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Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix's new No. 1 show is a soapy crime drama — and I'm surprised how much I want to binge-watch it
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Netflix's new crime drama 'The Waterfront' is basically a more grown-up spin on 'Dawson's Creek.' It follows an extended cast of characters in a waterside town as their personal drama entangles with their somehow even more chaotic professional lives. While its cast may be comprised of (mostly) adults, the melodrama feels just as soapy as the problems faced by Dawson and his pals in the iconic teen drama series. Only this time, there are more references to drug smuggling and high-stakes criminal activity than fretting over not getting asked to prom. Considering 'The Waterfront' comes from Kevin Williamson, creator of 'Dawson's Creek' as well as 'The Vampire Diaries' and the 'Scream' movie franchise, it's not a huge surprise that its tone is more sudsy than serious. And yet, despite things verging on cheesy on more than one occasion, after starting the series this week, I feel a strong compulsion to binge the rest right now. And clearly I'm not the only one who's been hooked by the new series. After about 24 hours on the platform, "The Waterfront" has rocketed straight to the No. 1 spot in the Netflix top 10 most-watched list. It's currently the most popular show on the service in several countries, including the U.S. So, if you're looking for a summer binge-watch, 'The Waterfront' might just be the perfect candidate, offering eight episodes stuffed with twists, betrayals, and 'shocking' revelations. It's a frothy throwback to a previous era of television, and I'm surprised how much that simple concept still appeals. Inspired by true events, 'The Waterfront' is set in the fictional North Caroline beach town of Havenport, a location controlled by the Buckley family. This chaotic clang has a tight grip on everything from the local restaurants to the fishing industry that keeps Havenport ticking. However, their empire is built on sand, and starts to crumble when patriarch Harlan (Holt McCallany) steps back from business after suffering a heart attack, and his reckless son Cane (Jake Weary) attempts to fill the void with some pretty disastrous results. It soon becomes clear that when you swim in murky waters, you don't come out clean. Thrown into the mix are the matriarchy of the family, Belle (Maria Bello), and daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist), a young mother struggling with addiction and battling over custody of her son. Let's just say, the Buckleys aren't exactly a picture of the perfect American family. As the authorities start investigating a double homicide, which could implicate the Buckleys in a series of narcotic crimes, the family finds themselves scrambling to cover their tracks, but their interpersonal fighting threatens to sink everything they've built even before the cops can uncover their secrets. It soon becomes clear that when you swim in murky waters, you don't come out clean. After streaming the first couple of episodes of 'The Waterfront,' one thing is very clear: This show is basically a slick-looking soap opera. It's stuffed with clunky dialogue exchanges, characters making decisions that in reality would lead them to ruin (but somehow work out), and a sense of escalation that sees the rabbit hole of chaos the Buckleys have dug only get bigger with each passing scene. It's certainly not awards-caliber drama. Yet, it's just self-aware enough to remain highly watchable. It's the sort of disposable TV that dominated the pre-streaming era of television. You could easily imagine the season being stretched to 20+ episodes, with a whole load of additional sideplots added to bulk things out. While the crime aspect is pretty prominent throughout — with Harlan and Cane's attempts to bring their unstable empire back under control taking the lion's share of the early screentime — the aspect that appealed to me most was actually Bree's attempts to connect with her estranged son, and her snarky snipe at her ex-husband. Benoist is a bit of a show stealer. Based on what I've consumed so far, 'The Waterfront' isn't a crime drama series that is going to live long in the memory. Heck, after just two episodes, the earliest moments are becoming a bit hazy, but I still feel surprisingly compelled to keep watching and see where this ride concludes. The show's combination of criminal dealings and relationship drama — in between drug dealings, Cane is trying to reconnect with a former flame — is a potent mix, and narrative wrinkles are dished out at a frequent enough clip that you can mostly gloss over the often hamfisted scripting and the times where the plot askews logic in favour of a big twist. 'The Waterfront' has arrived on Netflix at just the right time. Its beachside setting and its easy-watching nature feels fitting for the summer months. It's a Netflix original series you can consume in a relatively short amount of time, mostly enjoy while it lasts, and then move on without any lingering thoughts. It's probably not going to be ranked in many best-of-the-year lists. But that's not necessarily a deal-breaker. At least for me, I'm happy to make room in my streaming schedule for a show that offers intrigue, even if I can already tell it's not going to be a show that lives long in the memory. At least in the moment, there's enough soapy substance to keep me invested, and I'm curious to see where the Buckleys end up by the final episode. If you're itching for a Netflix show you can tear through in just a few evenings, or a single weekend, then 'The Waterfront' should fit the bill nicely. It's not going to leave the enduring legacy of some of Kevin Williamson's previous work, but it's pretty watchable, even if you can excuse some hokey dialogue. Meanwhile, if you're looking for more streaming options, check out our guide to everything added to Netflix in June 2025, which includes plenty of bingeable shows and original movies. Watch "The Waterfront" on Netflix now New on Netflix in June 2025 Netflix has racked up 15 No. 1 shows in 2025 (so far) Netflix drops first look at new political thriller series
Tom's Guide
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just streamed Netflix's new crime drama series — and I'm shocked how much I want to binge-watch the rest
Netflix's new crime drama 'The Waterfront' is basically a more grown-up spin on 'Dawson's Creek.' It follows an extended cast of characters in a waterside town as their personal drama entangles with their somehow even more chaotic professional lives. While its cast may be comprised of (mostly) adults, the melodrama feels just as soapy as the problems faced by Dawson and his pals in the iconic teen drama series. Only this time, there are more references to drug smuggling and high-stakes criminal activity than fretting over not getting asked to prom. Considering 'The Waterfront' comes from Kevin Williamson, creator of 'Dawson's Creek' as well as 'The Vampire Diaries' and the 'Scream' movie franchise, it's not a huge surprise that its tone is more sudsy than serious. And yet, despite things verging on cheesy on more than one occasion, after starting the series this week, I feel a strong compulsion to binge the rest right now. If you're looking for a summer binge-watch, 'The Waterfront' might just be the perfect candidate, offering eight episodes stuffed with twists, betrayals, and 'shocking' revelations. It's a frothy throwback to a previous era of television, and I'm surprised how much that simple concept still appeals. Inspired by true events, 'The Waterfront' is set in the fictional North Caroline beach town of Havenport, a location controlled by the Buckley family. This chaotic clang has a tight grip on everything from the local restaurants to the fishing industry that keeps Havenport ticking. However, their empire is built on sand, and starts to crumble when patriarch Harlan (Holt McCallany) steps back from business after suffering a heart attack, and his reckless son Cane (Jake Weary) attempts to fill the void with some pretty disastrous results. It soon becomes clear that when you swim in murky waters, you don't come out clean. Thrown into the mix are the matriarchy of the family, Belle (Maria Bello), and daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist), a young mother struggling with addiction and battling over custody of her son. Let's just say, the Buckleys aren't exactly a picture of the perfect American family. As the authorities start investigating a double homicide, which could implicate the Buckleys in a series of narcotic crimes, the family finds themselves scrambling to cover their tracks, but their interpersonal fighting threatens to sink everything they've built even before the cops can uncover their secrets. It soon becomes clear that when you swim in murky waters, you don't come out clean. After streaming the first couple of episodes of 'The Waterfront,' one thing is very clear: This show is basically a slick-looking soap opera. It's stuffed with clunky dialogue exchanges, characters making decisions that in reality would lead them to ruin (but somehow work out), and a sense of escalation that sees the rabbit hole of chaos the Buckleys have dug only get bigger with each passing scene. It's certainly not awards-caliber drama. Yet, it's just self-aware enough to remain highly watchable. It's the sort of disposable TV that dominated the pre-streaming era of television. You could easily imagine the season being stretched to 20+ episodes, with a whole load of additional sideplots added to bulk things out. While the crime aspect is pretty prominent throughout — with Harlan and Cane's attempts to bring their unstable empire back under control taking the lion's share of the early screentime — the aspect that appealed to me most was actually Bree's attempts to connect with her estranged son, and her snarky snipe at her ex-husband. Benoist is a bit of a show stealer. Based on what I've consumed so far, 'The Waterfront' isn't a crime drama series that is going to live long in the memory. Heck, after just two episodes, the earliest moments are becoming a bit hazy, but I still feel surprisingly compelled to keep watching and see where this ride concludes. The show's combination of criminal dealings and relationship drama — in between drug dealings, Cane is trying to reconnect with a former flame — is a potent mix, and narrative wrinkles are dished out at a frequent enough clip that you can mostly gloss over the often hamfisted scripting and the times where the plot askews logic in favour of a big twist. 'The Waterfront' has arrived on Netflix at just the right time. Its beachside setting and its easy-watching nature feels fitting for the summer months. It's a Netflix original series you can consume in a relatively short amount of time, mostly enjoy while it lasts, and then move on without any lingering thoughts. It's probably not going to be ranked in many best-of-the-year lists. But that's not necessarily a deal-breaker. At least for me, I'm happy to make room in my streaming schedule for a show that offers intrigue, even if I can already tell it's not going to be a show that lives long in the memory. At least in the moment, there's enough soapy substance to keep me invested, and I'm curious to see where the Buckleys end up by the final episode. If you're itching for a Netflix show you can tear through in just a few evenings, or a single weekend, then 'The Waterfront' should fit the bill nicely. It's not going to leave the enduring legacy of some of Kevin Williamson's previous work, but it's pretty watchable, even if you can excuse some hokey dialogue. Meanwhile, if you're looking for more streaming options, check out our guide to everything added to Netflix in June 2025, which includes plenty of bingeable shows and original movies. Watch "The Waterfront" on Netflix now
New York Post
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kevin Williamson's 'The Waterfront' inspired by dad's sordid past
He's back to his roots. Kevin Williamson, who first rose to fame creating 'Dawson's Creek,' is heading back to a waterside small town community with his new Netflix drama, 'The Waterfront.' 'It was sort of loosely inspired by my own family and my dad – and growing up in the '80s as the son of a fisherman,' Williamson, 60, exclusively told The Post. Premiering Thursday, June 19, 'The Waterfront' follows the Buckley family, who preside over a fishing empire in the coastal North Carolina town of Havenport. In order to keep their business afloat, they've dipped their toes into the wrong side of the law – including smuggling drugs on their boats. 7 Kevin Williamson attends the 'The Vampire Diaries' panel during Comic-Con International 2016 at San Diego Convention Center on July 23, 2016 in San Diego, California. Getty Images 7 Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley in 'The Waterfront.' DANA HAWLEY/NETFLIX 7 Rafael L. Silva, Melissa Benoist, Ben Fast, Holt McCallany, Jake Weary, Danielle Campbell, and Kevin Williamson attend Netflix's The Waterfront Screening & Dinner on May 29, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Getty Images for Netflix The family includes hard-drinking patriarch Harlan (Holt McCallany, 'Mindhunter'), his ambitious wife Mae (Maria Bello), and their adult children, recovering addict daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist, 'Supergirl'), and washed up former football star son Cane (Jake Weary), who clashes with his dad and struggles to be a present husband to his wife, Peyton (Danielle Campbell). Topher Grace plays a drug lord. Williamson said that his dad had some similarities to Harlan. He explained that his dad was 'a fisherman who got into a little trouble smuggling some drugs on his fishing boat.' 'But it was really small time stuff,' he added. 'He was caught and arrested. He paid the price.' 7 Jake Weary as Cane Buckley, Danielle Campbell as Peyton, Melissa Benoist as Bree Buckley in 'The Waterfront.' DANA HAWLEY/NETFLIX Williamson's father is now deceased, but he said he told him that he was going to use his life as inspiration for a show. 'He always said, 'Wait till I'm dead.' But I do know my dad has a big sense of humor and I'm sure wherever he is, he's happy knowing I did this show.' The 'Scream' screenwriter said that his father was 'the best man ever, and so I was like, 'how did such a good man take a left turn?' I feel like we're in a world now where everyone has a side hustle….Everyone's trying to survive and they're doing what they can just to pay the bills. I really wanted to tap in that struggle.' 7 Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley and Maria Bello as Belle Buckley in 'The Waterfront.' DANA HAWLEY/NETFLIX 'The Waterfront' feels like a mix of 'Yellowstone' and 'Ozark,' but with the setting of a family fishing empire. ''Yellowstone' was my dad's favorite show, and I used to call him up after every episode and we would chat about it because he loved it, and it was something that sort of bonded us,' Williamson explained. 'And so it did inspire a lot,' he told The Post. ''The Waterfront' has its own thing going on, but I would say that it lives in the same grocery aisle with those other shows.' 7 Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley, Maria Bello as Belle Buckley in 'The Waterfront.' DANA HAWLEY/NETFLIX 7 Melissa Benoist as Bree Buckley, Rafael Silva as Shawn West in 'The Waterfront.' COURTESY OF NETFLIX 'The Waterfront' is darker and more adult than Williamson's first show, but he quipped, 'if all the kids in 'Dawson's Creek' grew up and started to do bad things, then you have 'The Waterfront.'' 'I have a three-year plan and a five-year plan,' he said of the show's potential future. 'So I would say four seasons, let's go with that. I do kind of have a blueprint for the second and third season, for sure. And maybe we could go further. That would be great.'
New York Post
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Julie Plec on why she hopes Meryl Streep likes ‘We Were Liars'
Liar, liar. Prime Video's new teen drama 'We Were Liars' (premiering Wednesday, June 18) is a twisty summertime thriller. Based on a wildly popular novel of the same name, the show is helmed by 'The Vampire Diaries' mastermind Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie. 'What drew me to it is the deep emotional roller coaster that this story takes you on, starting from what seems just like a very simple, sweet, nostalgic coming-of-age story about first love and best friends and summer, and takes you from basically all those vibes on a very twisty-turny, surprising journey into a big tone shift,' Plec exclusively told The Post. 9 Julie Plec attends the 'We Were Liars' premiere during the 2025 Tribeca Festival at SVA Theater on June 10, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival 9 Emily Alyn Lind in 'We Were Liars.' Prime 'We Were Liars' follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman (Emily Alyn Lind) and her circle of cousins and friends – including Johnny (Joseph Zada), Mirren (Esther McGregor), and Gat (Shubham Maheshwari) – who have adventures over the course of several summers on her affluent family's private island. But, things take a darker turn as Cadence must figure out what's happening after she loses her memory, and everyone seems to have secrets. Rounding out the cast is Candice King, Mamie Gummer, Rahul Kohli, and David Morse. 9 Emily Alyn Lind, Esther McGregor, Joseph Zada, and Shubham Maheshwari in 'We Were Liars.' Jessie Redmond/Prime 'Casting a big ensemble like this, where everybody is supposed to be related to each other and blonde, as in the books, is never easy,' said Plec. She added, 'Blonde, you can usually fake, and, which we did pretty well in a couple situations, but you really need to be able to believe that they're all of one piece.' For Gat, an Indian boy who is Cadence's love interest, she said, 'We looked high and low. We were able to cast the role of Gat from a beautiful young actor who had never acted for a living before at all. His audition tape was done in his dorm room on campus just before he graduated [from] university.' 9 Emily Alyn Lind and Shubham Maheshwari in 'We Were Liars.' Prime 9 Rahul Kohli, E. Lockhart, David Morse, Wendy Crewson, Joseph Zada, Esther McGregor, Carina Adly Mackenzie, Emily Alyn Lind, Shubham Maheshwari, Mamie Gummer, Julie Plec, Caitlin Fitzgerald and Candice King attend the Prime Video 'We Were Liars' Tribeca Festival World Premiere Screening and Panel on June 10, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images for Prime Video 9 Mamie Gummer (left), Candice King, and Caitlin FitzGerald on the set of 'We Were Liars.' Instagram/candiceking Plec continued, 'We got to discover the incredible. Mamie Gummer, who's worked for years, but is stepping into her own as a leading lady.' Gummer, 41, is Meryl Streep's daughter. When asked about the probability that Streep, 75, will tune in, Plec said, 'I have alternate [thoughts] of like, 'Meh, that fine, she won't watch it, that's okay,' to 'Oh my god, Meryl Streep is probably gonna watch the show.'' She quipped, 'I just hope she likes it, to be honest.' 9 Esther McGregor, Joseph Zada, and Emily Alyn Lind in 'We Were Liars.' Prime 'We Were Liars' is also America's introduction to Aussie actor Zada, who is poised to have his career take off, as he's been cast as the star of the next 'Hunger Games' movie, 'Sunrise on the Reaping.' 'I feel very proud. I know he's worked before in Australia, so somebody else gets to take credit for discovering him off the street, but Carina and I are gladly gonna take credit for discovering [him] in the United States of America,' Plec said. She recalled how during filming, Gummer even set him up for his next major role – the Netflix adaptation of 'East of Eden' starring Florence Pugh – 'because Mamie called her very good friend, Zoe Kazan, who was directing it and said, 'You gotta meet this kid. He's extraordinary.'' 9 Mamie Gummer and Joseph Zada in 'We Were Liars.' 9 Carina Adly Mackenzie, Candic King, and Julie Plec (right). Instagram/cadlymack Plec added, 'I think we knew it on set. When we were in the sound stage, the sound engineers would be like, 'God, that kid is so good.' I think we're just at the beginning of a very long, very cool road for him.' Meanwhile, Plec has done three shows to date in 'The Vampire Diaries' universe, including 'The Originals' and 'Legacies.' About whether there could be more coming, Plec said that she's not working on anything specific at the moment. However, she added, 'I have had ideas in my head for more stories in Mystic Falls for pretty much since I started telling stories in Mystic Falls,' referring to the town where 'The Vampire Diaries' took place. 'So all anybody has to do is ask, and I will be there with bells on.'
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Virgin River' season 7 update: Alexandra Breckenridge teases wrap-up; two new characters to stir drama in town
'Virgin River' season 7 'Virgin River' fans should get ready as season 7 is almost here! Alexandra Breckenridge, who plays the beloved Mel Sheridan, recently took to Instagram to offer a lighthearted but honest update about the filming process. The actor revealed that production is nearing completion, describing it as a long but exciting journey. 'I feel like I'm on day 857 of filming Season 7… We're almost done!' she joked in her video post, visibly tired but thrilled to be approaching the finish line. Though the OTT platform is yet to announce an official release date but Breckenridge's comments, as shared in a recent Deadline report, suggest fans might not have to wait too long. With filming nearly wrapped, speculation is high that the new season could arrive sometime in 2025. Fresh faces bring new tension to 'Virgin River' Season 7 won't just pick up where it left off, but it's also shaking things up with two new additions to the cast. 'The Vampire Diaries' alum Sara Canning joins as Victoria, a former police officer who was injured on duty and now works for the state medical board. Her character is expected to directly impact Doc, whose medical license was suspended at the end of last season, setting the stage for some serious tension. Another new face is Cody Kearsley, best known for his role in 'Riverdale.' He will portray Clay, a rugged rodeo worker on a mission to find his long-lost younger sister. Clay's storyline promises to introduce a fresh emotional arc, possibly tying into some of the show's core families. Production nears completion, release date still under wraps While there's still no official date but all the signs point to a 2025 premiere for 'Virgin River' Season 7. The sixth season landed in December 2024 and filming for the follow up began shortly after. Breckenridge didn't confirm anything in her video but playfully asked fans whether they thought the release would happen this year but she left by keeping the mystery alive. With returning favorites new conflicts and emotional storylines ahead, 'Virgin River' Season 7 is shaping up to be a standout chapter in the hit Netflix series. Fans will just have to stay tuned a little longer for an exact release date but if Breckenridge's excitement is anything to go by, it'll be worth the wait.
