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The cancellation of The Waterfront after a single season left many people surprised, notably because the show had a good beginning on Netflix. The series drew millions of viewers in its first few weeks, ranking in the global top ten and even topping the charts for several weeks. Nevertheless, Netflix canceled the series despite all these accomplishments.
The conclusion may seem strange at first, but there are strong reasons supporting it. While originality and cultural impact are important, Netflix focused on long-term value based on its internal performance. Examining these elements in detail will make it clear why the cancellation was appropriate.
Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.
Here is a list of the 7 reasons why The Waterfront's cancellation seems justified:
7. A part of a larger cancellation pattern at Netflix this year
Netflix is canceling several new series these days, even those that initially perform well. The Waterfront drew over 11.6 million viewers in its first full week and stayed in the global top-10 for five weeks, including three weeks at number 1. Despite this good start, Netflix decided to end the show after its first season. Other newer series with fewer ratings, like Pulse and The Residence, were similarly canceled.
It seems that Netflix is pickier now. Instead of renewing most series that reach the top-10, it now weighs many factors before deciding. The Waterfront checked some of the boxes, but not all of them. Its cancellation comes in the wake of other recent cancellations despite good viewership. Thus, this action is a part of a trend whereby Netflix cancels shows that don't meet its stricter requirements, even if they had strong initial numbers.
6. Waterfront was perceived as a derivative of already-successful "rural-crime" shows
Despite its large viewership, critics frequently compared The Waterfront to Yellowstone. They labeled it a coastal crime drama with familiar beats and said it was too much like a clone without enough new twists. The show had a strong start, with 8.3 million viewers in its first four days and 11.6 million over its peak week, although critics condemned its lack of creativity. They described the tone as uneven, the dialogue clichéd, and the setting artificial.
Viewers who had already seen successful rural crime dramas may have felt they knew what to expect and did not stay invested. The show couldn't feel fresh or necessary if it didn't have a distinct artistic identity of its own. Despite strong data, being labeled derivative likely eroded Netflix's confidence in its long-term popularity.
5. Limited social-media buzz
Despite having 11.6 million streams in its peak week, five weeks in the top ten, and 29.1 million streams in a single month, The Waterfront didn't create any online discussion, with some sources claiming that Netflix pointed to a lack of social media buzz as a red flag. Online buzz forms fanbases and helps prolong the run of a series by creating dedicated viewership. Other shows with lower figures but more social drive were chosen.
The Waterfront did not become the subject of broad online buzz or fan trending. Without that buzz, success felt fleeting. Platforms like Netflix prefer to use long-term cultural discussion to inform renewals. A show that performs well only in streaming figures may not be sufficient if it does not resonate and build its social audience. In that way, one of the reasons it closed was a lack of social energy.
4. Reduction of the chance of getting awards
Critics welcomed The Waterfront with lukewarm support. On Rotten Tomatoes, it received a 68% critical acceptance rating, while Metacritic gave it a 54 out of 100, signifying mediocre to indifferent reviews. Praise went to the performances and soap-to-crime mix, but reviews characterized many of them as clichéd and melodramatic. Even if those numbers suggest the show was not universally reviled, it did not enjoy the level of praise required to merit an awards push or prestige branding.
Streaming platforms sometimes renew low-viewership shows if they are critically adored or award-friendly. The Waterfront did not have that cultural boost. Its average reception made it a weak show. Even if viewership was sufficient, Netflix surely thought that the show could not justify further investment without prestige draw.
3. High production cost vs. expected long-term ROI
8.3 million people watched The Waterfront in four days, 11.6 million during its peak week, and 29.1 million during the month. It also had high production value, with a well-known creator and a talented cast. However, Netflix eventually made its judgment based on internal criteria. Accounts indicated that, while the completion rate was "excellent," it was not sufficient to sustain renewal.
Netflix weighs costs against a variety of things. The Waterfront might have seemed small in cost, but without high retention, award potential, or buzz, it did not have long-term value. Although the show was performing well compared to other canceled dramas in viewership, it still did not tick enough boxes. This made its continuation financially unwise for Netflix. Even if the shift appears effective, it underscores the importance of achieving strategic and financial goals.
2. A spiked viewership dropped suddenly & too quickly
The Waterfront opened with respectable numbers. The show received 8.3 million views in its first few days and 11.6 million views in its peak week, amounting to 74.2 million hours watched that week. The show started nicely but fell off dramatically after a few weeks. Views are said to have fallen to 5.6 million, partly due to new shows like Squid Game pulling viewers away. A significant reduction in viewing implies a lack of retention, despite the show's initial interest.
The decline perhaps informed Netflix that the audience momentum was not sustainable. In today's streaming world, first impressions are important, but so is longevity. A large spike that does not continue often comes across as a flash in the pan. For renewal, the number of people who keep watching episodes until the end of the season is what Netflix is most worried about. The Waterfront's opening numbers were great, but the decline perhaps was sufficient for them to decide it was not worth a season two.
1. Waterfront didn't meet Netflix's internal performance benchmarks
Despite high viewing figures, The Waterfront failed all of Netflix's internal tests. The show topped Netflix's global charts for five weeks, including three at number one, peaking at 11.6 million viewers. It also recorded 29.1 million total streams in its first month, making it one of the top-watched launch shows of the month. But Netflix does not make renewals based on volume. The company weighs viewership against other factors like episode completion, cost, social activity, and award considerations.
The Waterfront reportedly failed all internal testing, despite outperforming canceled shows like Pulse and The Residence. This suggests that while the viewership numbers looked good on paper, the deeper metrics were not strong enough. Netflix appears to require a combination of performance metrics to approve a second season. The Waterfront checked some of those boxes, but not enough to be granted another season.
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Ultimately, the decision to cancel The Waterfront is a demonstration of Netflix acting on more than cold data. The show received decent ratings and even had a few highly rated weeks, but it failed to stay in people's thoughts long enough or gain enough cultural recognition to satisfy Netflix.
It was also pricey and lacked prestige value. Critics did not entirely agree, and buzz died out. These problems combined against it. The verdict had already been passed on other series, and The Waterfront was another one where initial success could not help.
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