Peacock has launched 'The 'Burbs,' a new horror comedy series inspired by the 1989 Tom Hanks film, starring Keke Palmer as a new mother uncovering suburban secrets. The eight-episode first season explores mysteries in the fictional Hinkley Hills neighborhood, blending dark humor with themes of racial tension and hidden pasts. All episodes became available on February 8, 2026.
'The 'Burbs' adapts Joe Dante's 1989 cult black comedy for television, created by Celeste Hughey and executive produced by a team including Keke Palmer, Seth MacFarlane, and others from Imagine Entertainment. Keke Palmer stars as Samira, a civil litigation lawyer on maternity leave, who moves with her husband Rob (Jack Whitehall) and newborn son Miles into Rob's childhood home in the quaint Hinkley Hills cul-de-sac on Ashfield Place. The couple's arrival is overshadowed by the dilapidated pink Victorian house across the street, known as the Hinkley House, built in 1902 by mining magnate H. Horace Hinkley—revealed in a black-and-white video cameo by Tom Hanks himself.
Samira quickly befriends her eccentric neighbors: the recently widowed Lynn (Julia Duffy), whose husband Marty died of a heart attack six months prior; retired Marine Dana (Paula Pell); and the quirky Tod (Mark Proksch), who offers an awkward hand rub. During a wine night, the group discusses the house's dark history—a family once lived there, and their daughter Alison may have been murdered or gone missing two decades ago. Rob downplays the rumors, claiming he knew Alison but insists it was just small-town gossip.
Curiosity drives Samira to investigate. At the library, she watches the Hanks footage and seeks old newspaper clippings, but the librarian acts suspiciously. An open house reveals the home's eerie interior, including stained glass, exploding lights, and hearts painted with 'Alison' in a closet. Soon after, the house sells to a new owner, later identified as Gary (Justin Kirk), who moves in at 2 a.m. and installs security cameras. When Samira leaves brownies on the porch, they go untouched, leading to a tense nighttime retrieval. The owner calls the police, reporting a Black person trespassing twice; Rob's connection to an officer resolves it without charges.
The series weaves in racial microaggressions and psychological unease, echoing Jordan Peele's 'Get Out,' as Samira navigates postpartum isolation and suspicion toward Rob's hidden past. Highlights include Episode 4, 'A Nine on the Tension Scale,' where Samira digs deeper at the annual block party amid the neighborhood's strict HOA led by Agnes (Danielle Kennedy). Rob's friend Naveen (Kapil Talwalkar) adds levity, while the show critiques suburban perfection through bizarre revelations and neighborly oddities.
Critics praise Palmer's performance and the blend of genres, noting how it addresses Black experiences in white spaces without sugarcoating. The premiere sets up ongoing mysteries, leaving viewers questioning the secrets behind Hinkley Hills' unassuming facades.
