard) imposes a strict travel ban, threatening violence. The mysteries mount. Watch Wayward Pines on Hulu and Disney+ .
Tales from the Loop (2020)
The brilliant anthology series Tales from the Loop is set in the small town of Mercer, Ohio, a town located within the eponymous Loop, a physics laboratory that explores mysteries science cannot answer. Each episode tells the story of a person or family in the town affected by the Loop (founded by Russ, played by Jonathan Pryce), in slowly unfolding tales about the intersection of technology and human existence. Based on a concept art book by artist Simon Stålenhag, the series successfully captures the book’s striking visual style and atmosphere. The series often reads as a meditation on certain sci-fi themes—it’s a bit softer than, say, Black Mirror and not as frightening as Districts , but still explores the threats that unchecked science can pose to humanity. Watch Tales from the Loop on Prime Video .