Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
High Town is a crime drama set in the coastal town of Provincetown, MA.
The series begins with Sherry Henry (Masha Cima) and her recently sober friend Krista Collins (Crystal Lake Evans) waiting for a drug delivery in a remote area of Cape Cod. When Krista goes into the reeds to urinate, the drug dealer drives up and gets out of the car. As Sherry walks up to him, the dealer pulls out a gun and shoots her. Krista looks on in shock as another man gets out of the car and puts Sherry in the trunk. They drive off, leaving Krista in the reeds.
Meanwhile, National Marine Fisheries Service Agent Jackie Quiñones (Monica Raymund) is out partying. She does some coke, drinks, flirts with various women, and gets picked up for a night of sex. Very early the next morning, Jackie wakes up in the other woman’s beachside hotel, gets dressed and leaves. As she walks out, she notices Sherry’s dead body washed up on shore.
Jackie phones the police, and detective Ray Abruzzo (James Badge Dale) is called in because Sherry was Ray’s informant for a case he’s building against drug king Frankie Cuevas (Amaury Nolasco). Ray is working with state trooper Alan Saintille (Dohn Norwood), who is part of the Cape Cod Narcotics Unit. With his main informant dead, Ray makes a connection with Frankie’s girlfriend, Renee Segna (Riley Voelkel), hoping to ger to talk. As Ray threatens to arrest Renee on prostitution charges, Jackie is haunted by images of Sherry’s dead body. And with this, the drama begins.
Some Thoughts:
High Town is a gritty story of drugs, murder, and addiction where nobody is innocent. It keeps the tension high with characters who make poor choices that often put themselves in danger. Each episode is packed with action and suspense and ends with a cliffhanger. Despite the endless onslaught of sex and violence, it manages to include a riveting story with realistic characters that are easy to identify with. Also, it’s themes of substance abuse and dependency come through without being judgmental or preachy.
The acting, pacing, and tone are all spot on. Because of the tight script and great editing, not a single moment is wasted. And thanks to a cast of fine actors, there are emotional highs and lows that will keep you glued to the screen. This is a series where everything comes together and just works.
Much of the series was filmed in Provincetown, so anybody who has been to the LGBT vacation paradise will recognize the setting. And although the series includes a nice mix of locals and visitors, it never gets into how the townsfolk feel about the constant barrage of tourists. Just a line or two about this would have been nice. However, this is a very minor quibble that might have been addressed in seasons two or three, both of which I have not seen.
The Final Verdict:
If you’re looking for sex, action, and a damn good story, High Town is the show for you.