When The Waterfront premiered on Netflix on June 19, 2025, it quickly cemented itself as a gripping crime drama, weaving a tale of a North Carolina fishing family entangled in a web of crime, betrayal, and emotional turmoil. The Buckley family, led by the stoic yet flawed Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany), captured audiences with their desperate struggle to save their crumbling maritime empire. With a stellar cast, including Maria Bello as Belle Buckley, Melissa Benoist as Bree Buckley, and Jake Weary as Cane Buckley, the show’s first season delivered a potent mix of family dysfunction, criminal intrigue, and raw human emotion. Its explosive finale, marked by a shocking death and a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, left fans clamoring for more. Now, whispers of Season 2 have begun to surface, and with them comes a tantalizing new development: the introduction of a rival family, rumored to be even more ruthless than the notorious McBrides, the shadowy figures who loomed large in Season 1. As the Buckleys brace for a new war, The Waterfront promises to plunge deeper into the murky waters of power, loyalty, and revenge.

The Buckley Legacy: A Family on the Brink

At the heart of The Waterfront lies the Buckley family, a clan tethered to the rugged North Carolina coast and its fishing industry. Harlan Buckley, a man haunted by his father’s cartel past, runs the family’s restaurant and port, battling to keep their legacy afloat amid mounting debts and internal strife. His wife, Belle, is the steely backbone of the business, navigating financial ruin with a mix of grit and desperation. Their daughter, Bree, is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict whose reckless past—culminating in a fire that cost her custody of her teenage son—continues to haunt her. Bree’s entanglement with DEA Agent Marcus Sanchez adds a dangerous layer of betrayal, as she feeds him information about her family’s illicit dealings. Meanwhile, Cane, Harlan and Belle’s son, grapples with the sinking business and a fracturing marriage to Peyton, the mother of their daughter, Savanah.

Season 1 peeled back the layers of the Buckleys’ dysfunction, revealing a family bound by love but torn apart by secrets. The return of Harlan’s father, a figure who abandoned the family years ago, set off a chain reaction of emotional and criminal fallout. Old wounds were reopened, and long-buried secrets—about the family’s ties to drug running and organized crime—surfaced with devastating consequences. The season’s finale was a masterstroke of tension, leaving viewers reeling from a major character’s death and a cliffhanger involving Belle that hinted at a seismic shift in the family’s power dynamic. With viewership soaring—53 million hours watched in its first week and a 39% jump to 74.3 million in week two—The Waterfront became Netflix’s seventh most-watched show of 2025, signaling a near-certain renewal for Season 2.

The McBrides: A Formidable Foe

While the Buckleys were the emotional core of Season 1, the McBrides emerged as a menacing external threat. Though not fully explored, this rival clan was implied to be a powerful force in the region’s criminal underworld, with ties to the same cartel that Harlan’s father once ran. The McBrides represented everything the Buckleys feared: a family that thrived on ruthlessness, unafraid to wield violence and intimidation to maintain their dominance. Their shadow loomed over the Buckleys’ every move, from Harlan’s reluctant return to drug running to Bree’s dangerous dance with the DEA. The McBrides’ influence was felt in the escalating stakes of Season 1, as the Buckleys’ attempts to protect their business pushed them deeper into a criminal spiral.

Yet, for all their menace, the McBrides remained somewhat enigmatic, their full motivations and power structure left tantalizingly vague. This narrative choice kept viewers on edge, wondering just how far the McBrides’ reach extended and what they might do if crossed. The season’s cliffhanger suggested that the Buckleys’ actions—particularly Bree’s betrayal and Harlan’s reentry into the drug trade—had set them on a collision course with this formidable foe. Fans speculated that Season 2 would bring the McBrides into sharper focus, revealing the true extent of their power and the personal vendettas driving their conflict with the Buckleys.

A New Rival Family: Worse Than the McBrides?

Now, as anticipation builds for Season 2, a new rumor has sent shockwaves through the The Waterfront fanbase: the introduction of a rival family that could eclipse even the McBrides in their capacity for chaos and cruelty. While details about this new clan remain scarce, the mere suggestion that they could be “worse” than the McBrides has ignited feverish speculation. What could make this family so dangerous? Are they a new player in the North Carolina underworld, or do they have a personal history with the Buckleys that makes their rivalry even more volatile? The promise of a darker, deadlier threat suggests that The Waterfront is poised to raise the stakes, pushing the Buckleys into uncharted territory.

This new family could bring a fresh dynamic to the show, intensifying the themes of loyalty and betrayal that defined Season 1. Unlike the McBrides, who operated as a distant but omnipresent threat, this rival clan might have a more intimate connection to the Buckleys—perhaps a shared past, a blood feud, or a betrayal that cuts deeper than business. Their introduction could also shift the power balance, forcing the Buckleys to confront not just external enemies but the fractures within their own ranks. For instance, Bree’s cooperation with the DEA could backfire spectacularly if this new family exploits her divided loyalties. Similarly, Cane’s crumbling marriage and Harlan’s moral compromises could leave the Buckleys vulnerable to a foe that thrives on exploiting weakness.

What to Expect in Season 2

While Netflix has yet to officially confirm Season 2, the show’s massive viewership and critical buzz make its return highly likely. Creator Kevin Williamson, known for crafting emotionally charged dramas with a knack for suspense, has hinted at “plenty more story to tell,” suggesting that the Buckleys’ saga is far from over. The introduction of a new rival family could serve as the narrative engine for Season 2, driving the Buckleys into a high-stakes battle for survival. This conflict might unfold against the backdrop of the North Carolina coast, with its stormy seas and desolate shores serving as a metaphor for the turmoil within the characters’ lives.

Thematically, Season 2 is likely to delve deeper into the universal struggles that made Season 1 so resonant: the weight of familial expectations, the scars of emotional neglect, and the quest for redemption. The new rival family could mirror the Buckleys’ own dysfunction, offering a twisted reflection of their strengths and flaws. For example, while the Buckleys are driven by a desire to preserve their legacy, this new clan might be fueled by a hunger for power at any cost, willing to destroy anyone in their path. This contrast could force the Buckleys to confront uncomfortable truths about their own choices, particularly Harlan’s decision to reembrace the criminal world and Belle’s ruthless pragmatism.

The cast is expected to return, with Holt McCallany’s commanding presence as Harlan anchoring the show. Maria Bello’s nuanced portrayal of Belle, a woman torn between love and ambition, will likely take center stage, especially after the finale’s cliffhanger. Melissa Benoist’s Bree, whose addiction and betrayal made her both tragic and polarizing, could face new consequences for her actions, while Jake Weary’s Cane might grapple with the fallout of his failing marriage and his role in the family’s criminal descent. New characters, including members of the rival family, could introduce fresh faces to the ensemble, adding layers of intrigue and conflict.

A Darker, More Immersive World

Visually and tonally, The Waterfront is poised to lean into its atmospheric strengths. The North Carolina coast, with its rugged beauty and unpredictable seas, will likely remain a character in its own right, amplifying the sense of isolation and danger. The show’s use of moody lighting, haunting soundscapes, and sweeping coastal vistas created a palpable sense of dread in Season 1, and Season 2 could push this aesthetic further, reflecting the escalating stakes. The new rival family might bring their own distinct visual identity—perhaps a stark, urban contrast to the Buckleys’ maritime world—heightening the clash between the two clans.

Ultimately, the introduction of a rival family worse than the McBrides promises to transform The Waterfront into an even bolder exploration of power and sacrifice. As the Buckleys navigate this treacherous new landscape, they’ll be forced to confront not just their enemies but the darkness within themselves. For fans, the prospect of a deeper, darker Season 2 is both thrilling and daunting, promising a rollercoaster of emotions and a battle that could redefine the Buckley legacy forever. As the waves crash and the storm brews, one thing is certain: The Waterfront is ready to take viewers on a wild, unforgettable ride.