The new Peacock series The ‘Burbs, starring Keke Palmer and Jack Whitehall, dropped all eight episodes on February 8, 2026, and the finale left viewers with more questions than answers. The show, which reimagines the 1989 cult classic film of the same name, ended with a major kidnapping cliffhanger that has everyone wondering what happens next.
Creator and showrunner Celeste Hughey recently sat down with multiple outlets to break down that shocking finale and share her hopes for continuing the story in a potential second season. The series follows new parents Samira (Palmer) and Rob (Whitehall) as they move into Rob’s childhood home in the seemingly perfect town of Hinkley Hills, only to uncover dark secrets behind the picket fences .
The Finale’s Big Reveals and That Shocking Kidnapping
The first season of The ‘Burbs wrapped up with several major revelations. Throughout the season, Samira and Rob had been searching for Allison (Erica Dasher), a young woman who disappeared years ago from the creepy Victorian house across the street. The finale confirmed that Allison had been hiding in a bunker, believing she was a target of something much bigger happening in town .
The garbage man Walters (Chad Lindberg) was revealed as the person responsible for multiple deaths, including Allison’s husband Gary. Samira and Allison found themselves trapped in the bunker with Walters, but managed to fight back with help from Rob and Naveen (Kapil Talwalkar). Allison delivered the final blow, killing Walters, and then escaped town to start fresh .
But just when viewers thought the mystery was solved, the finale dropped its biggest twist. Samira developed a theory that the disappearances in Hinkley Hills weren’t the work of one disturbed individual, but part of a larger operation run by the Home Owners’ Association to keep the town “safe” by removing anyone they consider disruptive .
The final moments showed Naveen on a date with Kate, the widowed secretary of the HOA. Kate drugged him, stuffed him in her trunk, and drove away, making him the next victim in whatever conspiracy is running Hinkley Hills .
Creator Celeste Hughey on the Cliffhanger and Season 2 Plans
Hughey explained that the ending was designed to set up a much larger story. In an interview with TheWrap, she shared her thoughts on the HOA conspiracy.
“There is a larger conspiracy afoot. The HOA is involved, and we are figuring out who exactly is pulling the strings,” Hughey said. “Obviously, finding Naveen is the biggest important thing going into a potential second season, and then figuring out, really, what is going on in this town and who’s behind it” .
The showrunner also revealed why she chose Walters as the season’s killer, explaining it was a nod to the original film.
“The reason why he was the killer — at least for this season — is I love the garbage man in the original movie. I think they’re so funny, and so I thought that would also be a little wink to the movie, making the garbage man a bigger part of the story” .
Speaking with Deadline, Hughey made it clear that the creative team has big plans if Peacock greenlights another season.
“I would love a Season 2, and we really wrote to continue the story,” said Hughey. “I think you’ll find that there’s a really compelling cliffhanger at the end. I think people will really attach these characters and really want to come back and hang out with them” .
She added, “There’s so much more mystery to unfold” .
Cast Reactions to the Finale
The cast members have their own thoughts about that shocking ending. Kapil Talwalkar, who plays Naveen, admitted he has no idea what happens to his character.
“I haven’t prepared for Naveen’s funeral yet,” he joked to Us Weekly. “I actually have no clue — I was shocked when I read that” .
Talwalkar also told TheWrap that the uncertainty extends beyond the script.
“This could be the end or this could not,” Talwalkar said. “This is a conversation I’ve had with people higher above me. You really don’t know” .
Jack Whitehall, who plays Rob, revealed he initially hoped Naveen would meet a darker fate, but quickly changed his tune.
“Personally, I didn’t want him to get out of the trunk,” Whitehall quipped. “We were winding him up for the whole series that his character was going to get bumped off in the end. Then when we got that eighth episode, we were like, ‘Oh, this is so awkward. Now it might actually happen.’ We couldn’t cope without him so we’ve got to get him back. We’ve got to find our friend, and we’ve got to crack him out of the back of that car” .
Keke Palmer, who leads the series as Samira, is adamant that the story needs to continue. She told TheWrap that the finale’s revelations only scratch the surface.
“When you think about a town like Hinkley Hills, where their main phrase is, it’s the safest town in America. There has to be a reason for that,” Palmer explained. “The uncovering, it can’t end here. We need to know more of what was the lie underneath that lie underneath that lie” .
Hughey teased that Naveen’s fate might not be as final as it seems, saying, “Not lost forever. Who knows, Season 2?” .
Connection to the 1989 Original Film
One question many viewers have is how this new series connects to the Tom Hanks classic. Hughey explained that she made a deliberate choice to create something new while honoring the original.
“You know, an original idea around how I wanted to adapt it, there was a moment where I was like, ‘OK, can Carrie Fisher and Tom Hanks’ son be the same age in modern time?’” Hughey told Deadline. “I was trying to figure out how to tie it together. And then ultimately, it felt best to create an entirely new world with new characters, but still that echo of, it’s still called Hinkley Hills, but the street’s a different name. The facades of the houses are different, but we wanted to have that just DNA tied to it, but still not have it be of the same world” .
The series does include several nods to the film for eagle-eyed fans. There’s a portrait of H. Horace Hinckley (a nod to Tom Hanks’ character Ray Peterson) in the first episode, and original cast member Wendy Schaal (who played Bonnie Rumsfield in the 1989 movie) makes a cameo appearance . Hughey also teased “another really great cameo in the finale” that she didn’t want to spoil .
Hughey shared her personal connection to the original film, which shaped her approach to the series.
“The movie came out when I was quite young, so I watched it when I was probably too young to understand the awesome commentary and the humor. It was terrifying to me,” she recalled. “But revisiting it as an adult, I saw so much possibility for commentary, and I think it’s still so timely” .
What a Potential Season 2 Could Explore
If Peacock renews The ‘Burbs for a second season, Hughey has a clear direction in mind. The focus would shift from solving Allison’s disappearance to uncovering the full scope of the HOA’s operation and, of course, rescuing Naveen.
Kapil Talwalkar hinted that the series is filled with details that reward close viewing.
“If you are a deep fan of The ‘Burbs, you’ll find it. But what’s also great is if you like those types of movies and films in general, you can get a whole new story out of this one. You can appreciate all the tiny details and Easter eggs that are in there but you get a brand new experience” .
Julia Duffy, who plays Lynn, expressed interest in exploring more of the neighborhood’s backstory, including characters who haven’t been seen yet.
“We haven’t met my children but there was a line where I mentioned them,” she noted. “We really want to meet these children” .
Duffy also pointed out that Rob’s parents haven’t been introduced, leaving room for more family dynamics. She even threw out the idea of cameos from the original film’s cast, starting with Tom Hanks himself .
Streaming Availability and Reception
All eight episodes of The ‘Burbs are now streaming exclusively on Peacock in the United States . For international viewers, the series is available on various platforms depending on the region.
The show has generated significant buzz since its February 8 premiere, with viewers divided on the cliffhanger ending. Some appreciate the bold storytelling choice, while others find the unresolved tension frustrating without an official renewal announcement .
Palmer summed up why she believes the show resonates with modern audiences. She explained to TV Insider that the themes of the original film have only become more relevant over time.
“I think maybe in 1989 it was fun and interesting to be like, ‘Oh, the ‘burbs have something crazy going on.’ But in 2026, the ‘burbs do have something crazy going on, or there are at least things that we want to revisit about these archetypes that we imagine in the ‘burbs,” Palmer said .
She also appreciated how the series uses genre to tackle heavier subjects.
“When I looked at the pilot and met with the team, I thought, OK, this is a great opportunity to talk about some heavy topics, but to use the horror genre and comedy, almost in a similar sense [to shows] I used to love back in the day, with the old sitcoms of Norman Lear, where they wouldn’t shy away from some weird stuff or some heavy things, but they found a way to make it able to be metabolized by the public, and really just kind of get it out there and start the conversation” .
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What the Cast Hopes to See
Paula Pell, who plays the cheerful neighbor Dana, shared what drew her to the project and what she hopes continues in future episodes.
“I feel like it’s very relevant in terms of keeping your neighbors, keeping an eye on your neighbors, and making sure everyone is safe and and finding community, finding connection, and figuring out who your people are, that you know will be there when things go down in a in a darker way,” Pell told TV Insider. “I think the world feels very volatile. And I feel like the neighborhood in this show, in its fictionalized volatility, like murder” .
She added that the show offers something audiences desperately need right now.
“Even though Keke’s character is new, she recognizes that these people are going to be ‘my people,’ and they’re going to protect me, and I’m going to protect them. So I like that part of it a lot. I think it’s just fun. And God knows, we need some fun right now. Amen, with bleak news coming every day, and just to cut through that with some entertainment, some fun, and just allow yourself to just be part of this really fun, energetic, colorful world” .
Julia Duffy echoed this sentiment, calling the show “wonderful escapism” for audiences everywhere .
As fans wait to hear about a potential Season 2 renewal, one thing is clear: the residents of Hinkley Hills have plenty more secrets to spill, and Naveen needs rescuing.
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