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Netflix’s The Waterfront Debuts as a Gripping Family Crime Drama

Inspired by creator Kevin Williamson’s own family history, the eight-episode drama charts a North Carolina fishing dynasty’s turn to drug smuggling to stave off ruin.

The Waterfront. (L to R) Jake Weary as Cane Buckley, Melissa Benoist as Bree Buckley in episode 105 of The Waterfront.
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Overview

  • The series launched on Netflix on June 19 with all eight episodes available for binge streaming.
  • Kevin Williamson based the plot on his late father’s small-scale drug runs in the 1980s, drawing on personal memories of his family’s legal troubles.
  • Holt McCallany and Maria Bello anchor the Buckley family as they navigate financial collapse alongside Jake Weary’s Cane and Melissa Benoist’s recovering addict Bree.
  • Early reviews praise the show’s blend of soapy intrigue and gritty crime elements, comparing it favorably to Ozark and Yellowstone.
  • Williamson has outlined a three- to five-year plan for the series, signaling confidence in multi-season storytelling if audience response remains strong.