The Waterfront Series-Premiere Recap: The Mighty Buckleys of Havenport

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Titling the pilot episode of your series “Almost Okay” might seem unwise, but who am I to argue? After all, Kevin Williamson, the creator of The Waterfront, has a reputation for crafting both water-themed soaps (like Dawson’s Creek) and thrilling horror tales (such as the Scream films). This new Netflix series revolves around a powerful North Carolina family, the Buckleys, who are not afraid to resort to underhanded tactics to maintain their status. The Buckleys, with their inherent desperation, offer an intriguing twist on the trope of fictional rich families engaging in wrongdoings.

The pilot episode serves its purpose by introducing us to the Buckleys of Havenport, North Carolina and establishing the stakes. Despite its clumsy start, the intrigue generated by the developing plot makes it hard not to be curious about what will happen next. In essence, “Almost Okay” turns out to be just that – almost okay. Let’s delve a bit deeper into this show set in a fishery and marina, where you might encounter the occasional maritime pun. After all, as they say, when life gives you lemons, sail away!

As I watched the grand premiere of “The Waterfront”, it became glaringly obvious that the Buckleys are in deep trouble – trouble that seems to be as intricate as their family dynasty in the quaint coastal town of Havenport. The Buckleys, who own a thriving fishery, marina, and high-end restaurant, find themselves entangled in a web of impending troubles that demand immediate attention.

It turns out that when Harlan, the patriarch, mysteriously vanished after a heart attack, he left his wife Belle and son Cane with a business that was not as prosperous as it appeared. As their financial situation worsened, Cane made a desperate move to collaborate with local drug runner Hoyt Piper. Using the Buckleys’ vessels and labor, they planned a series of drug runs to generate enough cash to alleviate their debts. This was supposed to be a temporary fix, a means to escape the financial abyss. However, if they don’t succeed, they stand to lose everything. Unfortunately for them, things did not unfold as smoothly as they had hoped.

The story begins with a mission taking an unexpected turn for the worse. In this case, the two team members found themselves in the midst of the ocean, unexpectedly attacked, ensnared in fishing nets, and thrown overboard. It’s safe to say that such circumstances wouldn’t end well. As the boat mysteriously reaches the shore, not only is Sheriff Clyde inquiring about the incident, but also the Drug Enforcement Administration seems to be involved. Given these developments, Harlan must be brought up to speed on the situation.

What’s the story behind Harlan? To start off, let’s acknowledge that Holt McCallany has a knack for pulling things off. This includes his mornings after a hangover, where he reaches for an early vodka swig before experiencing a potentially dangerous heart issue – this is how we are introduced to the Buckley patriarch. As Belle, Harlan’s wife, explains, his behavior has been consistent since a recent heart attack caused him to receive an implantable defibrillator. A minor glitch in this device triggered the heart problem mentioned earlier. Belle describes his ‘recovery’ as involving excessive use of Viagra and bourbon. However, it’s not anger that we see when Rhonda, Harlan’s latest love interest, meets her at the hospital; instead, she appears weary. Later, she expresses her view that Harlan seems to want to die – couldn’t he just go ahead and do it?

Matching McCallany and Maria Bello as our lead pair is superb casting in my opinion. I wholeheartedly believe that they can convincingly engage in heated confrontations, and more importantly, remain committed to each other despite their volatile relationship. The complex emotions of Harlan and Belle – their mutual affection and animosity – make their dynamic dysfunctional, yet surprisingly functional. Their ability to endure deceit and infidelity, while maintaining functionality, is fascinating and deserves further examination. This intriguing portrayal should serve as a case study for future character development in storytelling.

In this engaging series, I find myself drawn to the Buckley family, where most relationships seem to operate with an unusual blend of chaos and predictability. Daughter Bree, much like her parents, appears to have found herself in a rather explosive situation – allegedly setting fire to her ex’s home, which tragically housed him, his wife, and their shared teenage son, Diller. Fortunately, as Bree herself notes, no lives were lost. However, the aftermath has left Bree under court supervision whenever she interacts with Diller, a situation he bitterly resents. Despite her yearning to contribute more to the family business, her relatives remain hesitant to trust her completely – or perhaps at all. And let’s not forget the ongoing strife between Bree and her brother Cane, which seems to be teetering precariously on the edge of mutual loathing.

Cane’s bond with his father takes an unexpected turn when, discovering Cane’s activities, his father ambushes him in his office and delivers a surprise punch as soon as Cane enters. An unusual Father’s Day ritual for sure, but every family has its quirks. After the shock wears off, Cane explains the details to his father, who appears more enraged about Cane collaborating with a fool like Hoyt and being unaware of who’s really pulling the strings in Hoyt’s organization than he is about the drug aspect. He instructs Cane to gather further information from Hoyt.

Currently, Harlan finds himself under scrutiny from Sheriff Clyde due to suspicions surrounding his dealings with the DEA. It’s essential for the Buckleys to be cautious as there are informants and agents lurking everywhere. This situation reminds us of Chekov’s gun principle – someone will eventually be exposed for collaborating with the authorities in the future.

Simultaneously, Harlan faces an internal conflict: He has a long history with the drug trade, having grown up immersed in it. When he scolds Belle for supporting Cane’s alliance with Hoyt, he recalls how this lifestyle led to his father’s demise and ruined his mother. Despite his attempts to leave the criminal world behind and establish an honest business, he finds himself back in it again.

Interestingly, Harlan doesn’t appear overly upset about returning to illegal activities; instead, he seems more angered that Cane is so inept at them. It should be noted that Cane gives off a strong impression of being a fool. One could argue that if Harlan truly wished to keep his family out of the drug business, he should be pleased that his son appears clueless when it comes to committing and covering up illicit acts. Make up your mind, Dad, for goodness’ sake!

Upon Cane’s arrival, both Cane and Harlan believe Hoyt orchestrated an attack on the Buckley boat to secure a larger deal with another party, planning to pin it on Cane when Owen, Hoyt’s enigmatic superior, inquires about the incident. Harlan is shocked by his son’s actions, giving away too much control over their operation, and his initial move to rectify the situation is to reclaim that control. They extend a boat trip invitation to Hoyt to discuss the predicament, which he accepts, showing his lack of wisdom.

In an ancient tactic, Harlan pours blood into the sea to lure sharks, then forces a man’s head into this bloody, shark-filled ocean to make him speak. Weak in his core strength, Hoyt avoids being devoured by confessing to stealing drugs for resale and implicating Cane, while also promising to guide Father and Son Buckley to the hidden stash. Harlan is correct that a brush with a shark can make one quite cooperative, indeed.

Once more, Harlan appears disgruntled by the ineptitude surrounding him, as he finds all the drugs carelessly stashed in a roadside shed. Before he can scold Hoyt for his drug-handling blunders, Sheriff Clyde arrives on the scene – a development that bodes ill for everyone. However, it turns out to be particularly detrimental for Hoyt, as Clyd, unbeknownst to Harlan, is actually Owen. In a shocking twist, Clyde promptly shoots Hoyt without hesitation in the head. It seems that Cane and Harlan now work under Clyde’s command, and it transpires that Clyde harbors a longstanding grudge against Harlan Buckley due to his family’s immense wealth and perceived impunity for their misdeeds. While Harlan’s father’s murder might suggest they didn’t completely escape the consequences, Clyde is clearly enjoying the upper hand now. (I won’t contest Harlan’s argument that his father being killed means they didn’t get away with everything entirely, but given that Clyde just executed a man point-blank, I’ll allow him to vent his feelings for a while.) He revels in the fact that the once powerful Buckleys of Havenport now owe him.

The initial task that Clyde assigns to the Buckleys involves disposing of Hoyt’s remains, which surprisingly turns into a meaningful father-son bonding experience. In this instance, Cane is required to shove Hoyt’s body into the swamp, followed by a physical altercation where he strikes his father in the face. Subsequently, Cane expresses remorse for his actions and apologizes to his father, which his dad playfully mocks. Despite its gruesome appearance, there is an underlying sweetness to this situation.

Once more, the powerful Buckleys of Havenport have fallen into the trap of illicit drug trafficking. When Harlan encounters Belle at the fishery to check on him, he admits that he’s slipped back into his past life and found it remarkably simple to do so. Let’s be straightforward: Harlan didn’t resist at all. He enjoys it! Just come clean and admit that you enjoy it, man.

As a cinephile, I can’t help but reflect on the intricate plot of this story. Getting back into the drug game was a cinch for Harlan, but staying in control, maintaining that power he craves? That’s another story entirely – and it’s not only Clyde giving him trouble. You remember Chekov’s informant? Well, it doesn’t take long to uncover the truth: The one working with the DEA, the one who could potentially complicate matters beyond repair for Harlan, is none other than his own daughter, Bree.

Bait & Tackle

Cane has a wife and daughter waiting for him at home, but when he encounters his old sweetheart, Jenna, who’s back in town due to her father’s illness, things are bound to change. Cane and his wife Peyton lack any spark, while he shares a strong connection with Jenna. I can’t help but anticipate that this man’s life will become even more complicated.

Cane confesses to Jenna that he didn’t chase his college football dreams at Florida despite being recruited, as his father told him he wouldn’t succeed professionally. He said, “The letdown would crush you, but living with the unknown might be worse.” This might even surpass anything else Harlan has done to Cane. Despite Cane being a bit of a fool, I find myself liking him more now; well done, writers!

I’ve noticed a change in our newest bartender, Shawn. It seems like he’s been casting rather furtive glances from behind the bar, don’t you think? It’s piqued my curiosity.

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2025-06-19 15:54