Overview

• The Waterfront premiered on Netflix on June 19, following the Buckley family as they grapple with a faltering North Carolina fishing empire and its turn to drug trafficking.
• Creator Kevin Williamson grounded the series in his late father’s real 1980s smuggling work, blending personal history with fictional power struggles.
• Viewers have binged all eight episodes, sparking enthusiastic social media buzz and widespread demands for renewal.
• Critical response has been mixed, reflected in a 67% Rotten Tomatoes rating, with comparisons drawn to Ozark and Yellowstone for its small-town crime drama tone.
• Williamson has confirmed plans for Season 2 to spotlight Belle Buckley’s rise at the center of the story and introduce new characters and alliances.