Netflix is giving a Starz crime drama a second shot at finding its audience after it was removed from the streaming service mere weeks after the show ended.
As of July 23, all three seasons of Rebecca Cutter's gritty crime series "Hightown" are now available to watch on the streamer in the US.
The series originally aired on Starz and ran for 25 episodes, spread across three seasons between 2020 and 2024. The finale aired on March 8, 2024... and Starz promptly removed it at the end of that same month.
I was confident the show would get a bit of a boost once it landed on Netflix, and it looks like I was right. As of our latest update, "Hightown," the show's jumped right into the Netflix Top 10 list.
It's currently sitting in 5th place, behind new arrivals like "The Hunting Wives" and Netflix's latest hit original, "Untamed." How's that for finding new fans?
If you'd spotted the new crime drama and were trying to decide whether to stream "Hightown" on Netflix yourself, you can find more info about the streamer's new arrival below.
What is 'Hightown' about?
"Hightown" is a crime drama set in Provincetown, Massachusetts. There, we meet Jackie Quiñones (Monica Raymund), a hard-partying National Marine Fisheries Service Agent struggling with addiction.
When she discovers the body of a murdered woman, Jackie's life is upended and she attempts to start working towards sobriety... but grows convinced it's down to her to solve the murder.
At odds with Sergeant Ray Abruzzo (James Badge Dale), one of the men investigating organized crime in the region, and the local opioid epidemic.
In addition to Raymund and Dale, the series also stars Riley Voelkel, Shane Harper. Atkins Estimond, Amaury Nolasco, and Dohn Norwood, among others.
Should you stream 'Hightown' on Netflix?
"Hightown" seems well-suited to become a Netflix hit. Crime dramas usually play well on the streamer (soapy family crime drama "The Waterfront" is a recent successful example), and it comes reasonably well-recommended.
At the time of writing, the show's first season holds an 80% approval rating on the review aggregator, Rotten Tomatoes, indicating generally favorable reactions (other seasons do not have a score, at present), and the site's consensus reads: "Monica Raymund's charms rise above any formulaic tendencies in "Hightown's" highly entertaining first season."
Reviewing the first season for The Hollywood Reporter, Inkoo Kang called the show "competently crafted, if not particularly memorable," adding: ""Hightown" doesn't ever reach full beach-noir status, but it does grow organically darker and more heartbreaking as the season progresses."
RogerEbert.com's Matt Fagerholm, meanwhile, said: "what prevents “Hightown” from devolving into a drag is the enormous appeal of its leading lady, Raymund, who doesn’t shy away from flashing smiles of exhilaration when she finds herself capable of being the hero after all."
The Guardian's Lucy Mangan gave the show a 3-star rating, calling it a "slick but sombre" affair, describing the series as having " a solid, formulaic base" but succeeding because it "has such a gift in Raymund as Quiñones", adding: ""Hightown" itself probably won’t win any awards – although it does undoubtedly deserve the particular praise reserved for all things that are better than they need to be - but she [Quiñones] should."
Some of the audience reactions on the platform are pretty positive, too; I'm seeing plenty of top ratings and praise for both the performances and the writing (though others weren't so taken with the show or some of its content).
On balance, though, if you were looking for a new crime drama to occupy your time, then "Hightown" sounds like it could be worth adding to your Netflix watchlist.
If you've already seen "Hightown", or it doesn't sound like your kind of show, we can still help you find something new to stream. Check out our round-up of the best Netflix shows for tons more top streaming suggestions.
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