David Bianculli is back on the review beat for NPR's Fresh Air, tackling a pair of high-profile streaming releases: Apple TV+'s new adaptation of Cape Fear and Netflix's sci-fi drama The Boroughs. On the show, host Terry Gross introduced his take on the classic thriller, noting that "Cape Fear, based on the 1957 novel by John D. MacDonald, already has inspired two intense films about an ex-convict terrorizing his former attorney. Now there's a new 10-part miniseries from Apple TV which premieres its first two episodes tomorrow. Our TV critic, David Bianculli, has this review."
Meanwhile, co-host Tonya Mosley set up David Bianculli's look at Netflix's latest supernatural offering, The Boroughs. Mosley drew a direct line from the show's executive producers to their previous mega-hit, explaining that "The Duffer Brothers, the team behind the Netflix series Stranger Things, are back as executive producers of the new Netflix series, The Burrows. And it, too, is a show about sinister forces, mysterious creatures, and a group of neighborhood misfits who emerge as heroes."
David Bianculli himself was highly enthusiastic about the Netflix series, particularly its seasoned ensemble. He praised how "all the neighbors in this particular hood have their own defiantly individual personalities and are played by veteran actors who fill them with depth and sadness and humor. It's great to see Peters and Woodard strut their stuff here, and that's just for starters," celebrating a veteran cast that includes Clarke Peters, Alfre Woodard, Bill Pullman, Ed Begley Jr., Jane Kaczmarek, and Geena Davis. With both high-stakes thrillers and cozy sci-fi mysteries hitting screens, Bianculli's curated recommendations remain essential listening for TV fans navigating the crowded winter streaming slate.