Watching K-pop Demon Hunters on Netflix for the 14th time seems to have claimed another great drama. The Waterfront, the streamer's answer to Yellowstone, has been canceled after just one season.
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The news is surprising. According to Deadline, the show spent five weeks in Netflix's global Top 10 for English-language series. It also reached the number one spot three times. It amassed a staggering 11.6 million views in its first full week.
Simply put, a lot of people watched The Waterfront.
What Was "The Waterfront" About?
Set in a fictional coastal town in North Carolina, The Waterfront followed the Buckley family and its once lucrative fishing business. However, the family has turned to drug smuggling to save its legacy.
The show, which was created by Kevin Williamson of Dawson's Creek fame, held a 68 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Sure, The Waterfront didn't have a big name like Kevin Costner to draw in viewers. It did have plenty of twisty drama and a creepy turn by That '70s Show's Topher Grace.
The Waterfront also had a great soundtrack. It featured artists like Ryan Bingham, Brent Cobb, Larkin Poe, and Stephen Wilson Jr., along with legends like Tammy Wynette and Lee Ann Womack.
Why Was "The Waterfront" Canceled?
While The Waterfront's overall viewership numbers were strong, reports indicate that other specific metrics Netflix tracks—such as completion rates and viewer retention—were not high enough to justify a renewal.
Other factors Netflix considers when renewing shows include the production budget, potential awards recognition, the amount of social media discussion generated by the series, the demographics and average age of viewers, and the percentage of the audience that finishes the full season.
Netflix does not publicly disclose detailed performance data, but The Waterfront was not expected to receive Emmy nominations. Completion rates were reportedly fine, yet not enough to secure renewal.
"While I'm sad the Buckleys won't be back for Season 2, I'm celebrating the joy that was Season 1," Williamson wrote on Instagram. "It was one of the best experiences of my life!"
