“Ozark” transitions Jason Bateman from comedy to crime drama in the role of Marty Byrde, a financial advisor who gets entangled with a Mexican cartel in a white-collar crime scheme (he’s purely fictional). When complications arise, the cartel threatens Marty’s family, forcing him to manage their entire money laundering operation from a secluded base in the rural Ozarks, although it was filmed elsewhere.

Premiering on Netflix in 2017 and spanning four seasons (all exclusively available on the platform), “Ozark” is a gripping drama depicting a regular man driven to his limits as he goes too far to support his family. The series garners acclaim for its intense storyline, gritty atmosphere, and standout performances from a cast featuring Laura Linney, Julia Garner, and Esai Morales. It delves into the dark world of crime, shining most when highlighting the difficult choices people face when their lives spiral out of control. The show doesn’t shy away from illustrating the harsh realities of criminal life and stands as one of Netflix’s top original series.

Nonetheless, “Ozark” is not unique in its genre, drawing comparisons to iconic series like “Breaking Bad” and “Fargo.” For those who enjoy the Bateman-led show, there’s another series on Netflix to check out: “The Waterfront.” It quickly secured a spot in Netflix’s top ten upon release and is only just beginning. So, what makes it compelling for “Ozark” fans? Let us break it down.

“The Waterfront” is the brainchild of TV and film producer Kevin Williamson. Known for his horror classics like “Scream” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” and the popular series “The Vampire Diaries,” Williamson also created “Dawson’s Creek” and the dark crime thriller “The Following” with Kevin Bacon. With that pedigree, expect “The Waterfront” to be a dark family crime drama with soap opera twists, deemed binge-worthy by critics.

The show features Holt McCallany and Maria Bello as Harlan and Belle Buckley, who own a restaurant and a port fishing business in Havenport, North Carolina. As Harlan deals with health issues, Belle, faced with a struggling business, decides to smuggle drugs for a local cartel. Upon Harlan’s return, he discovers that while their operations are afloat, the illicit activities have attracted dangerous foes who won’t hesitate to use violence to enforce their will.

Following a similar narrative about a husband and father willing to do anything to protect his family, “The Waterfront” will echo to “Ozark” fans Marty Byrde’s relentless efforts to evade the law while battling numerous threats. It’s a tale of family, redemption, and maintaining one’s legacy, infused with “Yellowstone”-esque soap opera elements.

With plenty of violence and soap opera drama at the heart of “The Waterfront’s” over-the-top story of a man who breaks bad and becomes a drug smuggler to support his family, it might be hard to believe that it’s all based on a true story. But while not exactly a beat-for-beat retelling, the series is indeed inspired by real-life events. In fact, it was loosely based on the exploits of series creator Kevin Williamson’s own family life in the 1980s.

Williamson was born in the shore town of New Bern, North Carolina, which is the basis for the show’s fictional Havenport. “I come from a family of fishermen—not just my dad, but the entire family,” he told Time Magazine. “Everyone I knew was a fisherman.” Unfortunately, in the 1980s, the business stopped booming, and the fishermen’s way of life began to slowly die out in the region. To make ends meet, Williamson’s father turned to drug smuggling.

“He was arrested for conspiracy to traffic marijuana—20,000 pounds,” Williamson revealed. Busted as part of an operation to shut down a drug cartel in the region, Williamson’s father thankfully only did about a year in the clink, but it’s an experience that has heavily influenced the writer’s many films and movies. And of course, the story also makes for great drama, so Williamson has long wanted to turn it into a series or movie. “I always told my dad I was going to write the story,” Williamson says. “He said, ‘Wait until I’m dead.'” After his father’s passing in 2020, the “Scream” creator knew it was time, and “The Waterfront” was born.