The most recent sequence from Starz is coming to the premium cable community on Sunday, Could 17.
The premiere introduces us to Monica Raymund’s Jackie Quinones, a nationwide marine fishing providers agent, who’s not like every other feminine TV lead in latest reminiscence.
She’s unapologetic, fun-loving, and battling some demons for good measure.
These demons come additional out to play when she finds a corpse on the seashore after an evening of partying. Whereas many individuals could be creeped out on the sight of a useless physique, Jackie is raring to learn the way the younger lady got here to be useless on the seashore.
That is the inciting incident that units us up for a season of thrills and chills. What was so fascinating about Raymund within the position was that this was the exact opposite of roles she’s performed previously.
When I recently chatted with the actress, she touched on that, however what’s inherently clear all through this eight-episode drama is that Raymund is loving each single minute of attending to play this position.
That is Monica Raymund such as you’ve by no means seen her earlier than, and it is a good change of tempo after her roles on Mislead Me and Chicago Fire.
There’s one thing satisfying about having the actress again on the display screen frequently, and the icing on the cake is that she will get to play a personality with many layers which are slowly being peeled again.
Jackie is a sophisticated lady, that is for certain, but it surely’s clear she is somebody who’s masking her insecurities by ingesting alcohol and taking medicine like they’re going out of vogue.
A homicide thriller with a personality on the wheel who would sometimes be written off due to her previous actions makes for an thrilling hook.
There’s an urgency in Jackie to crack this case, however my principal concern is that viewers are both going to like her or hate her.
My finest advice for viewers could be to present her time to develop on you. Certain, there are some issues she does that may come throughout as egocentric, however these are all items of a puzzle which are put collectively because the season performs out.
Hightown’s robust level is the tempo of all of it. There are numerous characters in Jackie’s orbit that turn into integral to the story, and they’re all launched on the proper time, every with their very own vices.
James Badge Dale performs the lead detective on the case. Like Jackie, he’s additionally determined to search out the wrongdoer earlier than the identical destiny befalls another person within the Cape.
He is the kind of agent who performs within the grey space of the regulation. These varieties of characters are the perfect as a result of they’re far more intriguing.
What units Badge’s iteration of one of these character aside is the vulnerability he brings to the character. He is riveting.
The Originals alum, Riley Voelkel, can be on board within the sequence common position of Renee. Renee is a younger lady whose husband is in jail, and he or she’s attempting to look after herself and her younger son.
Once we caught up with Voelkel, she stated there have been many challenges that got here with the position, primarily as a result of she got here from fantasy worlds earlier than it.
She had a thirst for taking part in a personality with real-world issues, and he or she does that to perfection on Hightown.
Renee is a dancer who’s attempting to make ends meet.
The casting group did very nicely in casting the sequence as a result of all of those actors haven’t performed roles like this earlier than.
Renee’s in love with Frankie, performed by Jail Break’s Amaury Nolasco.
Oh, and Amaury is enjoying a prisoner another time. However Frankie has no similarities to Sucre, and you’ll read more about that in our interview with Amaury.
They’re polar opposites.
When all is alleged and completed, Hightown is tackling subjects that many exhibits aren’t. Certain, it is obtained a homicide thriller because the central plot, however the sequence can be shedding gentle on the opioid epidemic.
When you’re questioning the way it impacts communities, then Hightown is the present for you. The storytelling is grounded in actuality. The struggles the characters sort out are actual.
The advantage of the present is that it has legs to face on ought to Starz order up some extra. There are a variety of wealthy storylines, and it is clear that seeds are being rigorously planted to hold some into a possible second season.
Eight episodes shouldn’t be sufficient to do a narrative of this caliber justice. There are much more themes and subjects that pop up alongside the best way, which provides the sense that Hightown Season 1 is simply the tip of the iceberg.
Once I was initially watching the sequence, I figured it was a restricted sequence. Typically, I choose these sequence as a result of they’ve a transparent starting, center, and finish in order that followers can transfer on to one thing else.
However there’s an power in Hightown that the majority TV exhibits lack, and it comes right down to the intricate plotting, performing, and directing.
Ought to the present emerge as a hit within the scores, there may be sufficient occurring to maintain folks tuned in for years.
What about you, TV Fanatics?
Will you give the sequence an opportunity?
Hit the feedback.
Paul Dailly is the Affiliate Editor for TV Fanatic. Comply with him on Twitter.