Summary
Netflix hitOzarkmay have ended more than three years ago, but the streamer has been looking for a spiritual successor ever since. Thanks to Kevin Williamson—the man responsible forScreamandDawson’s Creek—it has finally found the show it’s been dying for.
Premiering onNetflixback in 2016 alongside13 Reasons Why,Mindhunter, andThe Punisher,Ozarkbecame the little show that couldfor the streaming giant. Buoyed by dynamite performances from Laura Linney and Jason Bateman, the crime series proved to be a major hit despite its creators, Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, being relatively unproven in the realm of television at the time. Throughout its four-season run,Ozarkdelighted fans with dramatic twists, stellar acting, and solid production values. The show also served as a breakout opportunity for Julia Garner, who has since gone on to star inDirty John,Inventing Anna,Wolf Man, andThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. In addition to showcasing Bateman, Linney, and Garner,Ozarkreminded Hollywood that Esai Morales is one heck of an actor, something he reiterated in the last twoMission: Impossiblefilms as the villainous Gabriel. All in all,Ozarkwas a critical and commercial hit for Netflix in a way that subsequent series likeFlorida ManandTerritoryjust weren’t.
Well, Netflix seems to have finally founda spiritual successortoOzarkin Kevin Williamson’sThe Waterfront.According toCollider, the crime drama has brought in over 36 million views globally and earned over 229 million hours of watch time in a scant four weeks. Throughout the end of June and the first half of July,The Waterfronthas been Netflix’s most-watched English-language show, finally being unseated this week by the return ofThe Sandman.It seems Williamson has yet another hit on his hands, alongside the likes ofScream,Dawson’s Creek, andThe Vampire Diaries.
The Waterfront Is Burning Up The Streaming Charts For Netflix
What About A Second Season, Though?
The Waterfrontisn’t necessarily breaking any new ground thematically, considering it is yet another tale of a well-to-do American family turning to crime in a time of need. Whatthe show does have going for itis an incredible cast of talented actors elevating the classic primetime soap opera material into something addicting to watch. Beloved character actor Holt McCallany (Mindhunter,Fight Club,The Iron Claw) leads the charge as lead character Harlan Buckey, but he’s not alone. Maria Bello (Beef), Melissa Benoist (Supergirl), Jake Weary (Animal Kingdom), Rafael L. Silva (9-1-1: Lone Star), Humberly González (Star Wars: Outlaws), and Topher Grace (That ’70s Show) round out a stellar collection of actors bringing everything to life.
Weirdly enough, even though the show has been a hit for Netflix since debuting on June 19th, it hasn’t been picked up for a second season. It seems like it will only be a matter of time until the most popular streaming service on the planet renews its most popular show of the past four weeks, but nothing should be taken for granted in the entertainment business these days. After all, CBS just cancelledone of its most beloved and successful showsof the past 30+ years earlier this week. Seemingly, anything is possible nowadays.
