Created by Kevin Williamson
The Waterfront premiered on June 19, 2025.
Distributed by Netflix worldwide (VOD).
Series Review
The Waterfront sweeps you into a world where the salty spray of the sea mingles with the high stakes of family loyalty.
When Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany) returns from the brink to save his struggling fishing business, he pulls his wife Belle (Maria Bello), their children Cane (Jake Weary) and Bree (Melissa Benoist), and the rest of the Buckley clan into a murky drug-smuggling scheme.
The real magic lies in the performances: McCallany’s quiet intensity grounds every scene, Bello radiates fierce maternal resolve, and Benoist captures the agony of a daughter torn between love and fear.
Add memorable turns from Topher Grace as the smooth yet dangerous Grady and Rafael L. Silva as a bartender with surprising ties to the family, and you have a drama that crackles with tension.
Though it sometimes drifts into soap-opera territory, the series earns its keep with weathered characters, coastal atmosphere, and enough twists to keep you hooked all eight episodes.
Ratings:
• Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
• Metacritic: 53/100
The Waterfront Actors
Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley
DOB: September 3, 1963
Bio: Born in New York City to a Broadway producer father and a cabaret singer mother, Holt trained in France (Sorbonne, Marcel Marceau school) and Ireland (Gaiety School of Acting).
He’s known for his intense roles in Mindhunter, Fight Club, and Three Kings, and advocates for veterans’ mental-health.
Role: The Buckley patriarch whose near-fatal heart attacks force him back into the family fishing business—then into dangerous smuggling to save it.
Episodes: All 8
What to Expect: Stoic leadership cracking under pressure, moral compromises, and fierce protectiveness of his legacy.
Favorite Things: Pre-dawn fishing, single-malt Scotch, singing sea shanties.
Notable Works: Mindhunter, Fight Club, Three Kings.
Jake Weary as Cane Buckley
DOB: February 14, 1990
Bio: The son of Emmy-winning actress Kim Zimmer and director A.C. Weary, Jake studied at CalArts and forged his own path with gritty roles in Animal Kingdom and the cult horror hit It Follows.
Beyond acting, he produces electronic music under the name “Agendas” and volunteers as a youth basketball coach in Los Angeles.
Role: As Harlan’s eldest son, Cane finds himself caught between blood loyalty and a moral compass, increasingly entangled in the family’s descent into criminal activity.
Episodes: All 8
What to Expect: Intense family clashes, emotional turmoil, and a man pushed past his limits.
Favorite Things: Surfing at dawn, cooking family meals, writing music.
Notable Works: Animal Kingdom, It Follows, How to Blow Up a Pipeline.
Danielle Campbell as Peyton Buckley
DOB: January 30, 1995
Bio: First discovered in Disney Channel’s Starstruck, Danielle evolved from teen sensation to dramatic lead with standout performances in The Originals and Tell Me a Story.
Outside of acting, she’s a certified yoga instructor and runs wellness retreats for at-risk youth, blending mindfulness with mentorship.
Role: Peyton is Cane Buckley’s wife—a poised former socialite whose picture-perfect life begins to crack as she’s drawn into her husband’s dangerous descent.
Episodes: All 8
What to Expect: Poised grace under siege, fierce defense of family, and moral reckoning.
Favorite Things: Pilates, hosting charity events, interior design.
Notable Works: The Originals, Tell Me a Story, Famous in Love.
Maria Bello as Belle Buckley
DOB: April 18, 1967
Bio: Pennsylvania-born Maria Bello rose to prominence with her Emmy-nominated role on ER before starring in Coyote Ugly, The Cooler, and the critically acclaimed Beef.
A passionate advocate for arts education, she also hosts charitable cooking events that blend culinary skill with community impact.
Role: Matriarch running the seafood business while navigating her husband’s return and the family’s descent into crime.
Episodes: All 8
What to Expect: Steadfast strength, emotional upheaval, and strategic resolve.
Favorite Things: Family crab feasts, mentoring young chefs, journal writing.
Notable Works: ER, Coyote Ugly, Beef.
Melissa Benoist as Bree Buckley
DOB: October 4, 1988
Bio: A classically trained singer and actress, Melissa Benoist studied at Juilliard before breaking out as Marley Rose on Glee and cementing her star status in Supergirl.
Off-screen, she’s a passionate advocate for addiction recovery initiatives, inspired by her own family’s experiences.
Role: Bree fights sobriety and battles to regain custody of her son while her family’s criminal ties threaten her progress.
Episodes: All 8
What to Expect: Vulnerable breakthroughs, raw relapse fears, and fierce maternal love.
Favorite Things: Broadway shows, pottery, leading recovery meetings.
Notable Works: Glee, Supergirl, Beautiful (Broadway).
Rafael L. Silva as Shawn West
DOB: June 18, 1994
Bio: Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and raised in New Jersey, Rafael L. Silva trained at Pace University’s School of Performing Arts.
He gained recognition for his breakout role as Officer Carlos Reyes in 9-1-1: Lone Star.
Off-screen, Silva is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt and an advocate for Latinx representation in media.
Role: The new bartender whose charm conceals his true identity—and his surprising blood tie to Harlan.
Episodes: All 8
What to Expect: Tense reveals, shifting loyalties, and emotional depth.
Favorite Things: Craft cocktails, BJJ training, environmental activism.
Notable Works: 9-1-1: Lone Star, Madam Secretary, MacGyver.
Humberly González as Jenna Tate
DOB: April 14, 1992
Bio: Born in Punto Fijo, Venezuela, and raised in Toronto, Canada, Humberly González is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
She’s best known for her roles in Ginny & Georgia, Utopia Falls, and In the Dark.
Role: Investigative journalist and Cane’s ex, whose probe into the Buckleys pulls her into mortal danger.
Episodes: 7 of 8
What to Expect: Tenacious reporting, personal stakes, and moral dilemmas.
Favorite Things: Rooftop café interviews, documentary-style street photography, beach volleyball on her off days.
Notable Works: Ginny & Georgia, Utopia Falls, In the Dark.
Brady Hepner as Diller Hopkins
DOB: August 18, 2005
Bio: Born in North Carolina, Brady Hepner gained national attention for his role as Vance Hopper in the horror hit The Black Phone.
While still in high school, he began booking film and TV roles, quickly becoming a breakout young talent.
He is passionate about mental health advocacy and creative writing, and he trains in lacrosse competitively.
Role: Bree’s son, whose loyalty and fear expose the family’s darkest secrets.
Episodes: 6 of 8
What to Expect: Heartfelt scenes, teenage confusion, and resilience.
Favorite Things: Lacrosse, skateboarding, poetry writing.
Notable Works: The Black Phone, See/Saw, Rescue Rangers
Topher Grace as Grady
DOB: July 12, 1978
Bio: Born in New York City and raised in Darien, Connecticut, Topher Grace became a household name as Eric Forman on That ’70s Show.
He later earned acclaim in Traffic, Interstellar, and BlacKkKlansman, showcasing his range beyond sitcom roots.
A lifelong cinephile, he co-founded CineFixers, a non-profit focused on film preservation and restoration.
Role: Suave drug lord whose deal with Harlan escalates into a deadly power struggle.
Episodes: 4 of 8
What to Expect: Chilling manipulation, strategic cruelty, and tense showdowns.
Favorite Things: Vintage cars, poker games, film collecting.
Notable Works: That ’70s Show, Interstellar, BlackKkKlansman.
Gerardo Celasco as DEA Agent Marcus Sanchez
DOB: September 25, 1982
Bio: Born in Miami, Florida, and raised in El Salvador, Gerardo Celasco first gained fame on the NBC soap Passions under the stage name Adrian Bellani.
A Pepperdine University grad and former equestrian athlete, he later transitioned to high-profile roles in How to Get Away with Murder and The Cleaning Lady.
Off-screen, he’s passionate about mentoring Latinx youth through community justice and public service programs.
Role: Dogged DEA agent whose investigation—complicated by a bond with Bree—threatens the Buckleys.
Episodes: 5 of 8
What to Expect: Undercover tension, ethical conflict, and high-stakes busts.
Notable Works: Passions, How to Get Away with Murder, The Cleaning Lady.
Michael Gaston as Sheriff Clyde Porter
DOB: November 5, 1962
Bio: A veteran character actor from Walnut Creek, California, Michael Gaston trained at the University of California, Davis and honed his craft at HB Studio.
Known for tough, authoritative roles across film and TV, he’s had standout performances in Prison Break, Jericho, The Man in the High Castle, and Daredevil: Born Again.
Role: Sheriff caught between enforcing the law and protecting his community as crime invades Havenport.
Episodes: 6 of 8
What to Expect: Procedural grit, conflicted loyalties, and moral showdown.
Notable Works: Prison Break, Jericho, Daredevil: Born Again.
Dave Annable as Wes Benson
DOB: September 15, 1979
Bio: Born in Suffern, New York, Dave Annable studied at SUNY Plattsburgh and the Neighborhood Playhouse.
He rose to prominence as Justin Walker in Brothers & Sisters, earning a Teen Choice Award and ensemble acclaim.
Annable has also starred in Red Band Society, Yellowstone, and What/If.
Role: Real-estate developer whose affair with Belle entangles him in the Buckleys’ criminal chaos.
Episodes: 4 of 8
What to Expect: Smooth charm, shifting alliances, and greed’s fallout.
Notable Works: Brothers & Sisters, Yellowstone, What/If, Red Band Society
More Actors
Zach Roerig as Troy
Andrew Call as Deputy Sawyer
FAQ – The Waterfront Series
How many episodes are in Season 1?
Season 1 has 8 episodes, each lasting between 42 and 55 minutes
Is The Waterfront based on a true story?
Yes—though fictionalized, the series is deeply inspired by creator Kevin Williamson’s own family history.
His father, Wade Williamson, turned to drug smuggling in the 1980s to sustain their North Carolina fishing business, an arc mirrored in the Buckleys’ struggles. PEOPLE
Where was The Waterfront filmed?
Production took place in Wilmington and Southport, North Carolina, which doubled as the fictional coastal town of Havenport.
Kevin Williamson shot scenes in locations familiar from his past works. NEWSOBSERVER
Who’s the main villain in Season 1?
The primary antagonist is Grady, a slick and brutal drug kingpin whose escalating involvement forces the Buckleys deeper into the drug trade—ultimately leading to his downfall.
Conclusion
The Waterfront may sail on familiar crime-drama waters, but its standout performances and vivid coastal setting make for a compelling voyage.
Holt McCallany’s Harlan Buckley anchors the story with quiet gravitas, while Maria Bello and Melissa Benoist bring emotional depth to the family’s turmoil.
With its mix of high-stakes smuggling, personal betrayal, and sun-drenched visuals, the series offers a satisfying eight-episode escape—even if it occasionally leans into soapier shores.
For viewers craving character-driven tension and a unique seaside twist on the crime genre, The Waterfront is well worth the trip.