The Waterfront

The Waterfront is every bit as good as I had hoped for. I admit I watch a lot of tv shows but I try to only watch the really good ones. The Waterfront is one of those. I'm a big fan of crime dramas and there are lot to choose from but this one is definitely worth your time. It has the feel of a mix between Ozark, Animal Kingdom and Bloodline. While it's not as good as those 3 shows it's still pretty darn good. The cast is what makes this show so good...Holt McCallany, Jake Weary, Danielle Campbell, Topher Grace, Humberly González and Maria Bello all shine and give some of the best performances of their careers. Bottom line is this show will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more.

It has Ozarks and animal kingdom vibes, coastal town with a lot of family drama mixed with crime and drugs. With the writer of Dawsons creek behind it you get a lot of romances and love triangles which I feel does kind of water it down but I thought it did well for what it was. You had mysteries surrounding the family and the main cast which led to a lot of family turmoil but where it shined was when they had to make decisions that could topple there family legacy. The season flew by with 8 episodes and left it open for a lot of possibilities. It's not a perfect series but gives you enough to stay committed to it. Overall I give it 7 out of 10.

I've always enjoyed Holt McCallany's work, he's the type of character I'd enjoy hanging around with, a bit rough with a great sense of humor. He does well portraying Harlan Buckley. Danielle Campbell is a goddess. Jake Weary does very well as Cane Buckley but I don't believe he's as wimpy in real life as Cane. Cane is very pathetic, he's very cowardly and disrespectful. He endangers his marriage with his obvious infatuation with his ex. He's blessed with an incredibly beautiful wife and daughter and he takes it for granted. Jake must grit his teeth on occasion having to portray such a demeaning character. The beautiful and talented Melissa Benoist also has a challenging task in portraying Bree Buckley, an addict who suffers very painful disrespect from her son, that would be so difficult. Danielle Campbell, I would probably watch the show just to see her portraying the daughter Peyton Buckley, damn she's beautiful. In my opinion this is a decent series, about as good as anything streaming right now. I discontinued watching one with higher reviews because I found it dull after a while. Everyone has different tastes, in everything and entertainment is no exception. Some people almost seem to watch shows to criticize them so it's hard to tell from reviews alone if something will be entertaining to you. Many seem to criticize everything, nothing meets their expectations. Other's seemingly just enjoy posting reviews to impress upon others how elegant and urbane they are. I rarely watch movies based on others' reviews. I believe you should give it a chance and if it's not for you move on.

The storyline has been compelling so far, although it sometimes seems contrived-almost as if Smurf and Billy simply abandoned the other kids and took Craig to live in North Carolina or somewhere similar. In my opinion, a spin-off of Animal Kingdom would have worked better than launching an entirely new show with nearly the same premise. Even so, the series remains quite strong overall, demonstrating solid writing and engaging character development that keep you interested each episode. Hope season two is even better. I have 78 characters that still need to be used so I am typing random stuff at this point.

The Waterfront was pretty solid overall. The ending? It wrapped up in a way that felt satisfying but not too predictable - like they gave you enough closure but still left a little room for your imagination. Not a total mind-blower, but definitely not a letdown either.

Vibe-wise, it's kinda like a mix of Boardwalk Empire meets Narcos. You get that gritty, tense underworld feel with some slick drama and intense character moments. It's got that slow-burn tension but with enough action and twists to keep you hooked.

As for the cast - honestly, they did a good job. The lead really carried the show with that rough-around-the-edges but somehow charming vibe. The supporting actors brought solid performances too, making the relationships and conflicts feel real. No over-the-top stuff, just believable and natural acting.

All in all, it's definitely worth a watch if you're into crime dramas with strong characters and a moody atmosphere. Not a game-changer, but definitely a chill, engaging binge.