In February, there’s one comedy show that jumps out as the most intriguing new series of the year.
Peacock‘s The ‘Burbs is very loosely based on the 1989 cult comedy classic starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher.
Keke Palmer headlines the new series, which re-contextualizes the paranoia of The ‘Burbs and expands upon it.
Now, Watch With Us is sharing the reasons why The ‘Burbs is the one comedy show that you have to watch in February 2026.
‘The ‘Burbs’ Puts a Spotlight on Keke Palmer
Palmer executive produces The ‘Burbs in addition to starring in it, and it’s not hard to see what drew her to it. Her character, Samira Fisher, is very different from Hanks’ Ray Peterson. Samira is a newcomer to the neighborhood, which is where her husband, Rob Fisher (Jack Whitehall), grew up. And as one of the few non-white residents, Samira is immediately uncomfortable in that setting.
That hyper-vigilance is what leads Samira to notice strange things about their new neighbor, Gary (Justin Kirk), who has moved into the neighborhood’s infamous Hinkley House. Palmer brings a lot of natural humor to the role, but she’s just serious enough to be a credible heroine who is understandably wary about Gary. She’s also adept at getting laughs out of some of the show’s more uncomfortable situations that are rooted in reality. It’s not easy being a Black woman in this suburban jungle, but Palmer makes it fun to watch Samira make her way through it all.
The Supporting Cast Is Very Funny
Although Whitehall is charming in his interactions with Samira, he’s not ultimately part of the show’s primary comedy group. Besides Palmer, that includes Lynn Gardner (Julia Duffy), Dana Richards (Paula Pell) and Tod (Mark Proksch), an eccentric bunch who have been in the neighborhood a lot longer than Samira has.
When appearing with these oddballs, Samira essentially becomes the straight man of the show. This trio does come off more as caricatures than fully realized characters, but their function on the show is to make the audience laugh. And that’s what they do. Samira needed to have a crew that has her back, even if she can’t really count on all of them.
The Premise Has Been Cleverly Updated
It should go without saying that a Black woman’s experience in suburbia is going to be different from a white man’s. The ‘Burbs isn’t as overt about its social commentary as Get Out, but the discomfort that Samira experiences happens for a reason. She encounters casual racism among some of her neighbors that feels all too real. That adds another layer to Samira’s suspicions about the neighborhood itself. That makes the show feel distinct from the film.
Kirk is also suitably creepy as Gary, but is he just another grumpy eccentric, or is he someone who is truly menacing to the neighborhood? You’ll have to watch the show to get those answers, but the entire first season is now available to watch.
The ‘Burbs is streaming on Peacock.
