Somewhere between the shimmering veneer of coastal wealth and the decay of moral compromise, The Waterfront has stealthily risen to Netflix’s Top 10, sparking heated debates in group chats and on platforms like X: Is it better than Ozark? Released on June 19, 2025, The Waterfront—created by Kevin Williamson (Scream, Dawson’s Creek)—has been dubbed “Ozark meets Outer Banks” for its blend of family drama, crime, and coastal allure. With 11.6 million views in its second week and a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s a streaming juggernaut, yet critics and fans remain divided on whether it surpasses Ozark, Netflix’s Emmy-winning crime drama that ran from 2017 to 2022 with an 82% Rotten Tomatoes average. This 2000-word analysis compares the two series across plot, themes, characters, performances, tone, and execution, exploring whether The Waterfront is a worthy successor or a pale imitation of Ozark’s brilliance.

Plot and Premise: Parallel Paths, Divergent Journeys

Ozark: A Calculated Descent into Crime

Ozark follows Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), a Chicago accountant whose secret money-laundering for a Mexican drug cartel is exposed, forcing him to relocate his family—wife Wendy (Laura Linney) and children Charlotte and Jonah—to the Missouri Ozarks. Tasked with laundering $500 million in five years to save his life, Marty navigates a treacherous world of local criminals, cartel enforcers, and FBI scrutiny. The series, spanning four seasons, thrives on its high-stakes premise: a seemingly ordinary family man outsmarts deadly adversaries while his family fractures under the weight of his choices. Each season escalates the tension, from Marty’s initial schemes in Season 1 (70% on Rotten Tomatoes) to the Byrdes’ transformation into ruthless power players by Season 4 (81%). The narrative is a chess game, with every move calculated yet fraught with consequences, as seen in pivotal moments like Marty’s deal with the Snells or Wendy’s political maneuvering.

The Waterfront: A Dynasty’s Desperate Gamble

The Waterfront, set in the fictional coastal town of Havenport, North Carolina, centers on the Buckley family, who have ruled the local fishing and restaurant scene for decades. When patriarch Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany) suffers two heart attacks, his wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) struggle to keep their declining fishing empire afloat, resorting to drug smuggling—a trade rooted in the family’s past. The eight-episode first season, inspired by Williamson’s own experiences with his fisherman father’s illicit dealings, follows the Buckleys as they face rival criminals, a volatile drug supplier named Grady (Topher Grace), and internal betrayals. The plot, described by Cosmopolitan as “Ozark meets Outer Banks,” blends gritty crime with soapy family drama, culminating in a Season 1 cliffhanger that hints at more chaos to come.

Comparison

Both series share a core premise: a family entangled in crime to preserve their legacy or survival. Ozark’s strength lies in its urgent, high-stakes setup—Marty’s life depends on his success, creating immediate tension. The Waterfront lacks this immediacy, as the Buckleys’ drug smuggling feels “fated rather than circumstantial,” per SoapCentral, with their criminal roots established long before the series begins. This makes The Waterfront’s narrative less gripping initially, though its coastal setting and family dynasty add a unique flavor. Ozark’s tightly woven plot, driven by Marty’s strategic brilliance, contrasts with The Waterfront’s looser, more melodramatic structure, where family squabbles often overshadow the crime. However, The Waterfront’s Season 1 cliffhanger, praised by TV Fanatic for setting up “enticing” future arcs, suggests potential to deepen its stakes in a second season.