If you’ve spent even a minute scrolling through Netflix’s trending page this summer, you’ve probably seen the storm that is The Waterfront—a southern-fried cocktail of family secrets, betrayal, and crime that’s got viewers everywhere glued to their screens and begging for more. It’s the kind of show that sneaks up on you: one minute you’re thinking, “Just one episode before bed,” and the next thing you know, it’s 3 a.m., you’re three coffees deep, and you’re frantically searching the internet for any scrap of news about whether this wild ride will continue for a second season. And honestly, who can blame you?

Created by none other than Kevin Williamson—the man who made Dawson’s Creek a household name and gave an entire generation their first taste of TV heartbreak—The Waterfront is a show that feels both fresh and nostalgic. It’s set in the salty, sun-bleached town of Havenport, North Carolina, where the Buckley family’s once-mighty fishing empire is sinking fast, and the only thing thicker than the humidity is the tension simmering beneath every family dinner. Inspired by Williamson’s own family history (yes, really—his dad was a fisherman who got into some trouble back in the ’80s), the show pulses with the kind of authenticity you can’t fake, and every twist feels like it could have been ripped from a real-life police blotter.

The first season dropped on June 19 and, in true Netflix fashion, wasted absolutely no time shooting up the Top 10. Suddenly, everywhere you looked, people were talking about Cane Buckley (played with a simmering intensity by Jake Weary), his fierce sister Bree (Melissa Benoist, showing off the kind of grit that would make even Supergirl jealous), and the rest of the Buckley clan as they tried to keep their heads above water—sometimes literally. And while the show is packed with all the crime drama and shocking betrayals you’d expect from a series with this pedigree, what really sets it apart is the way it makes you care about these deeply flawed, wildly complicated characters. You root for them, you curse at them, you gasp at their choices, and by the time the credits roll on that finale, you’re left with a knot in your stomach and a single burning question: what happens next?

That finale, by the way, is the kind of television that makes you want to throw your remote at the wall and immediately call your best friend to scream about what just happened. Grady, played by Topher Grace in a performance so unhinged and magnetic you almost forget he was ever the lovable dork on That ’70s Show, has seen his drug empire collapse in spectacular fashion. Desperate and dangerous, he kidnaps Bree and her young son Diller, dragging them out to sea in a last-ditch attempt at leverage. The tension is suffocating: you know someone’s not making it back to shore, but you have no idea who. Bree, never one to go down without a fight, tries to take Grady out herself, only to get shot in the leg and tossed overboard like yesterday’s catch. Diller, in a moment that will break your heart and make you cheer all at once, manages to throw his mom a life raft, keeping her afloat long enough for the cavalry to arrive.

Enter Cane and Harlan, the Buckley patriarch played by the ever-commanding Holt McCallany. Cane, channeling every ounce of rage and love he’s got left, sneaks aboard Grady’s boat, dispatches his goons with brutal efficiency, and finally, in a moment that feels both inevitable and shocking, puts two bullets in Grady’s face. It’s a messy, cathartic end to a season full of violence, but in true Waterfront fashion, it’s not the end of the story. Bree is rescued, the family is battered but alive, and you think maybe—just maybe—they’ve finally caught a break.

But then comes the twist that sets the internet ablaze: Belle, the family matriarch played by Maria Bello with a steeliness that could freeze the ocean, has been pulling strings behind the scenes, making secret deals with the Buckleys’ biggest rivals, the Parkers. While everyone else was busy fighting fires, Belle was quietly positioning herself as the real boss, meeting with Emmett Parker and orchestrating a power play that leaves Harlan—and viewers—reeling. The final moments see her walking into the Buckley fish house, finding the scheming developer Wes Benson beaten and tied up by Emmett, and being addressed as “boss.” The message is clear: there’s a new sheriff in town, and things are about to get a whole lot messier.

So, with all this chaos and unfinished business, the big question on everyone’s mind is obvious: will The Waterfront return for a second season? As of now, Netflix is playing it coy. There’s been no official word, no triumphant tweet announcing a renewal, no behind-the-scenes teaser promising more. But if you listen closely—to the cast, to the creator, to the way fans are devouring every episode—you can feel the hope bubbling just beneath the surface.

Jake Weary, the show’s breakout star, has already admitted he’s had conversations with Williamson about where the story could go next. He’s superstitious about talking too much before the official green light, but you can tell the cast is itching to dive back into Havenport’s churning waters. Williamson himself has been even more direct, telling interviewers that he’s already mapped out not just a second season, but a third. He knows these characters inside and out, and he’s got stories to tell—stories about power, loyalty, and what happens when the people you love most become your biggest enemies.

And let’s be honest: with the way season one ended, there’s no way fans are going to let this show fade quietly into the night. The Buckleys are on the brink of a civil war, with Belle stepping into the spotlight and Harlan facing the very real possibility that his days as the family’s leader are over. The Parkers, meanwhile, are poised to become even more formidable foes, with Williamson promising that we’ve only scratched the surface of their backstory—and that they’re “more dangerous than Grady could ever be.” The stage is set for shifting alliances, shocking betrayals, and the kind of family drama that keeps you up at night, replaying every line and wondering who will survive the next storm.

If the show does return, you can bet the core cast will be back in action: McCallany, Bello, Weary, and Benoist have all delivered powerhouse performances that have made their characters unforgettable. Supporting players like Terry Serpico, Dave Annable, Brady Hepner, Rafael L. Silva, Danielle Campbell, and Humberly González are likely to return as well, each bringing their own flavor to the tangled web of alliances and rivalries. As for Topher Grace? Well, two bullets to the face is usually a pretty definitive exit, but with a show like this, you never say never—stranger things have happened on the waterfront.

For now, all fans can do is stream season one on Netflix, dissect every clue, and wait for the official word. But if there’s one thing The Waterfront has taught us, it’s that nothing stays buried for long—not secrets, not grudges, and certainly not a show with this much buzz. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer just dipping your toes in the water, one thing’s for sure: the Buckleys’ story is far from over, and when season two finally drops, you won’t want to miss a single wave