“Some legacies are built to last. Others are built to drown.”
The Waterfront (2025) is a slow-burning Southern drama that plunges deep into family loyalty, corruption, and the cost of empire. Set against the humid, salt-washed shores of Havenport, North Carolina, the series follows the fractured Buckley family as they fight to preserve a coastal dynasty built on seafood, secrets, and survival.
Story Overview
Once the undisputed rulers of Havenport’s fishing industry and restaurant empire, the Buckleys are now adrift. Patriarch Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany) is battling failing health, leaving his wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) to navigate hostile takeovers and mounting debt. Beneath the surface, long-buried scandals resurface—threatening not just their wealth, but their reputation.
Meanwhile, Bree Buckley (Melissa Benoist), the estranged daughter with a past riddled with addiction, returns home only to fall into a dangerous entanglement that could unravel the family from within. As power shifts and betrayals mount, each member of the Buckley clan must choose whether to preserve what remains—or burn it all down.
Created by Kevin Williamson (Scream, Dawson’s Creek), The Waterfront blends Southern gothic tension with razor-sharp family drama. It’s a world where every handshake hides a secret, and every tide brings something back.
Why It Stands Out
Kevin Williamson brings his signature mix of suspense and character-driven storytelling to a setting brimming with tension. The show features a powerhouse cast led by Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, and Melissa Benoist, each delivering complex, emotionally charged performances. Filmed on location in Wilmington and Southport, the series captures the grit and allure of coastal life, where appearances deceive and blood runs as deep as the bay.
Expectations & Legacy
Premiering June 19, 2025, on Netflix, The Waterfront promises to be a bold addition to the Southern drama canon—equal parts thriller, family saga, and moral reckoning. In a world where legacy is currency and truth is buried under years of lies, the only question left is: will the Buckleys rise with the tide, or drown in their own history?