Strong Debut, Surprising Cancellation
Netflix has decided not to move forward with a second season of Kevin Williamson’s crime drama The Waterfront. According to insiders, Williamson has already informed the cast of the streamer’s decision, while crew members have also been notified that the series will not return for a second season.
The cancellation comes just two months after The Waterfront’s June 19 debut — a surprising decision given the show’s strong performance. The Netflix crime drama, centred on North Carolina’s powerful Buckley family, spent five weeks in Netflix’s global Top 10 for English-language series, including an impressive three consecutive weeks at No. 1. At its peak, the series drew 11.6 million views in its first full week of release.
Storyline and Reception
Kevin Williamson’s series, The Waterfront, earned a 68% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The show tells the story of the Buckleys, longtime rulers of Havenport, North Carolina, whose influence stretches from the fishing industry to the local restaurant scene.
But cracks in the empire begin to show as patriarch Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany) struggles to recover from two heart attacks. His wife, Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Alex Neustaedter) take risky steps to preserve the family’s dominance, only for their choices to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist), battling addiction and custody struggles, becomes entangled in a dangerous relationship that threatens the family’s future.
According to Williamson, he said ;
“While I’m sad the Buckleys won’t be back for Season 2, I’m celebrating the joy that was Season 1,” Williamson wrote on Instagram after Deadline’s report. “It was one of the best experiences of my life!”
Cast and Crew
Alongside McCallany, Bello, Weary, and Benoist, the series also stars Rafael L. Silva, Humberly González, Danielle Campbell, and Brady Hepner. The Waterfront was executive produced by Williamson and Ben Fast for Outerbanks Entertainment, with Michael Narducci and Marcos Siega also serving as executive producers. Topher Grace appeared in a guest role.
Netflix’s Decision: Performance vs. Cost
The Waterfront actually outperformed two other Netflix dramas cancelled this year after one season — Pulse and The Residence. Both shows lasted four weeks in the Top 10, peaking at No. 3 with 8.5 million views and No. 2 with 8.8 million views, respectively.
Netflix executives, however, consider more than just viewership when deciding renewals. Performance versus cost is the primary factor, along with awards recognition, social media buzz, and audience demographics. Completion rate — how many viewers finish the series — is also key, though Netflix doesn’t release those numbers publicly. Sources say The Waterfront had a solid completion rate, but insiders note that Netflix didn’t see enough return on investment to justify a second season.
Conclusion
Despite topping Netflix charts and earning fan praise, The Waterfront joins the growing list of Netflix cancellations in 2025. With nearly 20 scripted series renewed in recent months — including Ransom Canyon, Forever, Untamed, Running Point, and Devil May Cry — Kevin Williamson’s series stands out as one of the year’s most surprising cuts.
For now, fans of The Waterfront Netflix crime drama are left wondering what a second season of the Buckley family saga might have looked like.
