
"The Waterfront": Netflix's New Drama Dives Deep Into Peril and Power
- Jun 26, 2025
"All aboard for family drama and power plays!" seems to be the thrilling call of Netflix’s newest soap, 'The Waterfront.' The drama is the brainchild of Kevin Williamson, creator of popular shows like “Dawson’s Creek” and “The Vampire Diaries.” Paying homage to his father’s fishing and smuggling past, Williamson takes us to the heart of a fictional North Carolina fishing village, Havenport.
In sync with Williamson's knack for stories that lead to unexpected places, 'The Waterfront' presents the Buckleys, a rich fishing family with a nefarious underbelly. Behind their privileged and orderly exterior, the Buckleys' life is riddled with secrets, lies, and a healthy dose of violence. The series focuses on four individuals, driven to the brink to protect their legacy, all while barely keeping from turning against one another.
The plotline unfurls in the dead of night on belligerent waters, where a Buckley boat is seized by gunmen, and its drug-smuggling occupants overturned. Henceforth, the show delves into the convoluted world of the Buckley family- Harlan (Holt McCallany), the wayward patriarch recovering from heart attacks, Belle (Maria Bello), the long-suffering wife, and Cane (Jake Weary), the son embroiled in a drug-running operation.
While Harlan drowns his health scares in booze and debauchery, leaving the family businesses overlooked, Belle and Cane attempt to stave off bankruptcy. Simultaneously, the mother-son duo grapples with escalating debts, divergent views and family disagreements.
Amidst the chaos, Belle secretly endeavours to monetize family property, going against her husband's wishes. Also, in a hushed move, Cane delves into drug-running, a murky territory Harlan painstakingly distanced himself from years ago. Additionally, the family dynamic is strained further by Cane’s sister Bree (Melissa Benoist), a recovering addict seeking redemption and reunion with her family after losing her teenage son because of a relapse.

All hell breaks loose when a drug deal goes awry, resulting in the death of Cane’s men. Combined with the unwelcome attention of Sheriff Clyde Porter (Michael Gaston) and DEA Agent Marcus Sanchez (Gerardo Celasco), Cane finds himself scrambling to his father for help. What ensues is a kaleidoscope of scandalous business deals, unnerving characters, intense family disputes, and unexpected plot turns.
"The Waterfront," essentially portrays the double-faced nature of the Buckleys. Although haphazard and fraught with controversy, the family is engrossing to watch, making the series a binge-worthy spectacle. As the plot reels in layers of deceit, drugs, crime and betrayal, it spins a web of fascination for the audience. The characters are a cocktail of the detestable and the compelling. For instance, at first glance, Bree appears hell-bent on avenging her brother, ignoring her faults. As the story unfolds, however, the audience uncovers deeply-rooted torments from her past. Similarly, Cane’s seemingly demure wife, Peyton (Danielle Campbell), evolves as a character with deeper complexities by the end of Season 1.
Meandering through intricate plotlines and wrapping up episodes in a crisp 40-50 minutes, "The Waterfront" is a tantalising beach read equivalent of a TV series. McCallany and Bello provide a strong foundation, allowing a host of colourful characters to flit in and fade from the storyline. With several cliffhangers waiting resolution, "The Waterfront" is poised to be another in the line of Williamson's hit franchises.
Catch the waves of drama as "The Waterfront" is now steaming full ahead on Netflix.