Summary

• The cancellation of Hightown by Starz left fans yearning for a proper ending to the well-written crime drama series.
• The show's fantastic cast and engaging storytelling set it apart, making it a highly addictive and deserving of another season.
• Jackie and Ray's evolving relationship and Frankie's shocking death set the stage for a potentially thrilling fourth season.

Many TV shows are canceled in their prime, but I'll never forgive Starz for canceling Hightown ahead of what should have been a great ending. Unfortunately, Hightown season 3 didn't get the time to conclude the show satisfactorily. Throughout its run, it had a lot of stakes for a crime drama, but its most significant quality was how it devoted equal time to both the good and bad characters. This engaging tactic allowed me to see how their crimes affected those related to the villains. It also touched upon how one mistake from the police could lead to severe ramifications.

There's also the fact that Hightown wouldn't have been possible without a fantastic cast. Every actor turned in striking performances to drive home the severity of the storylines. The acting and strong writing resulted in a highly addictive series that deserved another installment to wrap things up. Despite Starz's claim the series finale would bring the show to a satisfying conclusion, the episode was more open-ended than I expected. However, it was the ideal set-up for a fourth and final season.

Jackie Vs. Ray During Hightown Season 4 Would Have Been A Fantastic Reset

Monica Raymund And James Badge Dale Would Have Delivered Great Performances

Jackie (Monica Raymund) and Ray (James Badge Dale) were close allies throughout the first two Hightown seasons, but season 3 marked the first time their friendship was tested. Due to the distance between their characters, Raymund and Dale didn't share the screen as much, which was a real shame, in my opinion. Although they were still cordial throughout the season, Jackie and Ray were pulled in different directions. This would have intensified in season 4 due to Jackie's realization that Ray could have been responsible for Frankie's murder.

Hightown season 3's ending seemingly set up Jackie to arrest Ray in season 4, which would have been a fascinating change of pace for the show.

The pair had often relied on one another for , so seeing their relationship in such a sorry state was upsetting. The tricky aspect of navigating this kind of dynamic is that it has to be believable, which could have been achieved with Jackie realizing the profound similarities between her and Ray. Jackie made many of her own mistakes in the past, so I would have enjoyed seeing her wondering why she held Ray to such a high standard.

Hightown season 3's ending seemingly set up Jackie to arrest Ray in season 4, which would have been a fascinating change of pace for the show. That said, I realize Ray had done some terrible things, but it was about time one of the police officers in the show got some form of comeuppance. Ray played in the gray area, allowing Dale to add more depth to such a complicated character. Despite being on opposite sides, they would be forced to find a shred of common ground because of the inevitable influx of new villains.

Frankie's Death Would Have Welcomed New Villains To Cape Cod

Frankie Was The Overarching Villain Of The First Three Seasons

Frankie was the overarching villain for Hightown's first three seasons, so his murder after getting out of prison shocked me. The series subverted expectations by leading me to believe he would call the shots in Cape Cod again. Considering his history, this would have been a bit of a retread. Frankie did some heinous things throughout the show but always seemed to bounce back. Thus, killing him off was the ideal way to usher in a new era of crime for the show.

Despite countless criminals in the area, few had the influence and street-smart to cross him. Even when Frankie lost his allies, he always found a way to get other people on his side to even the odds. I realize this takes a certain level of skill. Without him, Hightown would have been forced into uncharted territory as a new wave of criminals would step up to cause problems. Seeing a drastically different Cape Cod would have been an excellent backdrop for one last season of drama.

Hightown Needed One Final Season To Have A Proper Ending

Hightown Could Have Ended On A High

My biggest gripe with Hightown season 3, episode 7, is that it played out like a season finale. While the finale ended with a couple of storylines resolved, it set up many others for Hightown season 4. That would have been a perfect ending point had creator Rebecca Cutter known that the end was coming. Still, I'll never forget Hightown for its well-written characters and their importance to the plot.

Shows often feature characters who serve no purpose, but everyone is necessary to bring Hightown's storylines to life. With one last season, Hightown would have brought Jackie, Ray, Renee, and Osito's storylines to more satisfying conclusions with actual repercussions. My ideal ending for Hightown would have found the gangs being weeded out of Cape Cod, giving the residents a more hopeful future. The show had been building towards such a conclusion since season 1.