Isabelle TorresNetflix released The Boroughs on May 21, 2026 — a sci-fi drama from the creators of Stranger Things in which residents of a seemingly idyllic retirement community race to stop an otherworldly force from stealing the one thing they cannot replace: time. Within days the show has become a global talking point. For Australians watching seniors on screen confront their own mortality and fight for their futures, the story lands closer to home than the fantasy suggests.
What The Boroughs Is About — and Why It's Resonating
Produced by the Duffer Brothers and starring Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Alfred Molina, Clarke Peters and Alfre Woodard, The Boroughs centres on a group of older adults who discover their retirement community is not what it appears. The show is generating significant attention in Australia, where it launched on Netflix the same week it debuted internationally.
At its core, it is a story about people who assumed they had more time — and suddenly realise they do not. It is also, almost accidentally, the most effective advertisement for estate planning produced in years.
The Numbers Behind Australia's Will Gap
According to Australian research, between 58 and 60 per cent of eligible Australians — approximately 12 million people — have not made a valid will. The average Australian waits until the age of 44 to begin the process, often prompted by a major life event rather than proactive planning.
The statistics improve with age: research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies shows that 88 per cent of community-dwelling Australians aged 65 and over report having a current will. However, only 52 per cent of older Australians have granted someone an enduring power of attorney — meaning nearly half of seniors in this country have no legally binding arrangement to manage their financial and health decisions if they become incapacitated.
That gap — between having a will and having a complete estate plan — is where most Australians fall short.
What a Complete Estate Plan Actually Includes
A will is the starting point, not the finish line. Australian lawyers working in this area consistently find that clients who have a will often lack the complementary documents that make it enforceable and useful:
Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial): Authorises a person you trust to manage your financial affairs — bank accounts, property, investments — if you lose capacity. Without it, family members may need to apply to the relevant state tribunal, a process that can take months and cause significant stress.
Enduring Power of Attorney (Personal/Medical): Also called an Appointment of Enduring Guardian (in some states) or Advance Care Directive. This specifies who can make decisions about your medical treatment and personal care if you cannot communicate your wishes. For the characters in The Boroughs, facing a threat to their minds and bodies, this is precisely the document that matters.
Beneficiary Nominations on Superannuation: Your superannuation is not automatically covered by your will. A binding death benefit nomination directs your super trustee to pay your balance to a specific person. Australians over 50 with significant superannuation balances who have not updated their nomination — or who made it more than three years ago and let it lapse — may be leaving a major asset in legal limbo.
Testamentary Trusts: For Australians with complex assets, blended families, or dependants with special needs, a testamentary trust set up within a will can provide significantly better tax outcomes and asset protection than a direct inheritance.
The 2026 Federal Budget and Deceased Estates
The 2026-27 Federal Budget introduced changes affecting how deceased estates and family trusts are treated for tax purposes. Legal and financial advisers have noted that existing estate plans drafted before these changes may no longer reflect the most tax-efficient distribution of assets. If you have not reviewed your will since before May 2026, now is a practical time to do so.
Who Should Act Now
While the statistics show that older Australians are more likely to have wills in place, three groups are consistently underserved:
Australians in their 40s and early 50s who have accumulated significant assets — property, superannuation, share portfolios — but have never formalised their estate plans. This is the demographic The Boroughs is reaching most effectively: people approaching the retirement community years who have not yet thought seriously about what happens next.
People in blended families where the legal default (assets to spouse, then children) may not reflect actual wishes. Estate disputes in blended families are one of the most common matters Australian wills and estates lawyers handle.
Anyone whose circumstances have changed since their last will — divorce, new children, significant change in assets, or the death of a named executor or beneficiary. A will that no longer reflects reality can be as problematic as no will at all.
The Boroughs is fictional. The retirement community on screen is fictional. But the vulnerability its characters face — running out of time before their affairs are in order — is entirely real.
For authoritative guidance on wills and powers of attorney in Australia, visit Moneysmart.gov.au, the Australian Government's official financial guidance service.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Estate planning laws vary by state and territory. Consult a qualified Australian lawyer for advice specific to your circumstances.
