Netflix’s The Waterfront, which premiered on June 19, 2025, has cemented its place as a gripping crime drama, captivating audiences with its raw portrayal of the Buckley family’s descent into the criminal underbelly of Havenport, North Carolina. Created by Kevin Williamson, the mastermind behind Scream and Dawson’s Creek, the series blends Southern gothic melodrama with high-stakes intrigue, drawing 53 million hours viewed in its first week and surging 39% to 74.3 million in week two, making it Netflix’s seventh most-watched show of 2025. The Season 1 finale, a rollercoaster of betrayal and violence, left fans reeling with a cliffhanger that has sparked fervent speculation about Season 2. Now, with Netflix confirming that the core cast—Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Jake Weary, Melissa Benoist, Danielle Campbell, and Brady Hepner—will return, one major absence has ignited a firestorm of debate: Topher Grace’s character, Grady, is definitively out, killed off in the finale. This article delves into the returning cast, analyzes the missing character’s impact, explores potential Season 2 plotlines, and unpacks why fans are buzzing with theories.
The Returning Cast: The Buckley Family and Beyond
The Buckley family, the heart of The Waterfront, anchors the series’ emotional and criminal stakes. Holt McCallany returns as Harlan Buckley, the ailing patriarch whose past as a drug-runner casts a long shadow over his fishing empire. McCallany’s bruising intensity, honed in Mindhunter, portrays Harlan as a man torn between redemption and legacy, his two heart attacks amplifying his desperation to protect his family. Maria Bello reprises her role as Belle Buckley, Harlan’s resilient wife, whose secret alliance with the rival Parker family—revealed in the Season 1 finale when Emmett Parker calls her “boss”—sets her up as a central figure in Season 2. Bello’s performance, blending vulnerability and ruthlessness, positions Belle as a strategic mastermind, with Williamson teasing to Tudum, “Belle is front and center now. She’s not living in the shadows.”
Jake Weary returns as Cane Buckley, the conflicted son grappling with his father’s domineering expectations and his own criminal choices. Weary’s portrayal, described as “outspoken about his flaws” in Tudum, captures Cane’s struggle to break free from Harlan’s control, especially after killing Grady to save his sister Bree and nephew Diller. Melissa Benoist is back as Bree Buckley, a recovering addict haunted by her childhood trauma of witnessing her grandfather’s murder by the Parkers, which led to her losing custody of her son, Diller (Brady Hepner). Benoist’s nuanced performance, balancing fragility and defiance, makes Bree a fan favorite, with her Season 2 arc likely focusing on confronting her past. Hepner’s Diller, resentful yet tethered to his mother, adds emotional depth, his teenage angst a counterpoint to the family’s moral decay.
Danielle Campbell returns as Peyton Buckley, Cane’s wife, whose role as a crisis manager hints at untapped potential. Described by Williamson as someone who “knows more than she lets on,” Peyton could emerge as a pivotal player, possibly leveraging her knowledge to protect her daughter or challenge Belle. Supporting cast members, including Rafael L. Silva as Shawn West, the bartender with a keen interest in the Buckleys, and Dave Annable as developer Wes Larsen, are also expected to return, their roles in the Season 1 finale suggesting deeper involvement in the Parker feud.
The Missing Piece: Topher Grace as Grady
The confirmed absence of Topher Grace’s character, Grady, has sent shockwaves through the fandom. Grady, a psychopathic drug lord, was a standout in Season 1, his unhinged performance earning praise from Variety as “delightfully deranged.” His dramatic death in the finale, shot by Cane after kidnapping Bree and Diller, closed a major arc but left fans speculating about his potential return in flashbacks. Elle reported, “Grady, played by Topher Grace, is no longer alive in The Waterfront universe, so he will probably not be returning,” though Williamson hinted at possible flashback appearances. Grady’s exit removes a volatile antagonist, shifting the narrative toward the Parkers, described by Williamson in TheWrap as “more dangerous than Grady could ever be.”
Grady’s death was a pivotal moment, catalyzing Cane’s transformation and exposing Belle’s secret dealings. His absence in Season 2 raises questions: Who will fill the void as the primary villain? Fans on X are abuzz, with one user posting, “No Grady in S2? The Parkers better bring it, because Topher was electric! 💥” Another speculated, “Grady’s gone, but what if he left a bigger mess? #TheWaterfront.” His death also impacts Bree, whose abduction by Grady forced her to confront her vulnerabilities, potentially shaping her Season 2 journey toward redemption or relapse.
Plotlines to Watch: A New Chapter of Betrayal
Season 2, while not yet officially renewed as of July 14, 2025, is widely expected to continue given The Waterfront’s strong viewership—11.6 million views in two weeks, outpacing Ransom Canyon’s 16.6 million, per ScreenRant. The Season 1 finale’s cliffhanger, with Belle’s alliance with the Parkers and Cane’s murder of Grady, sets up a volatile narrative. Williamson told Yahoo, “The story is surprisingly personal to me, inspired by my father’s past,” hinting at deeper exploration of the Buckleys’ criminal roots. The Parkers, tied to the murder of Harlan’s father, will likely emerge as the new central threat, with their “complicated and dangerous” family dynamics mirroring the Buckleys’ dysfunction.
Belle’s rise to power, as teased by Williamson, will drive conflict. Her secret deal with Emmett Parker, revealed in the finale, suggests she’s orchestrating a takeover of the Buckley empire, potentially pitting her against Harlan. McCallany told Tudum, “Harlan will ask if Belle’s actions were to protect the family. She did it out of love.” This tension could fracture the Buckleys, with Cane caught between his parents’ warring ambitions. His killing of Grady, while heroic, deepens his entanglement in the drug trade, setting up a Season 2 arc where he either embraces or rejects his father’s legacy. Business Upturn speculated that filming could begin in spring 2026 for a summer or fall release, with Belle’s leadership and the Parker feud as central themes.
Bree’s story promises emotional weight. Her trauma from the Parker murder and addiction struggles, compounded by Grady’s abduction, position her as a wildcard. Benoist told Tudum, “Bree makes terrible choices, but they come from a horrific past.” Season 2 may see her uncovering Parker secrets, possibly tied to the mysterious “Owen,” the drug lord Harlan sought in Season 1. Diller’s resentment toward Bree, played with raw intensity by Hepner, could lead to a reconciliation arc or further estrangement, especially if he learns of Belle’s betrayal. Peyton’s role, hinted at as pivotal, might involve a double-cross, with TheWrap noting her potential to “shift the power dynamic.”
Fan Theories and Speculation
The absence of Grady has fueled fan theories about Season 2’s direction. On X, users speculate about new villains, with one posting, “Grady’s out, but who’s Owen? Is he a Parker or someone worse? #TheWaterfront.” Another wrote, “Belle’s running the show now, but what if Cane turns on her? 💥” The confirmed deaths of Sheriff Porter (Michael Gaston) and DEA Agent Sanchez (Gerardo Celasco) in Season 1, per Business Upturn, suggest new law enforcement characters may emerge, complicating the Buckleys’ schemes. Fans also theorize about flashback sequences, with one X post suggesting, “Topher Grace could return as Grady in memories, showing how he got so crazy. 🎭”
The Parkers’ introduction as a “more dangerous” threat has sparked excitement. Yahoo reported Williamson’s plans for at least two more seasons, indicating a long-term arc where the Parkers’ history with the Buckleys—dating back to Harlan’s father’s murder—unravels. Speculation about Owen’s identity, possibly a Parker patriarch or a hidden Buckley ally, dominates fan discussions, with Collider noting the show’s knack for “nicely choreographed murders” hinting at more violence. Shawn West’s interest in the Buckleys, played by Rafael L. Silva, could lead to a romantic or antagonistic arc with Bree, adding personal stakes to the crime drama.
The Show’s Cultural Impact
The Waterfront’s success, with a 40% viewership spike to 25.5 million views in three weeks, per ScreenRant, reflects its resonance as a Yellowstone-style saga. Critics have praised its soapy thrills, with Variety calling it a “beach read” and OutKick deeming it “outstanding” despite pacing issues noted by The Independent. Its Southern gothic aesthetic—stormy seas, moody visuals—amplifies its emotional depth, drawing comparisons to Ozark and Dallas. The loss of Grady, a fan-favorite villain, shifts the narrative toward the Parkers, but fans remain hooked, with X posts like “No Grady, but Belle’s betrayal is gonna explode! Can’t wait for S2! 🔥”
The show’s personal connection to Williamson, inspired by his father’s drug-running past, adds authenticity, as noted by TIME. This grounding, combined with the ensemble’s compelling performances—McCallany’s intensity, Bello’s cunning, Benoist’s vulnerability—ensures Season 2’s potential to deepen the Buckley saga. Forbes reported The Waterfront was dethroned by Untamed on July 17, but its three-week reign at No. 1 on Netflix’s English TV charts underscores its staying power.
What Lies Ahead
While Netflix has yet to confirm Season 2, What’s On Netflix predicts a renewal based on viewership, with production possibly starting in late 2025 for a 2026 release. The returning cast—McCallany, Bello, Weary, Benoist, Campbell, Hepner, and supporting players like Silva and Annable—promises continuity, but Grady’s absence shifts the dynamic. Fans speculate about new characters, with one X user suggesting, “Maybe a new cop or Parker sibling shakes things up? #TheWaterfront.” The unresolved “Owen” mystery, Belle’s power grab, and Bree’s redemption arc set the stage for a season of betrayals, violence, and emotional reckoning. As Pajiba noted, the Season 1 ending’s chaos ensures “plenty more story to tell,” leaving fans eagerly guessing who will rise or fall in Havenport’s turbulent waters.
