The Waterfront (2025)

Creator/Showrunner: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Holt McCallany, Melissa Benoist, Maria Bello, Jake Weary, Rafael L. Silva, Danielle Campbell
Episodes: 8 (42–55 min each)
Premiere: June 19, 2025 on Netflix

Set in the fictional coastal town of Havenport, North Carolina, The Waterfront delves into the Buckley family's salmon-and-narcotics empire. Patriarch Harlan (McCallany) battles failing health while his children—Cane (Weary) and Bree (Benoist)—struggle with the escalating chaos: drug smuggling, family secrets, addiction, and betrayal. Rafael Silva stands out as Shawn, a bartender with his own hidden connections to the clan 

• Strong Cast Performances:
  McCallany anchors the show with rugged gravitas. Benoist portrays Bree’s vulnerability and resilience, while Silva brings fresh energy and charisma as Shawn—often the emotional centerpiece .

• Intense Character Drama & Crime Elements:
  The series marries family dynamics with crime thriller tension—murders, turf wars, smuggling—with visceral brutality reminiscent of Ozark and Bloodline .

• Binge-Worthy Cliffhangers:
  Each episode ends on dramatic high-stakes revelations, making it compelling viewing for late-night binge sessions 

• Soap-Opera Tendencies & Tonal Inconsistency:
  Critics note melodramatic dialogue and family squabbles interspersed with abrupt violence; some liken it to “Yellowstone with seafood”—engaging but uneven 

• Thin Character Development:
  Several characters remain archetypal—with predictable arcs and limited depth. Some reviews point out that family drama overshadows deeper psychological insight 

• Formulaic Storytelling:
  While stylish and entertaining, the show leans heavily on tried-and-true crime tropes. It echoes Ozark and Yellowstone without fully carving its own narrative identity 

• Rotten Tomatoes: 71% critics; consensus: “Grim and pulpy, traffics in clichés but injects them with enough bravado to make for a gripping binge” 

• Metacritic: Mixed reviews (Score: 53/100) 

• Critic Opinions:

  • Positive: Collider praised its strong cast and blend of family tension and crime .

  • Negative: The Independent described it as “pure American soap opera” with occasional violence, labeling it entertaining but shallow 

  • Harsh: The Nightly dismissed it as dramatic yet tone-deaf, calling it “ludicrous” and lacking self-awareness 

The Waterfront delivers a compelling blend of family dysfunction and criminal intrigue—backed by solid performances and binge-worthy drama. It's engaging if you enjoy shows similar to Ozark and Yellowstone, but it often prioritizes surface-level thrills over narrative depth.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Recommended For: Viewers craving addictive, character-driven crime sagas with coastal tension.
Skip If: You prefer sharply written, emotionally rich storytelling or grounded character arcs.