The Waterfront on Netflix is a messy soap opera, but Kevin Williamson's story makes it worth watching.

Since it came out on June 19, 2025, The Waterfront on Netflix has made a big splash. Kevin Williamson, who created famous shows including Dawson's Creek and Scream, wrote this family crime drama about the Buckley family and their failing fishing business in North Carolina. As their business goes down the drain, they use more and more hazardous ways to stay afloat, like importing drugs. Some critics have said it's a "soggy soap," but I was surprisingly intrigued since I thought Williamson's very personal story made it more than just a usual melodrama.

You might think of The Waterfront as simply another primetime soap, but knowing the real background behind it transforms the whole experience of watching it. Williamson has said that the series is "loosely based" on his own family's past, especially the fact that his father was involved in drug trafficking on a fishing boat in the 1980s. This isn't just a made-up narrative; Williamson promised his father that he would tell it after he died. This emotional link, this memory of a small village in North Carolina from decades ago and the desperation that made good people do evil things, really grounds the performance.

The Waterfront's crazy plot is based on Kevin Williamson's childhood trauma.

The Creator's own life narrative makes the Buckley family's problems more interesting.

Williamson grew up in Oriental, North Carolina, a town that was formed by fishing, just like the made-up town of Havenport in the show. He saw the fishing sector go downhill in the 1980s, which drove many people, including his father, to do things they shouldn't have. His dad was also arrested for plotting to sell marijuana. The Buckleys make ethically questionable choices because they are under a lot of pressure to put food on the table and survive in real life. This context makes the show's strong plot seem less like random nonsense and more like a heightened depiction of true need.

There's little doubt that Williamson is good at putting personal background into his work. In the first episode of Dawson's Creek, Joey Potter's father is in prison for a crime that is similar to his father's. With The Waterfront, he's exploring a "darker side" of himself by looking at issues like loyalty, legacy, and the burden of unfinished business. This makes the concert feel like a long-overdue trip back to a very emotional and important time in his life, which, for me, adds a depth of real emotion to the otherwise crazy story.

People have mixed feelings about the Waterfront, but it can't be denied that it's fun to watch.

There are mixed reviews, but fans are finding something to love.

People have had different things to say about The Waterfront. Some people have termed it "pure American soap" with "occasional flashes of grisly violence," while others have complimented its "slow-burn Southern gothic tale" and its focus on family loyalty. Critics give it a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes, but viewers give it a better 71%. This means that not everyone will like the show, but a lot of people do.

I can see why some people would call it "unconvincing" or "a lazy mishmash of a dozen primetime soap clichés." The dialogue can often come off as "unintentional comedy," and the idea of a family of fishermen turning to drug smuggling might sound like something we've seen before. But I think it's interesting that the show wants to mix things from Yellowstone, Ozark, and even Outer Banks. It's not trying to be a highbrow drama; it's attempting to be fun, easy-to-watch TV, and for the most part, it succeeds.

There are some questionable character choices, but the cast makes the material better.

The story is held together by Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, and Melissa Benoist.

The Waterfront has a great cast of actors that strive hard to make their characters more interesting, even when the writing isn't always great. Harlan Buckley, played by Holt McCallany, is a "big, bruising presence" who is the harsh, ethically flawed guy at the head of the family. Maria Bello plays his wife, Belle, who is the "pragmatic backbone" of the family, seeking to keep it and its secrets together. Their acting helps make the most outrageous parts of the story seem real.

Melissa Benoist plays Bree, the daughter who is recovering from addiction, and she does a great job. Her problems with staying sober and her troubled connection with her son, Diller, offer a level of emotional depth that feels real. Williamson has said that Bree's addictive traits are a part of his own mind, which makes her story even more powerful. Some people might not like that Bree is a mother to a teenager, but I think her backstory as a teen mom, which could be because of her past problems, fits with the scenario. Jake Weary, who plays Cane, the son seeking to impress his father, also adds a certain charm to his character.

The Waterfront Is A Guilty Pleasure That Doesn't Need To Be More

It's a fun summer movie that isn't afraid to be melodramatic.

In the end, The Waterfront doesn't want to be the next Emmy-winning drama, and that's good. The show knows how "sensational, just-this-side-of-campy" it is and gives people who like a decent family soap a "highly entertaining" experience. Part of the fun is the "outrageous behavior of its morally compromised characters." The violence, which is occasionally "grisly," fits Williamson's acknowledged penchant for the darker side of storytelling.

I like this program because you can just enjoy the ride without having to think too much about every story twist or character motivation. It lives up to its name as a "bingeable series" by giving you a compelling family narrative set on the seaside with lots of secrets and deceit. The Waterfront isn't a great movie, but it's a fun summer viewing that benefits from the fact that the person who made it has a deep, emotional connection to the tale.

The first season of The Waterfront launched on June 19, 2025, and all eight episodes are now available to stream on Netflix.