Sunday October 17, High Town returns with its second season on STARZ.
High Town uses the location of Cape Cod to explore the realities behind the current opioid crisis. The show offers a different perspective of Cape Cod and strays away from the traditionally preppy narrative. The series also offers a different depiction of addiction in America with has been heavily racialized over the decades.
High Town makes an active effort to show the domino effect of addition and the diversity of families impacted by it. The show goes beyond just showing the struggles of addiction and the challenges presented with sobriety, but captures the humanity and emotions behind the opioid crisis.
With addiction being politicized and often demonized, especially with the history of the crack epidemic, there was an awareness to make sure the cast reflected society. Rebecca Cutter explains that the show works against the assumption that the current opioid crisis and heroin epidemic solely affects small White towns. Actors Dohn Norwood and Atkins Estimond appreciate the show’s ability to capture both humanity and diversity of the opioid crisis. The lead character Jackie is both Latina and queer, and actress Monica Raymund takes pride in the ability to expand the representation for people who identify with the character and herself. With the second season of the show the cast was able to grow with their characters while also expanding on the stories introduced in the previous season.
High Town is more than just a story about Cape Cod or the opioid crisis; the crime drama series offers suspense, mystery, consequences, and a realistic portrayal of the road to recovery.
High Town returns October 17 on STARZ