The Waterfront

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.

I've been looking forward to The Waterfront ever since I first saw the trailer for this. I started watching this with my brother the day it came out and binged all 8 episodes in a day. I know but I've been sick and had nothing else to do. I loved it. The Waterfront is based off a true story about the Buckley family and their crumbling North Carolina fishing empire. Their on the verge of losing everything and to regain control of their empire they have to get back into transporting drugs and dealing with some very dangerous people. The entire cast is amazing, led by the always good Holt McCallany. He's good in just about everything he does but Jake Weary (Animal Kingdom), Melissa Benoist (Supergirl) and Danielle Campbell (Supernatural) all give star turning performances that will definitely lead to bigger things for all of them. I can't recommend this series enough.

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 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.

Got through it in a couple days. It is intriguing enough. If you compare everything to your favorite family goes bad shows then it ranks somewhere in the middle. It's not going to blow anyone away but it has good actors and it is worth it just for Maria Bello who plays the matriarch. She has come a long way from Coyote Ugly but I have enjoyed her in the last few projects i have seen her in. The story has a few good twists and I do hope it has a second season. This is not really a show that it going to wow anyone but it is an easy watch and most of the characters are interesting enough and the ending does leave you wanting more. I would put it somewhere between a 6 and 8 depending on your mood and proclivity for dysfunctional criminal families.