On May 17, the series premiere of the new murder-mystery drama Hightown aired on Starz, via Decider. The first season will consist of 8 episodes each about 1 hour long.
Set in Cape Cod, Hightown stars Monica Raymund (Chicago Fire) as Jackie Quiñones, an agent in the National Marine Fisheries Service, and her journey to sobriety in the midst of a murder investigation that she can’t shake. The first episode opens up with two women in car, Sherry Henry, played by Masha King (Madam Secretary) and Krista Collins, played by Crystal Lake Evans (Blue Bloods). Viewers learn early on that Sherry is an addict and Krista is fresh out of rehab. While Sherry is waiting for her drug dealer to supply her with another stash, Krista gets out of the car to use the restroom. The scene suddenly turns into a drug deal gone wrong when Sherry is shot twice and tossed into the bay near Provincetown by her supposed drug dealers while Krista watches from the bushes. The discovery of Sherry’s body by Jackie after a night out is what sparks the murder investigation.
Hightown was created by Rebecca Cutter (Gotham) and features Riley Voelkel (The Originals), James Badge Dale (13 Hours), Shane Harper (A Teacher), and Amaury Nolasco (Transformers) alongside Raymund, King, and Evans. According to The Atlantic, Cutter began writing Hightown in 2015 when the opioid epidemic still had not received national recognition. The area of Cape Cod has been consistently viewed as the ultimate vacation destination, with its cultural diversity, LGBTQ+ acceptance, and endless parties. However, Cutter hoped to showcase the more desolate side of life in Cape Cod that is not too often shown: how drug addiction has affected their community. Cutter conveys this theme through Jackie, who uses drugs, alcohol, partying, and an endless chain of one night stands to ensure that she won’t become too invested in anyone. This cycle ends when she begins to have nightmares about Sherry’s dead body within the second half of the first episode.
Hightown originally aired on Starz on May 17 and will continue until its eighth and final episode on July 5th. The season 1 trailer can be watched below.