If you thought Ozark or Yellowstone pushed the boundaries of family dysfunction and crime, brace yourself: Netflix’s The Waterfront takes things to a whole new level of twisted. Dropping on June 19, 2025, this eight-episode crime drama, created by Kevin Williamson (Scream, Dawson’s Creek), has already shot to the top of Netflix’s charts, earning a 67% Rotten Tomatoes score and sparking heated debates among viewers. Set in the fictional coastal town of Havenport, North Carolina, The Waterfront is a Southern-fried soap opera laced with shocking violence, betrayal, and secrets so dark they’ll leave you reeling. Critics call it “mercilessly entertaining” and “a guilty pleasure,” while fans on X confess they’re hooked but haunted by its relentless intensity. With a stellar cast led by Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, and a chilling Topher Grace, this show isn’t just a binge—it’s a descent into chaos you won’t forget. Here’s why The Waterfront is the most twisted show of 2025. 💥

A Family Empire Built on Lies and Blood 🩸

The Waterfront dives headfirst into the crumbling empire of the Buckley family, a dynasty that’s ruled Havenport’s fishing industry for generations. On the surface, they’re local royalty, with a seafood empire, a posh restaurant, and pristine waterfront property. But beneath the glossy facade lies a web of crime, addiction, and betrayal. Inspired by true events—drawn from Williamson’s own upbringing in North Carolina, where his fisherman father turned to drug smuggling in the 1980s—The Waterfront feels both personal and larger-than-life.

The story kicks off with a drug-running trawler intercepted by gunmen, setting off a chain of events that exposes the Buckleys’ darkest secrets. Patriarch Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany), a whiskey-soaked brute with a shady past, is recovering from two heart attacks but can’t resist slipping back into his old criminal ways. His wife, Belle (Maria Bello), is a shrewd restaurateur trying to keep the family afloat, even if it means defying Harlan’s wishes. Their son, Cane (Jake Weary), is a former high school hero turned reluctant drug smuggler, desperate to save the business but haunted by his failures. And then there’s Bree (Melissa Benoist), a recovering addict whose tragic past—including an act of arson that cost her custody of her son—threatens to unravel everything.

What makes The Waterfront so twisted is its refusal to let you root for anyone. The Buckleys aren’t just flawed—they’re toxic, thriving in a world of lies and violence. As one X user put it, “It doesn’t make you any promises, so there are no payoffs. Things are just happening, unmoored by a solid plot anchor.” Yet, that chaotic unpredictability is exactly what keeps you glued to the screen.

Violence That Shocks and Haunts 💀

If you’re expecting the polished action of Ozark, think again. The Waterfront delivers violence that’s raw, gruesome, and downright disturbing. From a man tortured via shark to a body dumped in an alligator-filled swamp, the show doesn’t shy away from gore. One critic raved about “a string of truly spectacular and nicely choreographed murders that’ll get your schadenfreude pumping,” while another noted a scene where Harlan stabs an enemy in the neck and crushes his head under a car. These moments aren’t just shocking—they’re designed to linger, making you question your own fascination with the Buckleys’ depravity.

The violence peaks with the arrival of Topher Grace as Grady, a sociopathic drug kingpin who steals the show. In one chilling scene, Grady orders his men to turn a minigun on a fleeing henchman, joking about the noise as the body is riddled with bullets. “Grady has no code,” Harlan warns, and Grace’s unhinged performance—described as “phenomenally villainous”—takes The Waterfront into True Detective-level darkness. Fans on X are divided, with some calling Grace’s casting “wildly entertaining” and others saying it’s “not believable.” Either way, his presence injects a chaotic energy that pushes the show into uncharted territory.

A Cast That Elevates the Madness 🌟

The Waterfront boasts a powerhouse cast that makes even its wildest moments feel grounded. Holt McCallany (Mindhunter) is magnetic as Harlan, described as “if John Wayne had a baby with Marlboro Man.” His gruff charisma anchors the show, even when Harlan’s bullying of Cane feels painfully cruel. Maria Bello shines as Belle, balancing maternal warmth with steely ambition, while Jake Weary brings a tragic depth to Cane, a man who admits he’s “really good at almost” but never quite enough.

Melissa Benoist, best known as Supergirl, delivers a career-defining performance as Bree. Her raw portrayal of addiction and trauma—especially in a devastating scene where Bree confronts her past—has critics calling her “unflinching” and “commanding.” One reviewer noted, “Benoist alone cannot elevate this material, but she comes close.” Add in supporting players like Danielle Campbell as Cane’s wife, Peyton, and Humberly González as Cane’s ex, Jenna, and you’ve got a cast that keeps you invested, even when the plot veers into soap opera excess.

Topher Grace’s late arrival as Grady is the wildcard. Known for That ’70s Show, Grace transforms into a villain so depraved he makes True Detective’s Rust Cohle look tame. His scenes are equal parts horrifying and magnetic, with one critic saying, “He makes The Waterfront feel like a completely different show—wilder, sillier, and less predictable.”

Why It’s More Twisted Than True Detective 😱

True Detective captivated audiences with its philosophical depth and brooding mysteries, but The Waterfront trades introspection for relentless chaos. While True Detective explores existential dread, The Waterfront revels in visceral thrills—think Yellowstone meets Melrose Place with a dash of Scream’s audacity. Its soapy tone, inspired by ’80s nighttime soaps like Dallas, is both its strength and its flaw. Critics note that it “takes itself too seriously and not seriously enough,” resulting in a tonal whiplash that can feel “boring” or “deliriously entertaining,” depending on your mood.

The show’s twists are its lifeblood. From double-crosses to secret affairs, every episode delivers a gut-punch reveal. One fan on X called the season finale “intense stuff,” hinting at a cliffhanger that sets up a potential season two. But these twists come at a cost: some plotlines, like a vague estate business, feel “forgotten,” and characters like Bree’s teenage son, Diller, are criticized as “jarringly immature.” Yet, the sheer momentum—fueled by Williamson’s knack for “tons of plot and action”—keeps you hooked, even when the story wobbles.

A Guilty Pleasure or a Missed Opportunity? 🤔

Reviews are mixed, reflecting The Waterfront’s polarizing nature. Collider calls it “one of the best and most deliriously entertaining new shows of 2025,” praising its “wicked twists” and “clever writing.” Variety deems it “highly bingeable,” likening it to a “beach read” with “all the good bone structure of a traditional family drama.” But The Daily Beast slams it as a “Yellowstone knockoff” that’s “oddly dull,” and The A.V. Club argues it “tries and fails to capture Ozark’s spirit.” On X, viewers are split: some binged all eight episodes in a day, calling it “a blast,” while others found it “kind of a mess” without a “solid plot anchor.”

The show’s biggest strength is its cast and setting. Filmed in Wilmington and Southport, North Carolina, The Waterfront captures the coastal beauty and menace of its locale, with moody crimes like murder by fishing net adding a unique flavor. But its reliance on clichés—dysfunctional families, drug smuggling, infidelity—holds it back from True Detective’s originality. As one critic put it, “It’s a half-bag of stale Burger Rings, not a gourmet cheeseburger.” Still, for every predictable beat, there’s a moment—like Grady’s minigun massacre—that shocks you into submission.

Why You Can’t Look Away (Even If You Want To) 👀

The Waterfront is a paradox: it’s flawed, familiar, and yet impossible to stop watching. Its soapy excess—think secret lovers, backstabbing, and “occasional flashes of grisly violence”—evokes the guilty pleasures of Dynasty or Falcon Crest, updated for the streaming era. Williamson’s signature dialogue, described as “wise, eloquent, and often quite funny,” adds a layer of charm, even when the plot feels overstuffed. At 40-50 minutes per episode, the pacing is relentless, ensuring you’re never bored, even if you’re occasionally confused.

For fans of Ozark or Yellowstone, The Waterfront offers a familiar mix of crime and family drama, but its coastal setting and hyperviolent twists set it apart. It’s not Emmy-worthy, as some X users note, but it’s “perfectly trashy TV” for a summer binge. As one viewer put it, “You never know who is going to be alive by the time an episode’s credits roll.” If you’re looking for a show that’s equal parts thrilling and unsettling, The Waterfront delivers.

How to Watch and What to Expect 📺

All eight episodes of The Waterfront are streaming now on Netflix, making it an ideal weekend binge. Expect a slow-burn start that lays the groundwork for explosive payoffs, with each episode piling on new shocks. The show’s coastal North Carolina vibe, complete with fishing boats and stormy seas, adds a gritty charm, while its themes of legacy, addiction, and betrayal hit hard. Be warned: the violence is graphic, and the emotional toll is heavy. As one critic noted, “It’s hard not to keep watching,” even when you want to look away.

Final Verdict: A Twisted Triumph or a Soapy Misfire? 🏆

The Waterfront is Netflix’s boldest gamble of 2025—a crime drama that’s as captivating as it is divisive. Its stellar cast, led by McCallany, Bello, and a terrifying Grace, elevates a familiar premise into something unforgettable. While it doesn’t match True Detective’s depth, it surpasses its predecessor’s shock value, delivering twists that are “soul-shattering” and impossible to unsee. Whether you love its campy chaos or cringe at its tonal inconsistencies, one thing’s certain: The Waterfront goes too far, and that’s exactly why you’ll keep watching. Dive in, but don’t say we didn’t warn you. 🔥💀