One of the best ways to pass the time is to get wrapped up in a tense, atmospheric crime drama TV show, andHightownis the perfect choice.Hightownis aTV show that deserves a second chance on Netflix, as it was cut short too soon, despite its compelling story and strong ensemble castled by Monica Raymund as Jackie Quiñones.
Now that theStarz series is streaming on Netflix, it’s already becoming a hit for the streamer, scratching the same itch as some of viewers' favorite crime dramas.Hightownworks becauseit’s about much more than the narrative’s central mystery,leaning into the ups and downs of Jackie’s personal issues and her struggles with addiction.
5 Years Later, Hightown Is Still a Step Above Most Crime Dramas
Hightown Is More Than A Run Of The Mill Crime Show
Airing for three seasons from 2020 to 2024,Hightownwill likely long outlive its run,especially now that it’s finding a second life on streaming.Hightownis far from the first show to be rediscovered after being added to Netflix, and looking back on it today, five years after it first premiered, it’s clear thatHightown’s unique sensibilities are something special.
Raymund’s Jackie is a National Marine Fisheries Service Agent who gets caught up in a murder investigation that pushes her to her emotional limits. Set against the backdrop of an idyllic town in Cape Cod,Hightownjuxtaposes the beautiful with the violent,taking Jackie on a new ride each season as she delves into the seedy underbelly of the area.
ThoughHightownutilizes some of the genre’s familiar tropes, the more formulaic moments are used as a tool to help the audience understand the rules of the world, allowingHightownto break them in turn. Thecrime drama TV shows that are perfect from start to finish, likeHightown, are able to reinvent themselves and keep the audience guessing.
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Hightown Ended Far Too Soon
The Series Could’ve Gone On For Many Years
ThoughHightownwas canceled by Starz after season 3,that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth watching the crime drama (viaDeadline). While Starz is most associated with its sweeping romantic dramas likeOutlander, the network is well-versed in the world of crime and shocking drama, andHightowndemonstrates this through each of its too-short seasons.
One of the hardest parts of extending a crime drama for multiple seasons is making the mysteries feel fresh and not repeating the same storylines over and over.Hightownavoids this by digging into Jackie as a characterand examining what makes her a great investigator and a flawed human being, and showing how entwined she is within her community.
No part of the series has gotten old in the years since it premiered.
While it’s thrilling to watchHightowntoday, as no part of the series has gotten old in the years since it premiered, this doesn’t make it any less disappointing that there are only three seasons to enjoy. However, this also makesHightownthe perfect show to binge, as its seasons are between seven and ten episodes long.
