Hightown

I found season 1 during the pandemic. The cast is pretty stacked so I figured I'd give it a shot. I'm an addict (sober 3 years) so these types of shows can be very insulting if it isn't authentic.

Some people will find this type of show depressing. Sorry, it's real life. Terrible things are happening everyday, and unfortunately the bad guy normally wins. Drugs are awful and they are everywhere. The ripple effects are all around you constantly and I think that is my favorite thing about this show. If you're not into the gritty real life portrayals, this show isn't for you.

Last but not least. I actually read some reviews with complaints about the fact that the main character makes lesbians look bad. Huh? So everyone wants representation in stories, but if the person representing them isn't perfect it's a problem? It's time for people to grow up, stfu, and just enjoy entertainment. This character has flaws, but none of them have to do with her sexual preference. If she was straight, she'd have the same alcoholism. Stop expecting every character to be perfect. It would make for some unrealistic and boring storytelling wouldn't it ? Also, if the portrayal of two women having sex for you takes away from the overall story I'm not sure what to tell you. Go watch G rated television maybe? They have ratings at the beginning of every show. It's pretty much as dummy proof as you can make it, and still, people complain when something is too graphic. Stupid people are everywhere.

My rant aside, this is one hell of a show. The cast overall does a great job, but James Badge Dale really shines. It's nice to see him in a major role, he's extremely talented. I'm enjoying season 2 and I hope it gets a 3rd.

I was about to stop watching this in S1, E4, glad I didn't because season 2 really stepped it up. I mean it was like day and night compared to the ridiculous S1, where every character annoyed me, especially the fish cop. A lot of times movies becomes worse when a particular character dies, that wasn't the case here in S1. I was surprised he lasted as long as he did.

The gay sex remain wild and sexy, which was the most I've ever seen in a crime series, but the heterosexual remain blah and boring, had to ff it even when they were laying in bed, and I'm heterosexual. Lol

I couldn't believe how the energy turned up S2, along with the music theme and how crazy things were happening all over the place reminded me of White Lotus. Had me laughing out loud.

1 thing, I wasn't pleased how the initial killer was being portrayed as some type of gentle caring bear after savagely murdering women, that really irked me to the end.

All I can say is hang in there or just skip S1, you'll have a good time.

Hightown follows Ray Abruzzo (James Dale Badge) and Jackie Quinores (Monica Raymond) as they investigate serious crimes in Cape Cod. Quinores has a history of drug problems while she struggles to stay sober and Abruzzo spirals out of control from the stress of the job. Those two are at odds most of the series but really do work well together and will do whatever it takes to get the bad guys. It shows the lows of substance abuse and how the opioid epidemic has really effected people and torn peoples lives apart. Hightown is a fast paced thriller that will keep you entertained throughout the series.

The first season was probably the best, but I did watch all three. The biggest hurdle for me was the main character. I tried so hard to like her but she was just so bratty and out of control and constantly falling off the wagon with drugs and alcohol. Somehow she is able to keep working cases while completely cracked out of her mind or drunk, (like none of the drug enforcement officers noticed??) I found myself liking some of the "bad guys" more than the "good guys", all the way to the end. There are some good storylines, relationships, and entertaining crime sequences, but I had to fast forward some of her spiraling scenes. Also, just a heads up, the show ends with some unresolved questions.

I guess you could say that I am a "townie". I grew up and live on Cape and I work in addiction recovery. Once you get beyond the language and the sexual situations, you are left with 2 stories, the fictional murder/cop drama and the very real story of addiction and recovery which is messy and hard and has a lot of setbacks. It is an important story to tell and I am glad they are telling it even if it's uncomfortable for some people to watch. It's also important to see that this is a very bad problem even if you live in what would be considered an affluent community. Opiate addiction is a very bad problem here on Cape. So for those reviews that say this show is elitist, well, addiction affects the elites as well.