(L to R) Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley, Maria Bello as Belle Buckley in episode 104 of ‘The Waterfront.’ Picture: Dana Hawley/Netflix © 2025.
‘The Waterfront receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.
Launched on Netflix in a single batch on June nineteenth, ‘The Waterfront’ is the user action TV product to roll off the prolific manufacturing line of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘The Vampire Diaries’Kevin Williamson.
The solid for the brand new crime drama consists of Holt McCallany (‘Mindhunter’), Maria Bello (‘A History of Violence’), Melissa Benoist (‘Supergirl’), Jake Weary (‘It Follows’) and Rafael L. Silva (‘9-1-1: Lone Star’).
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Preliminary Ideas
Maria Bello as Belle Buckley in episode 101 of ‘The Waterfront.’ Picture: Dana Hawley/Netflix © 2025.
Kevin Williamson is aware of the best way to create compelling TV reveals. He has, in spite of everything, been doing it for years, stretching again to the times of ‘Wasteland’ and ‘Glory Days,’ scoring the prospect to make collection off the again of the success of his scripts for the early ‘Scream’ motion pictures.
Now Netflix has opened its pockets to snap up his abilities, and the result’s a present that feels very very similar to plenty of the crime dramas that the streaming service has appeared to launch earlier than and notably for the reason that success of Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Yellowstone’.
But one thing on this style, which boasts so many tropes and traps, wants cautious steering, and ‘The Waterfront’ doesn’t exhibit a lot of that.
Script and Route
(L to R) Melissa Benoist as Bree Buckley, Rafael Silva as Shawn West in episode 102 of ‘The Waterfront.’ Picture: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.
The writing on ‘The Waterfront’ is maybe its largest situation. Given the sheer variety of TV reveals (and a few motion pictures) about households who’ve constructed their reputations with the looks of respectability and energy, just for prison motives to lurk below the floor, there is not a lot new lurking right here.
What number of instances should we watch a manly patriarch battle to step from the shadow of his personal father, confront enemies who wish to take down his enterprise or hurt his household? Is there actually a contemporary strategy to sort out a troubled eldest son whose spirit doesn’t at all times appear to be within the actions which might be essential to hold the empire afloat, and who takes out his frustrations by dishonest in his marriage?
And never forgetting –– for those who’re retaining a bingo card useful –– the previous addict daughter who has misplaced custody of her little one and harbors deep resentments in opposition to those that turned her in?
A variety of what Williamson and his writers carry to the display screen feels much less like a contemporary script and extra like a combined bag of anticipated ideas and well-trodden paths. However regardless of the odd tweak and right here, nothing actually works all that nicely.
Directorially, issues are fairly easy, verging on bland too –– there are some stunning backdrops and administrators Erica Dunton, Liz Friedlander and Marcos Siega so a minimum of have a gifted solid to work with.
Forged and Performances
Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley in episode 102 of ‘The Waterfront.’ Picture: Dana Hawley/Netflix © 2025.
As fishing boat magnate/occasional drug runner Harlan Buckley, Holt McCallany can do that type of position in his sleep, and given the script, you do typically marvel if he did. But he’s nonetheless obtained rugged charisma within the position, in a position to deal with squaring off in opposition to opponents or coping with his wayward household.
Maria Bello doesn’t at all times get as a lot to do as McCallany, however enjoying steel-spined matriarch Mae Buckley, she’s a very good scene companion for him and in addition first rate in one among her different storylines, the place she discovers an surprising addition to the household (oh sure, that previous chestnut is rolled out but once more right here).
As their daughter Bree, Melissa Benoist does what she will be able to with the equally seen-it-before position of the struggling younger girl coping with her dependancy demons and throwing herself into problematic relationships. She’s at all times good, however the Bree position simply isn’t all that satisfying.
(L to R) Maria Bello as Belle Buckley, Danielle Campbell as Peyton, Jake Weary as Cane Buckley in episode 102 of ‘The Waterfront.’ Picture: Dana Hawley/Netflix © 2025.
Jake Weary is distinctly common as Cane Buckley, the eldest son together with his personal points. It’s not completely the actor’s fault –– the position itself is slim and fewer than satisfying.
Round them there are the odd roles that pop: Topher Grace is having extra enjoyable than anybody else on display screen as drug kingpin Grady, a person with a simple chortle and a yen for punishing those that attempt to cross him with a truck-mounted machine gun. He’s not in lots of episodes, however the present is best for his presence.
Ultimate Ideas
(L to R) Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley, Topher Grace as Grady in episode 104 of ‘The Waterfront.’ Picture: Dana Hawley/Netflix © 2025.
‘The Waterfront’ appears more likely to sink beneath the sheer variety of different, higher output from Netflix and elsewhere (not least of that are the various ‘Yellowstone’ spin-offs), because it gives little in the way in which that makes it stand out.
In case you’re a fan of the solid or the style, it could be price a glance, however in any other case it’s largely unremarkable.
“On this city, loyalty comes with a value.”
What’s the plot of ‘The Waterfront’?
For many years, the Buckley household has dominated Havenport, North Carolina, dominating every thing from the native fishing business to the city’s restaurant scene. However their fishing empire has began to crumble as patriarch Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany) recovers from two coronary heart assaults, and his spouse Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) enterprise into the deep finish to maintain the household companies afloat.
As their makes an attempt spiral uncontrolled and into treacherous waters, Harlan steps again in to take command. Dealing with her personal demons, Buckley daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist) — an addict in restoration who’s misplaced custody of her son Diller (Brady Hepner) — finds herself entangled in an advanced relationship that would threaten the household’s future ceaselessly.
Who stars in ‘The Waterfront?
- Holt McCallany
- Maria Bello
- Melissa Benoist
- Jake Weary
- Brady Hepner
- Rafael L. Silva
- Danielle Campbell
- Topher Grace
- Michael Gaston
(L to R) Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley, Maria Bello as Belle Buckley in episode 104 of ‘The Waterfront.’ Picture: Dana Hawley/Netflix © 2025.