The episode begins on a dark and misty night with two fishermen, Curtis and Troy, aboard the Miss Glory, a boat owned by the Buckley family. They are involved in a clandestine operation, smuggling drugs. The scene is ominous, setting the stage for an ambush. Suddenly, a group of armed men appear, overpowering Curtis and Troy. The men steal the drugs and equipment from the boat, then wrap Curtis and Troy in a large fishing net and throw them overboard. Before being tossed into the water, one of them begs for mercy, but it is to no avail.

The next morning, the Miss Glory washes up on shore, its hull completely cleaned out. There are no signs of fingerprints or residue, indicating a thorough cleanup. The authorities, including DEA agents, are quickly on the scene, investigating the incident. Cane Buckley, the owner of the boat and a prominent figure in the community, becomes anxious upon learning about the boat's discovery. He tries to contact Curtis and Troy but receives no response.

Cane rushes to the local court office, where he bribes his cousin Lynette to alter the ownership documents of the Miss Glory. He forges a predated signature to transfer the ownership to Curtis Sutton, attempting to distance himself from the incident. This move is an attempt to avoid suspicion and protect his family's reputation.

Meanwhile, Cane's family life is portrayed as seemingly normal. He has a loving wife, Peyton, and a young daughter, Savannah. However, beneath the surface, Cane's financial situation is precarious, and his family's wealth is not entirely clean. His father, Harlan, is dealing with health issues and personal problems, including infidelity and heavy drinking. The family's fishing business is in debt, and they are considering illicit means to recover financially.

As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that the Buckleys have a history of involvement in illegal activities. The family's decision to engage in drug running is motivated by their financial struggles. The loss of the drugs on the Miss Glory complicates their plans and puts them under scrutiny from both their partners and law enforcement. Cane's actions are driven by a desire to protect his family and maintain their status in the community, even if it means resorting to illegal activities.

At the end of The Waterfront Season 1, Episode 1, Curtis and Troy are captured, knocked out, wrapped in a fishing net, and thrown overboard a ship, setting off a chain of events that deeply affect the Buckley family. Cane Buckley anxiously searches for them but finds no response. The episode closes with Cane rushing to the site of a shipwreck, signaling the beginning of the family's troubles tied to this violent incident.

Expanding on the ending scene by scene:

The episode opens with Curtis and Troy, two men connected to the Buckley family, being held at gunpoint on a ship. Despite their pleas for mercy, they are both knocked unconscious, wrapped tightly in a large fishing net, and thrown overboard into the sea. This brutal act is a stark and violent introduction, immediately establishing a dangerous conflict that will haunt the Buckleys.

The next morning, Cane Buckley, the son in the Buckley family, is shown anxiously texting Curtis and Troy, trying to get a response. His worry is palpable, but he receives no reply. Cane attempts to push aside his concerns while having dinner with his wife Peyton and daughter Savannah in their upscale North Carolina home. The family scene contrasts sharply with the earlier violence, highlighting the tension between their luxurious life and the dark undercurrents threatening it.

Suddenly, Cane rushes out of the house, driven by a sense of urgency. He arrives at the site of a shipwreck, which is implied to be connected to Curtis and Troy's fate. This moment marks a turning point, as the Buckley family's troubles begin to surface more visibly, setting the stage for the unfolding drama around their involvement in drug running and the dangerous enemies they face.

In this episode, the fate of Curtis and Troy is grim--they are left unconscious and at the mercy of the sea, their survival uncertain. Cane is left in a state of anxious desperation, signaling the start of a deeper conflict for the Buckley family. Peyton and Savannah remain unaware of the full extent of the danger, while Cane is forced to confront the violent reality that threatens to unravel their lives.

This ending sets up the central conflict of the series: the Buckley family's struggle to maintain control and protect themselves amid escalating violence and betrayal linked to their illicit activities. The episode closes on a note of suspense and foreboding, with the shipwreck symbolizing the precarious position the family now occupies.

Based on available sources, there is no evidence of a post-credit scene in The Waterfront, Season 1, Episode 1 (2025). The episode's narrative concludes with Cane Buckley rushing to the site of a shipwreck after failing to reach Curtis and Troy, whose violent disappearance in the opening scene sets the tone for the series. The final moments focus on Cane's growing anxiety and the immediate fallout for the Buckley family, but there is no indication of additional content after the credits roll. All major recaps and reviews describe the episode's ending as the shipwreck discovery, with no mention of a post-credit sequence.

Curtis and Troy, employees of the Buckley family's fishing business, are ambushed on their boat Miss Glory during a clandestine drug smuggling operation. They are tied up in fishing nets by gunmen and thrown overboard, with their boat later washing ashore completely cleared out, sparking a major investigation.

Cane Buckley, the owner of the Miss Glory and head of the Buckley family, anxiously tries to contact Curtis and Troy with no success. He then rushes to the site of the shipwreck and bribes his cousin Lynette to fraudulently transfer the boat's ownership from himself to Curtis to cover his involvement and avoid DEA scrutiny.

The Buckley family includes Cane Buckley, the patriarch and business owner; his wife Peyton; and their daughter Savannah. The episode also introduces family tensions, including Cane's strained relationship with his father and his protective instincts toward his family amid the unfolding crisis.

Sheriff Clyde Porter is revealed to be a corrupt figure involved with the Buckleys' criminal activities. He kills Hoyt, a drug dealer connected to the Buckleys, and forces Cane and Harlan Buckley to dispose of Hoyt's body, indicating his deep complicity in the family's illicit operations.

The secret shed off the highway contains a $10 million drug stash linked to the Buckley family's smuggling operations. When law enforcement arrives during the discovery, it triggers violent consequences, including Hoyt's murder by Sheriff Porter, highlighting the dangerous stakes and corruption surrounding the Buckleys' empire.

The Waterfront, Season 1, Episode 1 is not family friendly and contains content that may be objectionable or upsetting for children and sensitive viewers. Key potentially troubling aspects include:

• Mild sexual content and nudity, including scenes with a couple having sex, male rear nudity, and brief full male nudity without story relevance.
• Moderate violence and gore, such as a close-range shooting with graphic blood and brain matter, and drug-related violent scenes that can be bloody.
• Moderate profanity, including frequent use of strong language like "F-words" and "GDs."
• Severe depiction of alcohol, drug use, and smoking, which is a prominent theme.
• Moderate frightening and intense scenes that contribute to a tense, gritty atmosphere.

Overall, the show is a gritty crime drama with mature themes involving family dysfunction, addiction, and violence, making it unsuitable for children or viewers sensitive to these elements.