Latest news with #Dawson'sCreek
Graziadaily
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
The Waterfront: Is The New Drama From The Creator Of Dawson's Creek Worth Watching? Read What Critics Say
One of Netflix's newest arrivals is The Waterfront , already dubbed 'Dawson's Creek for adults', which sounds like perfect weekend viewing to us. It's even created by the same person: Kevin Williamson. Starring Jake Weary, Melissa Benoist, Danielle Campbell, Mario Bello and Holt McCallany, this drama is bound to introduce you to some new faces too. But is the new show worth watching? Is it genuinely gripping or just a good comfort watch? Read below to find out. Set in the fictional seaside town, Havenport, North Carolina, this eight-part Netflix series follows the prominent yet dysfunctional family, the Buckleys, as they try to keep their decaying fishing empire afloat by entering the dangerous world of the drug trade. It doesn't sound too far off last summer's hit show, The Perfect Couple, or any of the Harlan Coben series, so if you liked any of those then this one might be worth a try. Yes, you can watch the official trailer for the series below. Nick Hilton at The Independent gave the series three stars, describing it as 'predictable to a fault' but 'hard not to keep watching'. The Guardian 's Lucy Mangan agrees, giving The Waterfront three stars too. 'Twists come thick and fast, there's tons of plot and action is set in a water-based community,' she writes. 'The creator of the '90s megahit's new show is an opportunity to wallow in nostalgia – albeit with added drug running.' It is described as 'highly bingeable' by Variety too. Aramide Tinubu explains the series is inspired by Williamson's father, who was a fisherman and began smuggling drugs in the 1980s to make ends meet. ' The Waterfront is a highly entertaining series about four people willing to do anything to hold on to their legacy, even if it means turning on each other in the process,' reads the review. The New York Times ' Margaret Lyons praised the show for bringing 'more murder to Netflix'. 'The show is one of many to follow the Yellowstone model, a family saga of violence and secrets, of huffy men and sly women, of distinctive names. It is also about land that's been in this family for generations, gosh darn it – land that's our legacy if only the cruelties of debt and developers would abate,' she writes. It might only have a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience rating of 3.9, but the reviews are largely positive. This is a watchable, familiar show with all the twists and turns audiences are looking for. If you have a day to yourself to lie on the sofa away from the heat, you know what to do. Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across entertainment, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things pop culture for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow with equal respect).
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- 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
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kevin Williamson 'Loosely' Based ‘The Waterfront' On His Dad's Criminal Past: 'He Paid The Price'
More than 25 years after launching Dawson's Creek, Kevin Williamson is taking audiences to another body of water in one of his most personal projects yet. With Netflix's The Waterfront, premiering Thursday on the streamer, the series creator revealed that he was 'loosely inspired' by his family and his late father, 'a fisherman who got into a little trouble smuggling some drugs on his fishing boat.' More from Deadline 'The Waterfront': Netflix Reveals Premiere Date For Kevin Williamson Drama 'The Waterfront' Trailer: Coastal Family Turns To Drugs To Save Empire in Kevin Williamson Drama 'Nobody Wants This' Creator Erin Foster Talks Season 2 Timeline, Leighton Meester And Adam Brody Together On Screen 'But it was really small time stuff,' he noted to the New York Post. 'He was caught and arrested. He paid the price.' '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,' added Williamson. Despite the patriarch's checkered history, Williamson remembers his father as '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 into that struggle.' In The Waterfront, things spiral out of control when the Buckleys turn to drug smuggling in attempt to save their once-thriving North Carolina fishing empire. The series stars Melissa Benoist, Mario Bello, Holt McCallany and Jake Weary. Best of Deadline 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter
Indianapolis Star
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
How to watch 'The Waterfront,' new series from 'Dawson's Creek' creator
Move over, "Outer Banks": a new North Carolina-based drama series just hit Netflix. "The Waterfront" follows a prominent fishing family in coastal North Carolina whose legacy is at risk, according to the show's description. According to Netflix, the show's first season, which premiered on June 19, is "as much about family dynamics as they are about the lengths people will go to when their legacy is on the line." Kevin Williamson, the creator of hit shows like "Dawson's Creek" and "The Vampire Diaries," is the writer and executive producer of the show. It also features a star-studded cast, including Holt McCallany, who is known for "Mindhunter," and Melissa Benoist, the former star of "Supergirl." Here's what to know about "The Waterfront" Season 1. The show follows the Buckley family of Havenport, North Carolina. They have long dominated the town's fishing industry and restaurant scene, but the family's empire has started to crumble after patriarch Harlan Buckley suffered from two heart attacks, Netflix says. His wife, Belle, and son, Cane, are working to keep the family businesses afloat while daughter Bree faces her own struggles in addiction recovery, per Netflix. Williamson told Netflix's Tudum the series is about trying to find the 'lesser evil' in a difficult situation. 'It's just about a bunch of people who make mistakes. They do some bad things and then they get in deeper and deeper and deeper,' he said. 'Sometimes they keep making worse mistakes and sometimes they find their way out and do the good thing.' "The Waterfront" Season 1 released on June 19 at 3 a.m. ET. All eight episodes of the show hit Netflix at that time. Only Netflix subscribers will have access to watch "The Waterfront." The service has several monthly plans available, which start at $7.99 per month. The platform doesn't offer free trials. The show's entire first season will be available to stream on the platform starting on June 19 at 3 a.m. ET. TV fans may see some familiar faces on "The Waterfront." Here's who's on the cast:
Indianapolis Star
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
How to watch 'The Waterfront,' new series from 'Dawson's Creek' creator
Move over, "Outer Banks": a new North Carolina-based drama series just hit Netflix. "The Waterfront" follows a prominent fishing family in coastal North Carolina whose legacy is at risk, according to the show's description. According to Netflix, the show's first season, which premiered on June 19, is "as much about family dynamics as they are about the lengths people will go to when their legacy is on the line." Kevin Williamson, the creator of hit shows like "Dawson's Creek" and "The Vampire Diaries," is the writer and executive producer of the show. It also features a star-studded cast, including Holt McCallany, who is known for "Mindhunter," and Melissa Benoist, the former star of "Supergirl." Here's what to know about "The Waterfront" Season 1. The show follows the Buckley family of Havenport, North Carolina. They have long dominated the town's fishing industry and restaurant scene, but the family's empire has started to crumble after patriarch Harlan Buckley suffered from two heart attacks, Netflix says. His wife, Belle, and son, Cane, are working to keep the family businesses afloat while daughter Bree faces her own struggles in addiction recovery, per Netflix. Williamson told Netflix's Tudum the series is about trying to find the 'lesser evil' in a difficult situation. 'It's just about a bunch of people who make mistakes. They do some bad things and then they get in deeper and deeper and deeper,' he said. 'Sometimes they keep making worse mistakes and sometimes they find their way out and do the good thing.' "The Waterfront" Season 1 released on June 19 at 3 a.m. ET. All eight episodes of the show hit Netflix at that time. Only Netflix subscribers will have access to watch "The Waterfront." The service has several monthly plans available, which start at $7.99 per month. The platform doesn't offer free trials. The show's entire first season will be available to stream on the platform starting on June 19 at 3 a.m. ET. TV fans may see some familiar faces on "The Waterfront." Here's who's on the cast:
