The Latest Update On ‘The Waterfront’ Season 2

Well, The Waterfront has one more day on the top of Netflix’s Top 10 list before Squid Game sweeps over it like a tsunami. But that’s expected, and no reflection on The Waterfront itself. Still, the question remains about whether The Waterfront will return for season 2.

Netflix hasn’t announced one yet. However, it’s very, very early for them to do so unless something is a colossal smash hit. Even then, it can take a while for it to be official. But we can go through the evidence about how this is going to go, and I’ve been doing this long enough to be right probably 95% of the time. And all indications are that The Waterfront is almost certainly going to get a season 2.

One thing not being considered is how well this fills a hole in Netflix’s crime-based line-up. A crime-based line-up that frequently includes bodies of water as a plot point, funnily enough.

The shows I’m referencing are Bloodline, the thriller that ran for three seasons in 2015. And then the higher-profile offering, Ozark, which ran for four seasons and ended in 2022. Ozark specifically was a big show for Netflix and no doubt they’d like to find something to fill that gap. And given that both of those shows ran for multiple seasons, I’d say it’s a good bet The Waterfront does the same. But there are other pillars of Netflix renewal to consider.

Viewership – You can’t do better than debuting at #1 and staying there for a long time. Full numbers are not in yet, but every indication is that The Waterfront is probably meeting or exceeding expectations on that front.

Reception – It’s good, not great. A 70% from both critics and fans is decent enough, and the show certainly isn’t bad. But Netflix probably cares the least about reception, especially critic reception, in any of these categories. It’s almost always viewership versus cost.

Cost – It has to be pretty low. No enormous blockbuster effects here. And it has lower-profile actors (though still talented) than both Bloodline and Ozark ever did. I mean, Topher Grace is probably the most recognizable face of the season. Or perhaps Melissa Benoist if you’re a big CW Arrowverse fan. But that means lower salaries.

Completion – The final factor here is one we just don’t know; how many people stay through to the end of the series, indicating interest in a second season. One indicator of this is just how long it remains in a top spot, especially #1, as that’s a good sign that people are watching the season over the course of multiple days rather than doing an episode or two on day one and giving up.

All signs point to yes here. I don’t know when this will be made official but expect The Waterfront season 2 to be announced in a few weeks or even months here.