Director, producer and writer Kevin Williamson, best known for hit teen dramas like Dawson’s Creek and The Vampire Diaries, is back on the big screen with Netflix’s new original series The Waterfront.
Set in North Carolina, the series follows the Buckley family as they struggle to save their fishing empire despite personal crises.
The series, which quickly gained popularity on the platform, prompted viewers to ask whether the Buckley family is based on real people or a completely fictional creation. As it turns out, the story of The Waterfront is inspired by Kevin Williamson’s personal life and his childhood in North Carolina. The series’ main character, Harlan Buckley, is based on Williamson’s father, Wade, who was a hardworking fisherman.
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In an interview with Netflix’s Todom, Williamson revealed that, like Harlan, his father sometimes got involved in illegal activities, but he never entered the world of organized crime. Williamson said: “My father was a very good man. He was a fisherman.”
The Waterfront is a compelling family drama, featuring four characters who are willing to go to any lengths to protect their family legacy, even if it means betraying each other.
Is it worth watching?
This eight-episode series has all the makings of a compelling family drama—it beautifully explores crime, infidelity, lies, drugs, and other complex themes. It’s a great series to watch on Netflix, gripping the viewer from beginning to end. If you like character-driven stories and family dramas, The Waterfront should definitely be on your watch list.
