Aahana Swrup
Netflix’s ‘The Waterfront‘ revolves around a family’s desperate measures to save their sinking legacy. The Buckleys have been a prominent name around Havenport, North Carolina, for a long time. However, as the fishing industry takes a downturn, so does their family’s old money. As a result, young Cane Buckley regresses to old ways of making a quick buck. Nonetheless, he quickly realizes that dipping his toes into crime doesn’t come without its deadly complications. Thus, what was supposed to be a quiet momentary deal turns into a family affair as patriarch Harlan is forced to dirty his own hands. In the first two episodes, trouble circles around the central Buckleys from the beginning, as danger sets its sights on them from every side. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Miss Glory Washes Up Ashore Empty-Handed
Cane knows he’s in for a long haul as soon as news arrives about Miss Glory. The authorities found the ship half-sunken without its captain or first mate on board. Although they don’t know it yet, the young owner of the town’s biggest fishery and restaurant had actually been using that ship to run drugs on the downlow. Therefore, while DEA Agent Marcus takes an interest in the case, Cane rushes to predate the ownership rights of Miss Glory in the captain’s name. Although this saves his name from being associated with the complicated-addled vessel, he knows the hasty dealing would not go over well with his father, Harlan.
Ever since a significant health scare, Harlan has been out of the professional side of things, leaving Cane to deal with mounting debt and mortgages. In the meantime, he continues chasing after one thrill or another, usually with a younger woman or an older bottle. As a result, his adventurous lifestyle led to a minor heart attack on the same morning. Still, his wife, Belle, wants her son to fill his old man in on the details of their less-than-legal dealings. However, they both agree that any and all sensitive details about their operation need to be kept a secret from Bree, the younger sister, who has her own fair share of problems to deal with.
Cane Runs Into an Old Flame
Miss Glory’s accident brings more than one set of problems for Cane and his business. The ship was attacked in the middle of a shipment. Consequently, their supplier, the mysterious Owen, is inclined to blame the fishery owner for the deal gone wrong. As Hoyt, the middleman, tells him, Owen thinks Cane has stolen the stash for himself. However, the young man finds a distraction from these troubles when he sees an unexpected face while walking through town.
As it turns out, his high school ex, Jenna, is back in town to deal with her father’s health complications. Even though Cane and Jenna have been exes for years and have since both married other people, a fateful string keeps the two connected. Therefore, even though the former knows better, he can’t help but seek his ex out again and again as a way to keep his mind off his other problems. Naturally, this is bound to cause other problems, namely ones in his marriage with Peyton, Cane continues to allow himself to get pulled into a dangerous orbit.
Harlan Uncovers Owen’s Identity
Soon after Harlan learns about his son and wife’s secret drug operations, he realizes he has to return to a world he vowed to leave behind. The older man is no stranger to the world of drug-running. In fact, his father used to be a big fish in the game and accumulated much of his worth through illegal shipments. Nonetheless, in the end, this unreliable lifestyle ended up killing Harlan’s father. For the same reason, he wants to stay far away from it. Even so, once Cane digs himself into trouble, his father has no choice but to make a comeback. Fortunately, regression comes easily to the man. Harlan swiftly figures out the root of Cane’s problems: Hoyt. The middleman had gotten greedy and sought to exploit an opportunity.
He knows the young fishery owner is new to the realm of drug smuggling. Therefore, he orchestrates the attack himself to steal the stash from him and pin the theft on his head. Nonetheless, after a menacing swim with the sharks, he reveals all his secrets to Harlan, including the location of the stolen drugs. Yet, it’s only when they arrive at the stashaway shed that the real revelation arrives. Shortly after the father-son duo’s arrival, the local Sheriff Porter drives into the area. Thus, as he pulls the trigger on Hoyt, one thing becomes evident: Porter is the mysterious Owen. Furthermore, now that he has the Buckleys on his mercy in every way, he has the perfect job for them.
Bree is Colluding With the Enemy
While Cane and Belle have been entangled in a dangerous game, Bree has been making preacrtious moves of her own. The young woman has a dark past, clouded by her addiction, which ruined all her relationships. For instance, she is legally prohibited from seeing her son, Diller, without the presence of a court-mandated monitor. However, her complicated relationship with her brother remains a whole other story. Despite their family’s secrets, Bree is actually aware of Cane’s drug-running business. Nonetheless, instead of wanting to help him, she’s working toward his downfall.
For the same reason, Bree is working with Marcus, the DEA Agent/her lover, to help him uncover the Buckleys’ drug-running operations. The unlikely couple met in rehab and have been helping each other stay off their addictions with fun distractions ever since. Her role as the Agent’s informant against her own family is another convoluted facet of their relationship. She uses her unique position as a Buckley family member and employee to get access to sensitive records that could lead to Cane’s demise. However, it’s crucial to her that only her brother takes the fall in this bust, suggesting a deeper wound between the siblings.
Harlan Puts His Foot Down With Porter
Initially, Harlan is reluctant when Porter demands that the Buckleys make another run to make up for Miss Glory’s disastrous shipment. Nonetheless, he and Cane have no choice but to take the deal since they’re essentially bound under the Sheriff’s thumb. Nonetheless, the latter crosses a line when he intentionally shorts them on the stash to lure them into trouble. He reasons that he only does it to test their capabilities under pressure, but Harlan sees it for what it is: a power play. Therefore, he confronts the cop for putting his life in danger and asserts that his family will be making no more shipments until he meets with the head supplier, Grady.
Naturally, Porter doesn’t take this threat too well. The most prominent aspect of his relationship with the Buckleys comes from his eternal hatred for Harlan and his generational wealth. He hates that he had to live out his youth under the Buckley family’s shadows. Their wealth always afforded them ultimate control. Therefore, now that the same family is forced to work under him, the Sheriff is bound to enjoy the power trip. Still, despite the grating circumstances, Harlan, unlike Cane, refuses to be a doormat. As such, his rebellion is bound further to sever the acidic relationship between him and Porter.
Peyton Has a Nightmarish Night
Ever since Cane became involved in the shady business of drug-hauling, his home life has been suffering immensely. He becomes closed off against his wife, Peyton, who can tell something is bothering her husband. Nonetheless, his unwillingness to share only furthers the distance between them. For the same reason, Cane’s rekindling friendship with Jenna only worsens his drifting marriage. Even though the duo insists they’re only revitalizing their old friendship, their attraction toward each other remains persistent. Still, their relationship is such a thing of the past that their spouses see no issue in arranging a double date together.
Things go south when Cane and Jenna make the ill-advised decision to take a recreational gummy together before dinner. As a result, the two couples’ shared meal together is immensely uncomfortable. In the aftermath, Peyton confronts Cane about the humiliation, but he has no real defense for himself. Eventually, Peyton is forced to drive home alone after asserting that she has no desire to stay in an unhappy marriage. However, the night holds worse trouble for her at home. Outside of her house, Peyton ends up getting attacked by two masked men, who spray gasoline all over her. Although the episode ends before she herself is set on fire, we can rest assured that dark things are in store for the character.
Read More: The Waterfront Ending Explained: Does Belle Betray Harlan?
