Netflix’s “What We Watched” report keeps canceled drama “The Boroughs” in Top 40 after most recent scripted release debut

Netflix’s semi-annual “What We Watched” viewership report, released this week, lists “The Boroughs,” a canceled scripted drama, among the Top 40 most watched series on the streamer. Deadline reported that the series was the newest ongoing scripted release to make the ranking in the report’s January to June 2026 window.

According to Deadline, “The Boroughs” appears with 23.1 million in viewership metrics cited in Netflix’s “What We Watched” methodology. The report’s placement effectively preserves audience visibility for a series that is no longer moving forward at Netflix.

The supernatural drama is executive produced by Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of “Stranger Things,” Deadline said. That production connection is part of Netflix’s broader strategy of building franchises and creator-driven libraries meant to retain subscribers and broaden engagement across its scripted slate.

Deadline characterized “The Boroughs” as a consolation for the show after cancellation, noting that the series’ standing in the Top 40 reflects continued viewer discovery and consumption even after its future episodes were halted. The report is designed to quantify cross-platform viewing rather than assess critical reception or fan campaigns.

Netflix’s “What We Watched” reporting period spans the first half of 2026, and the report’s disclosure timing means the show’s performance is being evaluated after it was already off the schedule. That creates a disconnect between what viewers can watch next versus what the data indicates about what audiences did watch during the measurement window.

The appearance of canceled titles in the Top 40 also underscores the durability of Netflix’s catalog and the role of algorithmic recommendations in moving users to specific series even after production ends. For “The Boroughs,” the Duffer Brothers’ involvement and the show’s supernatural premise were both part of how Netflix marketed the program during its run, Deadline said.

Netflix has not indicated in the Deadline report whether it will adjust how it promotes canceled shows based on “What We Watched” rankings. The immediate next step for audiences, producers, and business stakeholders is to watch whether Netflix’s upcoming reporting cycles reflect additional performance for similarly canceled titles and whether that data changes internal decisions about future renewals or library investments.