Move over Virgin River — there’s a new small-town drama in town. Netflix has just dropped The Waterfront, a gripping, slow-burn series packed with family secrets, coastal charm, and a criminal twist that could make it one of the streamer’s biggest hits of the year.

 Welcome to Havenport

Set in the fictional seaside town of Havenport, North Carolina, The Waterfront follows the powerful Buckley family, who once reigned supreme over the town’s fishing and restaurant industries. But when patriarch Harlan Buckley (played by Mindhunter’s Holt McCallany) suffers two near-fatal heart attacks, cracks begin to show in the family’s empire — and their legacy.

With their livelihoods slipping through their fingers, Harlan’s ambitious wife Belle (the magnetic Maria Bello) and calculating son Cane (Jake Weary) make a desperate move: they start smuggling drugs via the family’s fishing fleet. But when one of their boats washes ashore—and some of the crew mysteriously vanish—their secret business starts unraveling fast.

 Family Ties, Deep Lies

As The Waterfront dives into themes of legacy, betrayal, and survival, it taps into the emotional richness fans of Virgin River know and love. But this is no cozy romance. It’s darker, sharper, and rooted in true events, which makes it all the more compelling.

From buried secrets to mounting tension, this is a story where the stakes keep rising — and nobody gets away clean.

 All-Star Cast + A Creator Who Knows Drama

What makes The Waterfront even more promising? The pedigree behind it. The show was created by Kevin Williamson, the genius behind Scream and Dawson’s Creek, so expect a masterful blend of sharp dialogue, emotional punch, and jaw-dropping twists.

Alongside McCallany, Bello, and Weary, the stacked ensemble includes:

Melissa Benoist (Supergirl) as Bree, the moral compass of the family.

Rafael L. Silva, Humberly González, Danielle Campbell, and Gerardo Celasco in pivotal roles.

Michael Gaston and breakout star Brady Hepner round out the cast.

 Why The Waterfront Might Be Your Next Obsession

If Virgin River gave you cozy nights and tangled love stories, The Waterfront offers stormy seas, deep-rooted drama, and morally complex characters you can’t look away from.

The show may be set in a picturesque coastal town, but don’t let the setting fool you — this is high-stakes storytelling at its best. And with only eight hour-long episodes, you’ll be hooked from the first boat crash to the last shocking reveal.